It’s been quite some time since I’ve posted but I wanted to offer some tools for getting through this challenging time. I’ve struggled with anxiety off and on throughout my life; like many others, this is being kicked up into high gear during this quarantine period. The upside to having already dealt with anxiety in the past is knowing some tools to turn to that work for me and being open to learning new ones. I find each day is a process and requires something slightly different. Below is what works for me. I hope these ideas will help others who may need mental health and wellness bolstering.

1. Yoga. I get that it’s not for everyone but for me yoga is my go-to foundational support. The combination of breath and movement, which is often deep breathing and deep stretching, feels so good. I’ve done yoga off and on for years but never as frequently as right now, in part because I no longer am commuting and in part because I find I need it. My personal favorites are my colleague’s free weekday classes and $5 classes with Jurian Hughes, a wonderful teacher I once had at Kripalu, the holistic center in western Massachusetts.

• Lavender essential oil. Breathing in lavender essential oil is instantly calming for me. The sense of smell is a powerful one and I’ve always found lavender calming. The one I have is a blend from Nature’s Truth called Good Nite. You can roll onto your wrists and breathe in. Use if you wake up in the middle of the night and can’t fall back asleep or at any time you need extra support.

• Aerobic work outs. I’m lucky to have an exercise machine in my basement. I find I don’t always have the energy for it but when I do I’m reminded of how helpful a light cardio workout can be for one’s mental health and well-being. Dance breaks (see below) serve this purpose for me too. Any list of mental health wellness includes physical activity. Every time I’m able to do it I feel better, without a doubt.

• Hot baths. At the end of the day there’s nothing like a hot bath with some bath salts and a candle to make me feel calm and centered. Or sometimes I take a hot shower and let it get steamy which has a similar effect, especially if I close my eyes and imagine I’m at a spa steam room.

• News diet. This is more in the what not to do category but for me, the less I actively read the news, the better I feel. I’m not always good about it because it’s so easy to see the headlines but shutting off news helps me feel calmer. This includes Twitter and other social media.

• Dance breaks. There’s nothing like turning up the music and dancing, even for those of us who don’t think of ourselves as dancers. I’ve also been doing Jurian Hughes’ 30 minute dance breaks, which I highly recommend. I put myself in private mode so no one can see me dance along to her inspiring selections and mood lifters. The class is $5 and afterward she sends the link for you to send for a week to anyone you know who might need it.

• This 5-minute positive energy meditation from Gabby Bernstein. A friend sent me this meditation from self-help guru Gabby Bernstein and it works. She says “all is well” and other positive affirmations throughout. She also has a reminder that “it’s okay to feel good right now”, which I appreciate for those moments of joy that shine through. I didn’t realize how much I needed to hear that until she said it.

• Meditation. It was Christmas 2000 when I received my first and most meaningful book on meditation from my mother. It’s called The Wisdom of No Escape and the Path of Loving Kindness by spiritual leader Pema Chodron. She has written many books but this one was my first instruction on the “how to” of meditation. It’s a beautiful book I’ve picked up many times for comfort. More recently, I’ve turned to brief 7 to 10 minute meditation sessions, usually in the evenings, when I find I want to calm my mind and let my thoughts go more easily. While not something I do every day, it’s in my tool box of what works for foundational support in staying present, breathing, and letting go.

• Three-Part Breath. As much as I know about meditation and yoga, I had forgotten about the three-part breath until it came up in a recent workshop. You basically start with your belly, move up to the middle and end with breathing into your collar bone area. Instant relief, especially during the work day when my breathing tends to be more shallow.

This is my foundational list of what grounds me but I’d also add reading fiction (especially before bed for falling asleep gently), talking to friends and family regularly, pursuing a hobby (I’m doing a weekly fiddle class now), binge watching good TV shows, eating healthy foods as much as possible, and looking at old photos that make me smile.

What tools are you finding for support now? I’m wishing everyone safe, healthy and calm days ahead.