Handling Current Event Stress While Taking Care of Yourself April 30, 2022

It seems that everywhere we turn, we continue to face heartbreak, challenges, and horrible realities in our world. We’re still facing the realities of the global pandemic, we’re watching countries suffer war, death, and famine, and we’re experiencing the highest cost of living in our history. For me, there are some days when my daily challenges seem pointless when I think about the larger events happening in our world. People are losing their loved ones, their homes, their freedom – it can be difficult to concentrate on my day-to-day responsibilities when these things pop into my mind.

So I started the exercise of seeing what I can do to help, give back, offer support, and just be there for my brothers and sisters in mankind. These things can be big or small, but it helps me feel like I’m doing what I can to make sense of all these horrific events, and even if I can help one person a day, I’ll feel more at peace, and it will inspire me to take more of these actions on a regular basis. Kindness is contagious, and there’s never been a better time to showcase your generosity and spread the good spirit.

1. Make financial donations

Given the war, there’s so much we can do from the outside to provide resources and support for victims and their families. The healthcare system is overrun with outstanding needs, so you can donate blood, volunteer, or even give meals to healthcare workers that are overworked and being stretched too thin. If you have the means, you can also make donations to families in need that might be affected by inflation, the low minimum wages, or even at homeless shelters that need resources.

2. Make a pass through your home

Every 6 months or so, I like to do a full inventory of my apartment to see if I own anything that might serve someone else in a better or more efficient way. This could be anything from clothing or shoes to personal toiletries or books. When I make the donation to Goodwill, I ask the team in-store what items people are asking for the most often. I’ll take that list into consideration for my next semi-annual home pass to see if there are items I can bring on my next trip.

3. Build awareness

For many of us, having additional resources might be rare, but that doesn’t mean you don’t want to contribute or give back to your larger society. Another great donation you can make is your time. Thanks to our digital technology in today’s world, we’ve never been more connected to the rest of the world as we are now. Spreading awareness is the backbone to making any kind of change, so if you can’t contribute your finances, time, or items, you can donate your words. You can sign petitions, share posts about communities in need, participate in marches, or even contact your local government if there are changes needed in your immediate community. Your voice is just as powerful as your wallet, so there are so many great things you can do if you want to be more involved in making a change in the world for the better. A really effective strategy to raise awareness for causes that may be close to your heart is to round up a list of nonprofit organizations that focus on a specific cause or group. You can create this list, complete with their widgets that call for donations, and then distribute that list within your digital social network. It’s amazing how powerful the share button can be, and there’s no harm in sharing with your network what is important to you. Maybe for your birthday, in lieu of gifts, you can ask your network to instead donate to a cause of your choice.

4.Listen and engage

Ultimately, change cannot take place without active listening and engagement. We must participate in a dialogue that is respectful, helpful, and engaging. We must share our ideas and ensure that we really listen to the various perspectives and experiences from others all over the world. It isn’t until we truly listen until we can see a change take place. Encourage your friends and family to participate and join in the conversation so that your loved ones can be a catalyst for change.

We’re living in a very strenuous time right now all over the globe. It can be difficult to focus on your daily needs and responsibilities when it feels like the world is crumbling all around us. Help your neighbor, but it’s just as important to take care of yourself as well.