Although we’re already into the second month of 2021, the New Year does not mean the multiple challenges of last year have disappeared.
Many of us are worn out and struggling with the turmoil that continues: a global pandemic, struggling economy, and political divisiveness, just to name a few.
Dealing with the direct and indirect side effects of those and other traumatic events can be emotionally, physically, and mentally exhausting.
It may feel that so much is just outside of our grasp, and in many ways, that may be true.
However, we can do things to help us cope and remain positive in the face of turmoil, whether it be uniquely personal or a shared burden.
Following are some of our favorites.
Make Gratitude a Daily Practice
When our life is disrupted, the source of that disruption is often negative. From there, it’s easy to slide towards misery, as we identify all the things we’ve been robbed of—happiness, safety, predictability, etc. Those negative feelings are real, and it’s essential to acknowledge and address them. Focusing only on the negatives can be bad for your mental and physical health.
A great way to balance all those negative feelings is to actively seek out and identify the positive things in your life. A smile from a loved one—even a stranger. A pet that craves your attention or senses your uncentered state and just wants to cuddle with you. Food on the table and a roof over your head.
Whatever it is, taking time to think about it and even write down (e.g., gratitude journals) the good things you encounter each day can help you shift your perspective and improve your mood. We have heard about this practice now for many years – so much so that it may sound like a commoditized panacea. It is nonetheless true.
Clear Away Clutter
Life is hectic, and evidence of the chaos often can be found in our kitchens, bedrooms, cars, and desks.
The busier we are and the more stress we carry, the more likely it seems that the spaces we occupy become messy, chaotic, and disorganized.
It’s not always easy to get up the motivation to clean your room or organize your desk or straighten up your kid’s unruly toys, especially when you are at your wit’s end and ready to pull your hair out.
Psychologist Joseph Ferrari, who recently studied the relationship between clutter and life satisfaction, found that clutter can create a stressful home.
Similar research suggests that clutter can impact everything from your relationships and emotions to your cognition and focus. Implementing manageable yet impactful cleaning resolutions into your life—even those as simple as making your bed—can improve your overall outlook. Try it!
Catch Some Zzzz
When you don’t get enough sleep, even basic tasks can seem impossible. Physical exhaustion, especially over a prolonged period, can make you feel emotionally drained, and that’s not all in your head.According to the Sleep Foundation, a lack of sleep can make you more prone to mental and emotional health issues like depression and anxiety.
Sleep allows your brain to engage in several cycles, including REM sleep, which “facilitates the brain’s processing of emotional information. Getting a good night’s sleep and allowing that process to take place is a tried and true way to improve your wellbeing, both during times of triumph and tragedy.
Meditate
Meditation has been around for centuries, and in recent years, this mindful practice has gained mainstream appeal. In part, that may be due to apps like Calm and HeadSpace. Both make it easy for experts and novices alike to practice.
The increasing interest in mediation may also be due to the continuous flow of research that suggests mediation really can help your body and mind.
A growing body of research suggests that meditation can help you manage your emotions, decrease anxiety, fight depression, and the benefits exceed well beyond the mind.
Several renowned institutions, including Harvard Medical School and the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, have spent a considerable amount of time studying the impacts of meditation on the body. Their findings offer consistent insights.
Meditation has real benefits for your body. According to one study, meditation can positively alter genes that regulate inflammation, glucose metabolism, and even blood pressure.
With all those benefits, it’s easy to see how dedicating even just five to ten minutes of your day to mindful meditation can better prepare you to handle the stressors of 2021.
Turn the Music Up
Music is a powerful tool. When we’re exercising, the right beat can take a mundane workout to the next level. Broken hearts are often soothed by the crooning sounds of artists who “just seem to get us,” and no great movie is complete without a worthwhile soundtrack.
It should not be surprising that music can directly impact your body. Multiple studies have proven that music can decrease stress and anxiety, two things many of us have an abundance of these days.
One study by Wilkes University even showed an increase in IgA, an antibody essential to the immune system, after listening to soothing music, giving us yet another reason why we may want to turn up the volume in 2021.
You may not be able to eliminate some of the tough challenges we’re facing today, and there are things you can do to help you remain positive and emotionally and mentally well. The tips we shared above can help you make small yet impactful changes that will improve your ability to manage stress and stay positive.
For an additional boost, we also recommend checking out our line of Colloidal Silver Inhalers. Our line includes several carefully crafted inhalers that combine the reported healing powers of silver with the benefits of pure, organic essential oils to help you do everything from sleep better to stress a bit less.
Last year, a unique TRU47 line was created using a fantastic medical-grade CBD created by a Colorado-based company called Endourage.
Tru47 CBD inhalers are formulated to deliver nourishing and mitigating benefits of our standard inhalers. They are also providing an extra benefit of relaxation.
Our Java Jolt uses coffee beans for their pure natural oil. Fortify+ has a high test amount of oregano for anti-viral support.
It is not easy bending high-grade CBD (with less than 0.03% THC) with pure essential oils. Oil and water (liquid-based CBD), as they say, do not mix easily. We have figured it out. We do not use any alcohol in any of our products, even though alcohol can be a smooth carrier agent.
Our CBD Inhaler is available on a separate sister site (TRU47CBD). With or without CBD, we believe in the beneficial effects of nasal inhalation. We are, of course, biased. We enthusiastically believe in our products, so Inhale Away.
