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If you ask me right now, I am not okay. 

Overwhelmed. Scared. Hurt. Sad. Worried. Those are some of the feelings tugging at my heartstrings.

And no, I don’t want you to feel sorry for me because I can do that all on my own, but I won’t. 

Like most of you, ever since this pandemic started, the way I see human life has completely changed for me.

As if worrying about dying to a mysteriously-growing virus wasn’t enough, black humans have to also worry about dying at the mortal hands of a deeply-rooted, human virus. Jesus. 

Jesus take the wheel indeed.

Me, personally, I’m really trying to hold unto my sanity as best as I can but sometimes, it can be too much. So, I’m going to share with you some ways to keep your sanity in these trying times.

Do a thorough cleaning of people/things that bring negativity into your life. 

This includes work life. Family life. Fake friendships. Toxic relationships. Social media.

One thing about social media — although it has its good moments when used in moderation — it can be a very addictive and toxic place for your mental health. Be careful of this. If notice yourself getting overwhelmed by a lot of digital information, please take a break from all forms of technology so you can regroup your thinking.

Once you’ve cleared out all forms of negativity, fill those empty spaces with positive affirmations, happiness and light. Affirmations like I am great. I am loved. I can do it. I am thankful.

*I am not a doctor, life coach, or healthcare professional. My blog posts are just my opinions and the results of things that either worked for me or didn’t. I am just passionate about sharing my experiences and providing tips on self-care and personal development. 

Build a sense of gratitude.

Feeling thankful for all that you have helps to keep you sane. It’s a powerful thing to refocus your mind and think about only the good things that you have. 

Some people fall into the bad habit of comparing themselves to others and wanting to live up to other people’s livelihoods or expectations. The truth is no one knows what struggle that person maybe having in their own lives, and to focus your attention on getting more than what you have based off of other people is a pure waste of time.

Instead, every morning you wake up (after your morning prayers, of course), mention three things you are grateful for in general. Then, at night before you go to bed, mention three things you are grateful for that day. This form of mental exercise will keep you focused on being grateful and minding your business.

Drink more tea, please.

I’ve really grown to adore the art of sipping tea. 

I’m so proud of myself because I’ve finally upgraded from simple, black tea to salted carmel tea on a cold day and pomegranate tea on a cool, summer night. 

And yes, those are my favorite teas at the moment. If you have some favorite teas, please do share so I can build my collection.

When I was young, I would always watch British tv shows and be fascinated with their elegant tea parties and crass conversations about whatever they had on their mind and think that could never be me. 

Well, now, look at me. I love a perfect combo of sipping tea, cozying up in the living and chatting it up with the homies.

Honestly, it wasn’t until I started working at my toxic job environment that I began implementing tea into my daily routine. Something about the aroma and the hotness of the steam, brought a wealth of calm to my soul and warmed my insides with love. It seemed like all thought of problems were minisiqual once I had my tea in hand. I was hooked.

So, the next time you’re having a self-care day or a sanity check, try implementing weekly tea sips into your nightly ritual.

Get a journal, like no, for real though. 

Since there are a million thoughts running through your mind every day, journaling can help you to manage stress and set personal goals. 

Journaling can also be helpful for thoughts you cannot express into verbal words. There are days where my emotional sensitivity is on an all-time high and I lose the ability of how to sensibly express myself to people. I find that writing down my thoughts/feelings come easier to me than directly telling people how I feel. After journaling my feelings, I am then able to breathe deeply, assess and formulate the right words, express those feelings to others, and keep my sanity in-tact. 

To help manage your feelings, a mood journal would be best. Get in the habit of writing down how you feel each day, even if you’re not much of a feelings person. In the journal, Include self-evaluating prompts like:

What thoughts are entering your mind that aren’t safe?

What are your top three feelings right now and why?

What have you done just for you today?

Tap into your spirituality.

If you didn’t already know, spirituality is one of the 8 main types of self-care. Spiritually involves meditating, connecting to a higher power (God),  nurturing your soul with your spirit, and trying to find the meaning of life. Spirituality can also influence personal beliefs and values that guide you through the course of your life.

If you’re like me and you enjoy listening to gospel and worship music, I’m sure you’re familiar with being led and completely consumed by the spirit of God. If nothing else, that alone helps me with my sanity. 

Just the other day, I was listening to The Blessing by Kobe Jobe & Cody Carnes. I immediately began crying because the song filled me with so much hope and comfort. 

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Moreover, if you’re like me and are totally not okay right now, and are slowly losing your sanity; I desperately implore you to never give up hope and continue the good fight. 

Remind yourself that the chaotic noise happening in your mind is only temporary and though we may not know it, we are so much stronger (mentally, physically, and emotionally) because we’re alive to fight another day. 

So with that, I leave you with one of my favorite quotes:

To fight the good fight is one of the bravest and noblest of life’s experiences. Not the bloodshed and the battle of man with man, but the grappling with mental and spiritual adversaries that determines the inner caliber of the contestant. – Hugh B. Brown 

Now, Let’s Discuss:

How have you been keeping sane in these trying times?

Let me know down in the comments below.