Honestly, we could all use a break from reality right now. Having just started to see the light at the end of the tunnel of a multi-year worldwide pandemic we are unfortunately facing more unsettling news as the world watches what is happening in Ukraine.
Our news is inundated with stress and fear and whether you are conscious of it or not that has an effect on you and your overall wellbeing.
So we encourage you to take steps daily to stay grounded because the uncertainty of our current times can cause us to forget our connection to each other, to nature, and to ourselves.
If you can see the effects of stress, fear, anxiety, and uncertainty showing up physically in your body or consciously in your mind then there are definitely small steps you can take to help mitigate it starting today.
Let’s start with the simplest of suggestions; something that each of us can easily integrate into our daily lives because it’s free. Vitamin G; also known as gratitude. Try keeping a notebook next to your bed or a running note in your phone where you can write down each night the 3 to 5 things you were most grateful for that day. This helps to pull you away from focusing solely on the negative and instead forces you to think of positive things in your life. Doing this right before bed is especially helpful as it can set you up for a great night’s sleep which is vital in and of itself for staying grounded and centered.
Another suggestion would be to try some herbal medicines that have long been touted to help ease anxiety. Some go to’s to try are Lemon Balm & Passionflower.
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), is actually a member of the mint family. It is considered a calming herb and has been used since as far back as the Middle Ages to reduce stress and anxiety, promote sleep, improve appetite, and ease pain and discomfort from digestion issues.
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) was used traditionally in the Americas, and later on in Europe, as a calming herb for anxiety, insomnia, seizures, and hysteria. It is still used today to treat anxiety and insomnia.
Both can be bought and prepared as teas or tinctures but I recommend starting out with simple tea bags if you are new to herbs. Also always be sure to check with your doctor before adding new herbs to your wellness regimen.
Along with those herbal teas, there is another supplement that we all should probably be taking because most of us are deficient in it and now even more so because we need to support our bodies and minds during these stressful times.
If you guessed magnesium then you guessed correctly. Specifically, magnesium glycinate or magnesium l-threonate would be a great option because they can cross the blood-brain barrier, are easily absorbed and used by the body, and have been used for their calming effects to help treat anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
Perhaps the most important tip of them all… turn the TV off! But really! We are so plugged in and always connected in today’s day and age that we are constantly bombarded with news. Heck, even Tik Tok is full of video clips of bombings in Ukraine and families scattering out the capital city. While you clearly cannot (and should not) be completely ignorant of what is happening in our world, you don’t have to be fully immersed in it either. We need to learn to create space and healthy boundaries around what actually makes us feel good and what doesn’t.
Purposefully don’t watch the news for a day. Or set a timer and let yourself look into it for 15-20 min then move directly to grounding activities like walking, reading an actual book, taking a grounding bath with Epsom salts, or even doing some yoga or meditation.
While these tips may not stop the mayhem that is currently happening in our world, they can make it easier for you to remain healthy and happy during uncertain times like these. Do you have a favorite tip for staying grounded? If so, please comment and share below!
