My New Favorite Thing x Mental Health Edition
My painting corner!
As you can guess by the article title, this is not a food article, home décor, or another article dedicated to my beloved Target. Now I know that I come off as the pinnacle of mental stability, but even us perfect people need some mental health check-ins every now and then. These past almost 2 years, we’ve had to live through a global pandemic, voting, a new presidency, and racial injustice. So, you know, nothing too heavy!
I think we all went through the beginning of 2020 in shock of what was happening, how the pause button for life was being pressed, and for me that meant my life plans had been severely derailed. Add the fact that as a black woman, I yet again had to witness people who looked like me be senselessly murdered for the simple fact that they were black, I thought I was going f*cking crazy.
So how have I stayed *relatively* sane during these trying times that tried my entire existence? I’m glad you asked, here’s some of the activities below that kept me calm during this shitty time.
Journaling
We all need someone to talk to, even if its ourselves. Journaling has proven to be a healthy and relaxing way for me to express myself during this time. In a way writing has helped me become accountable for the intentions and goals that I set for myself, because it becomes harder and harder to for me to flip through the pages and see my words and not do anything about them. Get yourself a journal today!
Meditation
I know that meditation has become very Hollywood/commercial but trust me on this! Having a few minutes of quiet time to reflect on the day ahead of you, set your intentions, and repeat some affirmations, makes me feel like I can accomplish anything. One of my favorite things that I discovered during the past year was the “Meditation Mixtape,” by Shelah Marie (Shelah Marie Meditation Mixtape - YouTube) I encourage any first-time meditation participants to listen to this.
Finding a Hobby/Painting
Now I’m not saying that I’m better than Picasso, but I’m not not saying it (insert Nene Leakes “I said what I said,” GIF). We all need a hobby that is lighthearted and fun! Having something to look forward to when you get home, whether it be reading a new book, knitting, photography, or pottery, it’s something to be happy and passionate about.
Painting has allowed me to get in touch with a creative side that I honestly forgot I had, as I use to draw design sketches when I was younger. I’ve even tried to recreate some art that I have seen on Pinterest for fun. Some pieces I have even kept and hung in my house. (See my painting corner above!)
Disconnecting from Social Media
This was the hardest! In this day and age, many of us keep up with current events through social media sites like Instagram and Facebook (Sorry Mark, I’m not calling it Meta!). I went through a period where it felt like I was hearing more bad news than good news through social media and felt like it was becoming too much. So, I betrayed my millennial instincts and deleted all social media apps from my phone. The first few days were like what I imagined crack withdrawals to be like. I instinctively kept picking up my phone throughout the day to check Instagram, just to remember I didn’t have it.
However, on this journey, I realized how much social media preoccupies my day and life. I realized how productive I was without it! I knew that when I did end my social media break, I wanted to find a way to incorporate social media into my life not incorporate my life into social media. I am not going to say that I reach that goal all day e’rr day, but I am more aware of the issue and strive to be better.
All of this to say, life is hard af and these past almost 2 years have not made it any easier. We all need to find some joy in the little things, especially any little thing that helps keep us sane. I hope this helps someone do that!