I feel like I’m back in the pandemic where self-isolation (even if intentional), fear, and uncertainty are establishing roots (yet again) in my mind. My go-to coping mechanism is to avoid processing these emotions, focus on being productive, and then hitting a wall where my unprocessed emotions boil over. Working on this habit through therapy is great, and yet after another bout of avoidance (i.e., physical symptoms, needing to cry but can’t, feeling overwhelmed, etc.), I’ve realized that at the core of this episode was a loss of hope in something better. Phew, talk about a trigger warning!

The Global Brain Health Institute on hope and why we need it: https://www.gbhi.org/news-publications/what-hope-and-why-do-we-need-it

After I upload this episode, I’m going to rest like I agreed to do today. 😊

Do you ever daydream about sending your clone to do all the things in life that you don’t want to do while the real you just sits on a beach, stays in bed, or runs away to a place far-far-away? Well, this episode can’t tell you how to make said clone, BUT, it does have some tips on ways to ease your stress.

Looking at my order history, I used a meal service for 9 weeks (April-June) during the period when I was writing my proposal. I would order a few options, each with enough for two servings, and found a lot of tasty meals to cook. For the most part, the items were packaged well and survived shipping. One thing I do remember; however, is that I picked a lot of meals with a potato based side. This translated into A LOT of potatoes that I didn’t eat. Once I started looking out for that, things were good. And truthfully, I didn’t always follow the recipe given and just cooked whatever I felt like doing at the time. So that may be an option for you as well.

EveryPlate (not EasyPlate, lol!) Referral Link

Ashley Janssen provides more details on asking for help (including a script!): https://ashleyjanssen.com/how-to-develop-the-skill-of-asking-for-help/

The three (oops, no four!) steps that help me be proactive in my self-care during stressful moments. I use this method before meetings, appointments, and talks that I know cause me anxiety and worry. I find it super easy to do and repeat when my brain decides not to remember how to function in these moments.