RESOURCES FOR BOOSTING YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING
In the Kubler-Ross Grief Cycle, the five stages of grief are:
Denial: avoidance, confusion, elation, shock, fear
Anger: frustration, irritation, anxiety
Bargaining: struggling to find meaning, reaching out to others, telling one's story
Depression: overwhelmed, helplessness, hostility, flight
Acceptance: exploring options, new plan in place, moving on
Yesterday, when I went to my office to host some virtual leadership sessions, the normally packed parking garage had just one other car in it. The hallways were empty and dark. There was just one other person on the floor; it was so desolate and eerie that we screamed when we saw each other, surprised to see another sign of human life.
Walking through the dark hallway to my office, for the first time, I was overcome with grief. Grief for the emptiness, grief for those who are sick, grief for those who are struggling, grief for our healthcare workers on the front lines, grief for other small business owners that are grappling with this current reality, grief for everyone who is impacted - which is, truly, nearly everyone.
Collectively, my community - and in many ways our country - seemed to move into the darker phases of grief on Monday. This is unprecedented, this is filled with uncertainty, this is devastating for many people in so many different ways, this is scary.
If you are feeling similarly, you are not alone. We will get through this together. We must take care of ourselves, we must take care of each other, and we must not lose hope.
If you are looking for resources to boost your mental health and wellbeing, during this time, I have compiled some below. They include resources for meditation and mindfulness, resources for online yoga, and resources for mental health.
Let me know if you have other favorites, and I will add them.
"But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.” MLK Jr.
RESOURCES FOR MEDITATION:
Tara Brach’s Website. I recently heard someone refer to Tara as the Queen of Meditation. It’s true. Tara has been meditating - and sharing her resources for free - since long before it was popular. She’s amazing, and her site is packed with free meditations.
Insight Timer. This is my go-to meditation app. It’s free, and it has an incredible selection of meditations sorted by duration, topic, and theme. I recently upgraded in order to access the courses and have been impressed so far. You can also set a timer for non-guided meditations, with either silence or your choice of background noise (music, nature).
Headspace. Headspace is an easy-to-use and beautiful-to-navigate meditation app. Andy Puddicombe, the cofounder, is trained as a Buddhist Monk. His co-founder, Rich Pierson, comes from an ad agency in London. They found each other - and together founded Headspace. If you geek out on how companies are built, listen to their story on How I Built This. They’re currently offering free meditations during this time.
Calm. This is a favorite among several of my clients. It’s also easy to use and has a lovely user interface.
Mogamind. Sign up for the free 7 day experience, which includes 7 audio tracks designed to help reduce stress. The music, to which the audio is set, is gorgeous.
RESOURCES FOR ONLINE YOGA:
Yoga with Adriene. Adriene is a favorite among many of my clients, and also of Anna on the Zing Collaborative team. Adrienne has a fun personality and a very cute dog.
The Studio (Madison). The Studio has moved several classes online with options for both 30 minute and 60 minute classes. Kathleen, the founder, is also offering free, online, daily 15 minute meditations. It’s worth noting that The Studio was the first yoga studio in town to make the incredibly difficult decision to close. Kathleen, Cass, Pam, and their team are leaders in not only the space of yoga, but also of conscious business, and they model this on multiple dimensions.
Andrea Russell. My dear friend Andrea has moved her classes online, as well. You can sign up via Momo Yoga and you might even get a glimpse of her sweet pittie Lucy. Fun side note: Lucy looks exactly like my first rescue pup, Jake. Every time I see her, I’m reminded of my own favorite thick headed white pittie, which always makes me smile.
Mary Beth La Rue. MB has been teaching live, online classes for awhile. Her energy, message, and presence are refreshing always - and especially now. She also has some free offerings on YouTube.
Healing Gracefully. Emily is offering lovely, free yoga classes via YouTube. This Reconnect and Ground course is perfect for the time that we’re in - and just so happens to be beautifully produced!
Stephen Balsley Yoga. Stephen is offering free classes on Instagram, with the option to add music with a playlist that he shares before class.
YogaGlo. Yoga Glo offers unlimited access to online yoga classes. My two cents: pick any of the above options first, not because YogaGlo isn’t awesome (it’s great) - but because we need to support local businesses and entrepreneurs more than ever. It’s an incredibly hard time to be an entrepreneur who typically generates revenue through in-person offerings which are currently all canceled.
RESOURCES FOR ONLINE WORKOUTS:
TMAC Fitness. This consists exclusively of 20 minute body weight workouts - perfect for being at home and sneaking in movement between all of the other things we’re attempting to do right now. Code WHOLE30 extends the 15 day trial to 30 days. After that, it’s $15/month.
RESOURCES FOR MENTAL HEALTH:
The Dying Kind. On this blog, Megan has a number of helpful posts and resources on the topic of grief. Megan taught me the term “disenfranchised grief” - which is grief that’s not commonly recognized by society. Losing a pet, losing a relative who isn’t an immediate family member, having a miscarriage, becoming a mother and experiencing the loss of your old life, leaving a career that had been a part of your life for a number of years or decades…and, perhaps now, navigating a global pandemic and grieving the loss of what life looked like just a couple weeks ago.
She Be Red. Here, Maddie shares her own mental health journey along with a number of resources, songs, and works of art. She also has a podcast, called The Oh Shit Kit. The title seems relevant for our current time, doesn’t it?!
Are there other resources that you’re finding helpful during this time? Please feel free to drop me a note if so. In the meantime, please take good care of yourself - and of each other.
In Love and Solidarity,
Sarah
