In the middle of a global pandemic and the start of a Presidential election season here in the US, I fully expect 2020 to be completely chaotic right on through to the end of the year. I wanted to share how I’m dealing with 2020 and list some coping strategies. I hope that they are helpful to you too!

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Worries Into Actions

I wrote down the things that were worrying me. The things that were seemingly out of my control and were weighing me down. Then I went through the list and began looking for ways that I could do something to be proactive in taking steps to address them. Using actions to combat your worries is extremely helpful- and it helps to realize that you’re not actually as helpless as you think!

Finding Joy

Finding joy amid crisis is 100% a survival strategy and it’s one worth cultivating. You can be going through pain and still find joy. It’s hard to struggle. It’s awful to see some of what is going on in the world right now. But at the same time, so many of the things that are being destroyed were already broken. They were just being propped up. Maybe now we can build something better. It is extremely helpful to RECOGNIZE the tiny things that bring you joy. A cup of coffee, the flowers outside, a walk, your pet- whatever it is, take a moment to recognize it. Be thankful for it. Learning this little habit can change your entire outlook on life and give you a steely resilience when hard times come.

Nature

If you follow my IG stories, you know that I love being outdoors. The weather here in Colorado makes it so easy and wherever I am there is always a trail nearby. Studies show that nature can “quiet the brain” and I absolutely believe that. If for some reason you CAN’T get outside, bring the outdoors to you. Tend some houseplants, watch the birds, listen to nature sounds, watch a nature documentary. Nature quiets the brain.

Have a Plan

I’ve been guarding my heart, body and mind pretty diligently and I have a daily plan to keep them healthy. I am very careful what I let in these days. I have a fairly strict “low news” diet. The news consumes about 1% of my day. I get some exercise every single day- even if it isn’t the work-out I had planned- I still exercise…..I do SOMETHING. I eat a healthy diet. I make sure I’m eating enough calories and I keep a heavy emphasis on fresh vegetables and protein. Part of my daily plan also includes time to read something that isn’t on my computer and time to write down a few things that I’m thankful for.

Get Some Sleep

Y’all, I honestly can’t believe how big this one has been for me. Getting a good nights sleep regularly has helped me immensely. I just figured that because I was older, not getting enough sleep was just something I had to deal with. But when I found something that actually gave me back that rest, it was like someone breathing life into me again. You can read what I did to get quality sleep again here.

Faith

I find so much peace in knowing that God is faithful. I can trust Him because I know Him to be trustworthy. Even when I don’t understand the process and I can’t see the way forward, that’s exactly the moment that I need to lean in and remember that He Is Faithful. It doesn’t mean I won’t go through trials or that there won’t be pain. And as a human, I constantly look for things that will take the place of God, only to have them fail me time and again. But as a Believer I know deep down that my faith, hope and trust is not in this world but in my Savior.

How are you coping? Have you buckled yourself in for the rest of this wild ride? I hope that you found something here that reminds you just how strong and resilient you can be in the face of adversity and the unknown.

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