Page 4 - Booklet Social Health & Wellness

Social Wellness Practices During the Pandemic

In an era where staying at home is the norm, we still deserve to take care of our social lives for the sake of our well-being, regardless of the limitations the
pandemic poses. It is important to find the opportunity to check in with ourselves, the people we’re sheltering with, and our loved ones who are elsewhere,
and ask “what do I/they/we need in this moment?” We don’t always know, so it’s important to have a list of practices that drop us into the present moment and
allow for the exploration and maintenance of our emotional health.

How to Take Care Of Yourself

8. ADDRESS “EMOTIONAL SLAVERY”. When you feel responsible for someone else’s emotions,
1. GET OFF THE SCREEN. Have a specific time when you shut off
and start feeling or being affected by them rather than maintaining compassionate distance and
work, worrying, or trying to “fix things”. Go outside. Listen to the
communicating love, talk to a friend or therapist, set-up support pairs within your bubble, or find a
birds and breathe deeply.
platform for emotional support.
2. FORGIVE YOURSELF for swinging between connection and
9. GIVE SUPPORT. DON’T SAVE. This means listening without judgement, communicating with
exhaustion. It is natural to try to check in with people. It is okay to
reflection, or not giving unsolicited advice when trying to help each other arrive at mental clarity or
pull back to checking in with ourselves.
a solution to a mutual concern.
3. TRY HANDWRITING when journaling, writing notes and cards.
10. ESTABLISH A ROUTINE WITH YOUR PARTNER.
Research shows that writing 20 minutes a day for 4 consecutive
It is important to do activities that puts you both in the same headspace, like morning walks,
days boosts the immune system by 51% and the benefits can last
reciprocal listening time, and “Special time” where you take turns giving each
up to 6 months.
other your undivided attention.
4. PRACTICE MINDFULNESS. This includes self-compassion,
connecting with others, avoiding too much media, grounding and How to Take Care of Long-Distance Relationships
meditation, and maintaining routine will help you stay away from
your stress response. 11. HOST YOUR FRIEND ZOOM MEETINGS, FACETIMES,
OR SKYPE SESSIONS. Come with a few questions for everyone
5. DO WHAT BRINGS YOU JOY. Take a few minutes to write down
to answer. Ask people to share specific stories. Don’t make it a
activities you know make you happy, even if they are super short.
free-for-all the entire time. It can be overstimulating and hard to
If you don’t know what these are, track your energy for a day, and
keep up, thus subconsciously activating overwhelm and sometimes
then do at least one of them each day.
even fight or flight responses.
How To Take Care of Your Home Bubble 12. MAKE THAT LONG OLD-FASHIONED PHONE CALL.
There’s nothing like the one-on-one phone calls to make you feel
6. PUT YOUR FACEMASK ON FIRST. If you get sick, you spread it closer and more connected to each other.
to everyone else. If you're stressed or not feeling good, don't spread
13. NOTICE THE UNCONSCIOUS AUTOPILOT. Relate instead
it to others.
of control. Practice mindful connecting, see what unfolds in that
7. TRY CO-COUNSELING. Regardless of age and background, space; and watch the urge to take action and “lead” in uncertainty,
exchange effective help with each other, to free yourselves from when relating and staying transparent is often a more effective pivot.
the effects of past distress experiences.” 14. OPEN CONVERSATIONS / MEETINGS WITH GRATITUDE AND
FUTURE-FORWARD EXPRESSION. This opens communication with
ease while helping you and others focuse on the same mission.