Taking Care of Yourself in New York City as We Look Ahead for 2021 January 27, 2021

You’ve probably heard over and over again about how challenging the year 2020 was for the world. It was a year that certainly presented hardships for people all over the world due to all of the events that took place. It’s tough to reflect back on all of those moments and not get emotional. I’m lucky enough that I didn’t lose anyone to COVID, I’m grateful that I’m able to do my job safely from home, and I’m appreciative that I live in a safe and tolerant city. As we move deeper into 2021, it seems as though we’re still in for quite a few challenges. The pandemic is hanging on as we continue to navigate the vaccine process, our political environment is divided and tense, and our social change has presented a lot of pushback from other areas of the country that may not be as ready for change.

As we get closer to our one-year anniversary of living in this pandemic, I’ve made a point to make sure that I’m taking care of myself in multiple ways. Being far from family has made this year difficult for me, as I haven’t been able to see them beyond Zoom. So I’ve learned to practice behaviors that make sure I’m mentally and emotionally okay. Some days are better than others, but for the most part, I’m carving out enough time and attention to making sure I’m taking care of myself. Some of what I’m sharing might make sense for you, and you might have found ways that work for you that I haven’t tried, so it’s all trial and error.

1. Pay attention to your sleep habits

I’ve never really been a “good” sleeper – following a schedule was always hard for me to do, and as a night owl, it’s so easy for me to stay up late and sleep in. Now that I’m working from home and no longer spending 2+ hours a day commuting to my office, I’ve found that I have more time to sleep. It could be really easy to stay up later because of this, but I’ve found that if I’m disciplined in when I go to bed, it’s easier to wake up in the morning. I also take natural aids that help push me to sleep if my anxiety about current events keep me awake. This helps me reach that sleepy “sweet spot.”

2. Keep tabs on your thoughts

Speaking of that anxiety, it’s really easy to let your wandering thoughts take you to worry about everything that’s going on in the world. So much of what’s happening is out of your control, but it can still keep you up at night. I’ve found that when I’m having those moments of extreme anxiety or worry, I’ll pull out a notebook and just jot them down. Sometimes it’s just a list, while other times, I’m writing pages and pages of how I’m feeling about everything. While writing these things out may not solve any of these problems, I find that by placing them in a different place gives my brain a rest and let’s me relax for a bit.

3. Getting outside

Living in New York City while all of this is happening has felt strange – there are some days that I almost forget that I live in this great city because I barely leave my apartment anymore. There are some days where I don’t even want to get out of bed – “what’s the point,” right? On those days, when I’m feeling particularly down, I force myself to get outside and just take a walk. The fresh air and the reminder that I’m still here, living in the greatest city in the world, gives me the pick-me-up that I needed. Often I find that it almost even gives me a second wind – I’ll come back home and feel rejuvenated, ready to dive back into whatever project I was working on.

4. Pay attention to your needs

No one knows your mental health needs better than yourself. You know what this means. For me, I still see my therapist (virtually) once a week. I find this is a really good exercise, as it gives me the opportunity to check in with my doctor to make sure I’m doing okay. This looks different for every person – for some, mental health maintenance means exercising or reading or meditating or creating art. Whatever your mental health practices are, I urge you to keep them and do them as often as you can.