Self Care

What Not to Stress Over During COVID-19 Times

LaToi Storr April 14, 2020 2 Comments

We don’t have to have it altogether. I have seen the memes and yes if you are a creator or someone who is thriving on one front you may have the ability to create or acquire more skills. It may be easier for you to learn a Tik Tok or start a YouTube page. But if you are literally running out of food, lost your job, or just scared, dealing with anxiety or stress and being super creative may not be the flow right now. It’s okay. Let people live.

Friendships Being Tested

I have been doing my best to keep up with friends and even family more. However, I haven’t been able to get to everyone and I know that I am okay with it because I am the type that understands how life works. However, there has been an increase on how other people and their friends have been responding and its sad to see people not understand that every one of us are stressed right now. You can re-evaluate relationships but in high stress I personally don’t think it’s something to do now unless before or after the friends you had were the type to be super unresponsive etc. We are all fighting for our lives. Some are in extreme situations where they are losing family and others around them and the last thing on their minds is if they have called folks.

Changes All Around

We do not have to have our lives fully together right now. We can and are working on that as we go along. Everyday there is news that comes across that makes the day before a piece of cake. We are being inundated with so much news and its hard to digest. What someone needs may differ than you. Can I get one suggestion on the table? Can we get more understanding that your issues and your fight may be different than another person? The things we complain about may be the thing that someone else would want.

Work From Home Stress

If you are complaining about working from home remember there are folks who have lost their jobs as unemployment rises week by week. If you are living a cushiony lifestyle still able to order whatever you want there are families getting food from food banks to survive. That doesn’t mean that your bad days aren’t real. Even with the most “cushiony” lifestyles hard times or frustrating times comes but be aware how you frame your conversations around others and especially on social media.

Check in on the Older Generation

When people are saying that we are all in this together it sounds great to say one band one sound. However, the reality is we aren’t all together in the same way. We must understand that and act accordingly. If you can help someone do so. Help small business. I try to support at least 2-3 small businesses a month. Also support initiatives that help support families as well. I also made sure that my grandma on my mother’s side is OK since the other set of grandparents have a support system and the other lives alone. We must try do as much as we can to make this work for the vulnerable. Support organizations that are helping to keep the front line fed and offering support. Lets all step up if we are able.

Social Media and Influencers

I have been asked many times about advertising for brands is an okay thing now given the current climate. Please understand that some get paid from the advertising. I try my best to support those brands that I either already have contracts with. Also the new ones who support COVID-19 initiatives. That’s a personal choice of mine. However, I don’t knock that some are using this time to also support brands that they like or that keeps their bills afloat as well. More and more people who are able are at home shopping online, so online sales are key right now especially for stores who relied more in brick and mortar shopping only.

Influencers, Bills, and Stress

So, when you see an Influencer understand that they have bills. If your favorite Influencer is moving in a way you don’t support, consider the environment as Influencers may not be able to move the way they once were because so much is on hold. I personally have always stated that I will support brands that my family and I can be proud of. I also am a big supporter of woman owned brands because I know that as more and more women are the heads of their households its imperative to use their creative outlets to support their families. So, think about both sides of the coin. If someone gifts me something I try and always tried to support those companies in other ways. This has been a personal give back and I will continue to do so.

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School is out

So now that school which I knew would happen is officially out I am more and more concern at making sure my kids are sound and happy. I want to be able to get them squared away and make sure I do what I can to make this time fun. They should remember this as a time of great activities etc. that they did and not feel totally shifted inside the house being yelled or screamed at. Not to say yelling isn’t going to happen because parenting is not easy even when you can come and go but I don’t want that to be the flow.

Commitment and Stress

That is a commitment I made to them when I had them and I will do what I can to make that their reality. Remember kids didn’t ask to come here. What you must do to make their lives well rounded is your responsibility. It’s not their load to carry for what you do to make that happen. So, although kids test your gangsta don’t let them see that side of you and do what you can to make sure that their mental and emotional health is intact during and after this.