If you're having trouble figuring out what to do right now, you're not alone.

Many of us are struggling to find clarity, feel productive, or take action when there's so much happening outside of our control. So what is there to do?

Get back to basics.

Take care of yourself diligently, radically, and generously.

Listen to yourself and what you need. If you can't hear over the noise, then start with what you know.  What habits have served you well in the past?  What are you missing or neglecting?  What’s the one thing that would make you feel better right now?

Here are some tips I’m sharing because they work for me, and I’m doing this work right alongside you this week. 

Go to bed early.  Make arrangements within your power for the best possible sleep.  Remember the basics?  Cool temp, phone away or on DND, no screens for an hour, a ritual to help you relax.  Set a bedtime and stick to it.  Splurge on the best quality sheets your budget allows.  I shared a bit more on sleep accommodations in this blog post. Check out this Ted Talk to become obsessed with good sleep and its many benefits.

Reach out. Reach out to friends, therapists, mentors, and coaches. Ask for help.  Schedule a walk, a call, or a safely distanced visit. Let them serve and encourage you, especially if you are serving others in your work all day. Notice whether most of your activities right now are one-way, where you are pouring out energy and support for others.  What can others do to help fill you back up? We are social creatures and it’s OK to lean on your community. The connection is mutually beneficial. If you feel hesitant, schedule a 30-minute call with me and I’ll talk you through it.

Drink a ton of water.  Yup, just like Rachel Hollis says, keep filling up that water bottle. Your body and brain can’t function properly if you are not hydrated.  As my friend Shannon coaches her clients, buy a beautiful large-capacity water bottle you will love to use.  Fill it up a few times during the day.  (I love S’well bottles because they are beautiful and don’t sweat. But I drink more when I use a Camelbak Eddy because it’s one hand, no cap.) Another tip that changed my life? When in doubt, drink a full glass of water before pouring the next cup of coffee pot, cracking a can of soda, or opening the wine. Hydrate first.

Get outside. Fresh air, sunshine, movement. Getting outside helps you reconnect to your body and keep it on a natural rhythm so you won't feel out of sorts.  Remember it’s not just about taking a break.  It’s a biological experience to recalibrate your body clock and all of the related hormonal functions that help you deal with stress.  Spending an extended period of time in nature has been proven to provide even more psychological and physical benefits for people of all ages, including more rapid healing and recovery.

Be open to inspiration.  Feeling inspired is an important part of being creative and part of what makes us human! But it’s hard to feel inspired when we are stuck in a feedback loop. In the pandemic we’ve been isolated at home, caring for family or work or both, with only a series of crises to break the monotony.  On top of that, we are surrounded by echo chambers on social media and the news on repeat, work projects that won’t die, worry about the next series of closures or quarantine.  Yikes. Many of us are desperate to break out of the cycle.  Challenge yourself to read just a few pages of a new book.  Find a short poem online that you like to print out and keep bedside.  Sign up for a virtual class or commit to learning something new via YouTube.  Ask a friend or family member to cook a recipe with you via Zoom.  Plan a house project or start a Pinterest board.  Go down a rabbit hole learning about history on a particular topic or place.  Investigate your dream vacation. We all find inspiration in different ways, but learning something new is almost always a cure to the doldrums.  Our brains are designed to grow and expand.  It’s not optional—it’s like oxygen for the brain.  When you’ve met your basic needs, allow yourself to be curious and to follow your curiosity to something new.  Inspiration is good medicine.

Make space.  When the world keeps spinning, it can be hard to find space even to think.  A meditation and mindfulness practice in your daily life delivers more than just a moment of peace.  If you do it regularly, you train your brain to relax, recover, and respond more positively to stress.  Commit to making the space when you need it regularly to help your brain build resiliency for the times you need it most.  Try guided meditations for lawyers from Claire E. Parsons, or download the Headspace, Calm, or 10% Happier apps.  For many people who begin a meditation practice, finding space in their minds is joyfully paired with finding space in their homes to practice.  Carving out a corner for yourself physically can help to make it a ritual you’ll want to return to again and again. 

Nutritious food.  When we’re feeling sad and overwhelmed, it can be easy to reach for treats or convenience foods.  And there’s nothing wrong with the occasional indulgence.  But when your goal is feeling better, there’s no substitute for healthful whole foods.  Pause before you grab your next snack and ask what would fuel your body better.  Remember you are machine designed for a certain kind of fuel—pumping in some diesel instead of clean premium doesn’t exactly make for sharp performance.  Give yourself a fighting chance to feel your best by eating mostly plants, lean proteins, healthy fats, fresh fruits, and other nourishing foods that suit your diet and lifestyle.  Check out Katherine Andrew and Shannon Parker for coaching programs that target nutrition with compassion and a ton of do-able recipes.

Be kind. To yourself. It feels hard because it is hard. But you are the steward of a precious, one-of-a-kind body and soul. Speak gently to her, listen to her, and make time for her. Take care of her diligently, radically, and generously, and she will never let you down.

What will be your first next step toward feeling better?

Let’s take it together. I’m cheering for you!