How I’m staying sane in these once again unprecedented times

I'm holding on by a thread

I recently came across a journal of mine that started on January 7th 2021, aka the day after the insurrection, and woof. You can listen to the exact entry in the video below, but essentially it reminded me how these “unprecedented times” seem to have been going on forever.

@thatcurlytopplil jaz was so full of hope 😭 (still do but WOOF 😭😭😭💔)

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The Jazmine I was back in 2016 had been so fiery, full of action and hope. If I’m honest with myself, a lot of that energy has been withering away over the years.

People had told me that that passion goes away with age, but I don’t think it’s true. It comes from not sustaining my flame in a healthy way. A fireplace doesn’t just need wood thrown into it operate properly. It needs to be regularly cleaned, maintained, and cared for. All of which I’ve been neglecting to do.

So as we’ve been thrown into yet another scary and unpredictable year, here are some tactics I’ve been doing to regulate my nervous system and to hopefully get that old Jazmine to come out again.

1. Using the Stay Focused App to avoid doomscrolling:

“Stay off socials and avoid doomscrolling” has been the predominate piece of advice I’ve seen online. But that’s so much easier said than done, considering many of us have developed that bad habit back in 2020. I’ve been using the Stay Focused app that blocks me from using apps that I choose, usually just socials, for up to 24hrs at a time. I’ll take a full day off or do it at intervals of 30min-60min depending on my anxiety levels. It also has the option to set schedules or blocks of times where you can’t access the apps. For example, I have set a schedule from 12am - 9am to prevent myself from late night/early morning doomscrolling. Now I’m finally getting, slightly, more peaceful sleep.

2. Seeking guidance from the planets and stars via the Chani App:

I’ve become a major astrology girlie over the years and Chani is one of the main astrologers I love. Not only does she interpret my chart and what’s happening in the world in a digestible way, but she also has a major value for social justice and culture that feels relevant, hopeful, and grounding. My favorite resources are her weekly “week ahead” readings, guided meditations, and journal prompts.

3. Prioritizing the simple rituals that make me feel good:

With all the uncertainty in the world, creating rituals for myself has become a source of refuge. Having certain simple activities I can anticipate myself doing that make me feel my best has truly been a game changer for my anxiety.

For me this looks like waking up around 5:30am-6:00am and doing my morning routine. I know waking up this early is wild, but I realized that I desperately needed a space in time where nothing or no one in the world expects anything from me and I can simply be. I’ve been enjoying spending my time doing light stretches, a guided meditation, journaling and then anything else that gives me life.

And then on the weekends, ideally Sunday nights, I take a lil gummy or inhale a couple of puffs before I take a nice, relaxing bath and soon become one with the water.

4. Pushing myself to actually socialize:

I blame it on my cancer sun, but in times I feel unsafe my first instinct is to retreat from community and into my lil shell. This is helpful every so often, but over time I can feel the stillness fester into loneliness and guilt. I know that community is key to overthrowing the systems we’re in, but I also know that many are like myself where texting back, scheduling regular hangs, or attending community events can be difficult, simply because we’re mentally exhausted. If that’s you, you’re definitely not alone. Pushing through the exhaustion and finding energy through taking these minor steps to be in community again have already been so healing.

5. Supporting where I can:

Whether its boosting a post, donating a lil money here and there, or showing acts of kindness to my neighbors, I want to support others to the best of my ability. Witnessing all the tragedies and needs of the world can make me feel so helpless. But then I realize I need to take a step back and acknowledge the ways I have already been helping and the places I can push myself to help a bit more. Either way their is absolutely no way for me to fulfill all the needs in the world. On the other hand, I also don’t want to underestimate the power I have as an individual and the power we have as a collective to make change happen, one action at a time.

6. A ton of secondhand shopping:

ok I didn’t say that all of these were HEALTHY ways of staying sane, and I recognize it as a problem. No need to get into it further. But here’s proof if you need it.

What are you doing to stay sane?