Connect with yourself. What do you need? Our self-care has to go beyond bubble baths this year, folks. Do you have a therapist? Self-awareness is an absolute necessity. Have a place where you can bring your fears, your frustrations, and truly work through them.
What can you do to support your body? Day to day, moment to moment, our nervous systems are going through a lot. Exercise and meditation are good places to check in. Good sleep. Drink water! Think back to basics.
Strengthen your values. What do you value? Humor? Faith? Get clear on what your guiding light is and infuse more into your day. (More resources on embodying values coming!)
Communicate joyfully to your community. Speak from your joy, not from your fears. As author Elizabeth Gilbert writes, “Your fear is the most boring thing about you.” We ALL have fears. Many of them very appropriate. Do the work necessary to keep your fears in check when you’re speaking out to others, so you’re not projecting all day (Have you gotten that therapist yet?). The world needs your joy, your hope. And you need these things, too.
Forgive your humanity. On days when joy feels hard to access, give yourself grace. No one is expected to be their best every day. Give yourself a dose of gentleness. The aim is not to turn into a perfection robot overnight (perfection is just fear, too). The goal is to take care of yourself so that you can show up for yourself and for others.
Whether you are leading a team online from your couch or caring for tiny humans all day, your community and your connection will only be as strong as your self-care.