WRAP IT UP. HUNKER DOWN.

/in /by

Last week, I looked forward to writing a blog about the success of completing a term, celebrating that completion, celebrating the season.

Just seven days later, and how things have changed. Again. Talking with clients, students, colleagues, family, it became pretty obvious that being told to celebrate after the Omicron whammy and how it has affected people’s plans, motivations, moods and energy–telling people to celebrate just might not be in tune with where we all are.

I want to share with you how many times I’ve heard, “I just don’t care anymore.” “I’m so done with  this.” “I don’t even know –if classes will be online again –if I’ll get back into the country –if I should visit my grandma –what the government is going to do –when I can get a booster –if the booster will protect me . . . “ and on, and on. I’m sharing these not because they are such a downer–they are–but to share that you are not in this alone. We are indeed in this together. Not that that answers any of our doubts or concerns, but it does let us know that, yeah, it’s not just us.

So I’m not going to do a Rah Rah Go Team Go! blog this week. It’s wrap up the term, shake your head, and hunker down.

You know what you need to do to wrap up the term, maybe one last exam, hand in one last piece of work, check to see when and how grades will be posted and mark that on your calendar.

Then hunker down over the holidays. I like Merriam Webster’s definitions of “hunker down:”

  • to lower the body to the ground by bending the legs: The hikers hunkered down under a cliff until the storm passed.
  • to stay in a place for a period of time: The leaders hunkered down at a country estate for difficult peace negotiations.

With no classes and no more work to be handed in, it’s a good time to go to ground, to focus on being grounded, until this storm passes. Difficult times, yes, and complex decisions—they will unfold as we get more information. This week, let’s maximize self-care and minimize stress.

Again, sharing what works for others, here are some tactics to try:

  1. Put boundaries around the mental energy you spend on COVID by
    1. checking news and campus updates only once a day, and not just before bed,
    2. hanging out with people who talk about issues of interest other than COVID—maybe take the lead in limiting COVID talk to the first 5 minutes of a social conversation. This may be a relief to others, as well as to yourself.
  2. Have a COVID issues page in your journal or planner.
    1. When your mind goes to COVID questions or worries, write them down here. Then go on to another activity. 
    2. Schedule a time once a day or every other day when you are going to sit down and consider what you can find out, what you can do.
    3. Then put your mind and body on to another activity.
  3. Carry on with the stress reducers that worked for you during the term:
    1. Schedule your “must-do” items on your calendar each night so you have fewer moment-by-moment decisions about what to do next.
    2. Keep physical.
    3. Music. Meditation.
    4. Walks.
    5. Pets—extra walks, games, tummy rubs.
  4. And endorse yourself for every self-care, for every effort.

Merry Christmas sounds kind of strange, what with this last week. But I’m going to say it anyway. Let’s have that low-keyed Christmas. Focus on what is essential for you—the scents, the tastes, the spirituality, the voices, the music, the solstice—whatever makes the season have its core meaning for you. 

Take care, and this week, find your ground.

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The information in this blog cannot take the place of support from your own mental health professional or community health resources. Reach out to them. And IF YOU ARE IN CRISIS  PLEASE DIAL 911.