I’m sure many of us have been dreading this past week. I know I have been–I’ve been actively in denial that it was an election year most of the year, almost burying my head in the sand or at least doing my best to avoid the 24-hour news cycle.
Kudos to those of you who can still find the excitement in our electoral process and in civic engagement. While going to my polling place certainly gives me a little bit of that thrill of being civically engaged and exercising my right to vote, after 2016 and 2020, I find that excitement is usually tempered by my sense of dread. I’m rundown and exhausted by the news of it all, and after the results this week, it seems like with good reason.
So in light of that dread, I decided to use this week to set some firm boundaries around my news consumption and take extra good care of myself. Consider this my running list of ways I practiced self-care this week and my small attempt to maintain a sense of calm amidst all this uncertainty:
I got myself an iced coffee at Dunkin after voting–I live in Boston so it felt like part of my civic duty to somehow include a Dunkin stop in my voting plans.
- I had my usual therapy appointment.
- I watched a scary/silly movie with my roommate.
- I went on a long run.
- I stopped by one of my favorite independent bookstores with a friend and bought myself two new books.
- I listened to a lot of Pete Seeger, this song in particular.
- I put my phone on Do Not Disturb for a good chunk of the week.
- I ran errands with my best friend.
- I ditched my office for an afternoon to enjoy the beautiful weather and work outside in my colleague’s backyard.
- I drank a lot of tea.
- I treated myself to Turkish breakfast, chai, and a delicious pumpkin turnover at one of my favorite local bakeries.
- I planned a movie night for the weekend with my friends.
- I went on several walks and enjoyed our last bit of fall foliage here in New England.
- I listened to Ina Garten’s memoir on audiobook — what an icon!
- I went to bed early every single night, like before 9 pm early.
- I made plans with a friend to try a new coffee shop this weekend.
How have you been finding time to practice self-care this week? Is it time to step away from the news and do something to care for yourself?
Header photo by Jeremy Thomas on Unsplash
Prayer
❤️
Thank you, Allison. Somehow reading your list gave me comfort and encouragement.
Allowed feelings of sadness and bewilderment rather than anger, coffee with a friend, attended a Bible Study and a spiritual growth group, made a likely last visit to a friend in hospice, and did laundry for its cleansing effects; all in spite of unrelenting physical pain(not associated with the election). Last night began rereading “To Kill A Mockingbird”. In times like this I avoid donut(s). 🙃
Watched and read very little news or opinions (but that has been the case for a few months now).
Began editing an interview transcript for *Chr Courier* with a Toronto lawyer who was recently given a socially significant award for decades of work with the Ethiopian community.
Napped.
Watched 3 of the 13 Star Wars movies my grandson assigned me so we could have intelligent (HIS intelligence as the source) conversations and email exchanges; I’d seen but two of the films and dutifully responded with emails.
Went to a real theatre for the first time in at least 4 years 2 evenings in a row to watch the challenging, provocative, ultimately buildy-uppy *Conclave.*
Walked.
Read.
Prayed.
Took a long walk Wednesday morning through Hope’s campus and then went to Good Earth for a Denver omelette with home made whole wheat toast that’s like eating cake. Haven’t watched tv news since.
I found it helpful to do the things I do best, to help me focus: I am here now, said out loud, using my fingers to remind me where I am, whose I am . . .
Devotions, including prayer, reading a Psalm, Seeking God’s Face, Christine Paintner’s daily email, Every Day Spirit by Mary Davis, Jan Richardson’s blessings, listening to the app Pray as You Go, and writing in my gratitude journal. This takes a good two hours of quiet alone time.
Then coffee, water, oatmeal and healthy food throughout the day, one glass of wine at night. Lots of candles lit, my sacred choral music playlist on, times for walking the dog, long stretches of cross-stitching, reading RJ and going through videos and pictures of family, especially the two young grandchildren who make me laugh.
For me, connection and return to the work that must be done, will come, but not this week. I’m on an island with my siblings, but not my spouse and dog. Timing didn’t matter since we’d be celebrating. Then the unthinkable happened. We’re all quiet people with imaginations and rich inner lives.
Thank you for putting your list out there for us to make sure we, too, have healthy practices we rely on and return to.
Worked on plans for a future Christmas carol sing-along for the elderly members of the congregation where I worship. Joy to the World. Peace on earth good will toward men and women. The Good News is still the good news—and much better than the media news.
Turned off the TV except for local Canadian stations, read Ps. 146 over and over, made a mantra out of “Be still and know that I am God.” Finished reading Dr. Fauci’s memoir, thankful to be reading the story of a true public servant.
Thank you Allison! I wish I would have thought of some of these things earlier. Curiosity question are you related to Drs. Vander Broek from Iowa?
In this piece, the term “selfcare” is a misnomer. What you describe is juvenile indulgence. Assuaging grief with distraction. Better to embrace your grief and then dive into your purpose and passion to quickly change your outlook, and your world.