Self Care During and After Crisis

We’re going to spend some time today talking about ways to take care of yourself during and then after a crisis.

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Show Highlights

Whether it’s dealing with a global pandemic or navigating a personal loss, there is always someone in crisis. Know that you are not alone.

It is essential to take care of your health and wellbeing in the midst of a crisis. Sometimes this seems unimportant especially when we are helping someone else through a difficult experience. But remember that you have to be well enough to be able to help those around you.

During a crisis:

Lower your expectations. Worrying about something puts an extra weight on you, so realize that during this time, you’re not going to be able to do all of the stuff that you normally do. There are things that are going to fall through the cracks and that’s okay.
Get enough sleep. If you are not sleeping well, everything else will get messed up.
Think of food as fuel for your body… Not as a refuge to run through. A little bit of junk food – and junk time – could be good for you, but recognize that more than a little bit of it will junk up your ability to cope with what’s happening.
Value your alone time. You recharge when you are alone, so schedule it if you need it. Alone time will not happen in a quality way if you do not plan for it.
Spend time with God. In crisis, time with God is essential.
Physical fitness is a big deal. It will burn stress and release endorphins and can lighten your mood.
Consider journaling. You’ll start to see more insight into your life as you read everything back. You’ll also be able to have so much gratitude as you find yourself on the other side of previous difficult times.
Reach out to your friends. They are a big part of lifting you up. Aim for deeper and greater connections.
Be honest with your employers. Let them and people who count on you at work know about what you are going through. If you work hard and bring value to your workplace on a regular basis, they will probably understand.

When you are ready to jump back to “normal” after overcoming a crisis:

Keep your expectations realistic. After surviving a crisis, you tend to have big bursts of energy, but keep your expectations realistic as to what you are able to do.
Re-establish your routine. But realize that your routine might be different from what it was before the crisis hit. What is your new normal?
Consider extended periods of rest. You may not have a ton of control over the time that you can spend for resting, but in any way you can, get some time to recuperate and evaluate what happened.
Strive for spiritual renewal. Give yourself to the things that heal your spirit.
Review your journal. Read back and see what the Lord told you during this time.
Consider going for counseling or therapy. Crisis will reveal cracks in your relationship, in your soul, in the way you are doing things. Therapy can help address the issues that have emerged.
Take a low impact vacation. Give your tired mind, soul, and body a well-deserved break.
Re-commit to your spiritual community. Realize the support and joy that a community brings and don’t lose you connection with your spiritual community.
Turn the crisis into a blessing. Throughout a crisis, you may have discovered gifts you have that you never realized you did. Continue to hone these gifts and use them to be a blessing to others.