Self Care: Managing Emotions During Challenging times
Reading time: 6 mins
Let’s be honest—these days, life feels anything but predictable. From personal challenges to global events, we’re all navigating a world that seems to shift by the minute. And with that unpredictability can come a heavy weight: stress, anxiety, sadness, even moments of deep discouragement. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, you are not alone. The emotional toll of uncertainty is real, and it affects us all—especially women who often carry not only their own stress, but the emotional load of those around them.
The good news? We can take intentional steps to care for our inner world despite external chaos. Here are two ways we can anchor ourselves. We will explore other helpful tips in additional articles.
Build a Routine That Grounds You
One of the most helpful ways to navigate uncertain times is to create a daily routine—something simple, flexible, and life-giving. A routine gives your day structure and stability, even when everything else feels out of place. It could look like:
• Waking up and going to bed around the same time
• Setting aside 10–15 minutes of quiet time in the morning to reflect, pray, or journal
• Moving your body with a walk or light stretching
• Having a nourishing meal and drinking water throughout the day
Your routine doesn’t have to be perfect, and it doesn’t need to be packed. Think of it as your personal anchor—a space you can return to when the world feels too loud.
Feed Your Mind and Spirit Wisely
What we consume—mentally and emotionally—matters just as much as what we eat. Choose content that nourishes your spirit, not drains it.
Ask yourself: What am I watching? What am I listening to? Is it bringing peace or increasing my anxiety?
Try trading endless news scrolls or stressful TV shows for uplifting podcasts, worship music, inspiring books, or calming nature sounds. Even limiting screen time in the evenings can make a big difference in how you sleep and how grounded you feel the next day.
These two options are suggestions that many find helpful, but it’s important to identify coping skills that work for you as an individual. Try these suggestions and see what you think!
As a professional psychotherapist, I’m happy to work with you to develop an individualized plan for self care, healing, and healthy emotional wellbeing that enables you to effectively manage life’s unpredictability.