By Benazir Radmanesh, Silver Linings volunteer
Nourish:
1: To nurture.
2: To promote the growth of.
3a: To furnish or sustain with nutrients.
b: To maintain, support.Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
No matter who we are or where we are in the world, we have all been impacted by the global pandemic of COVID-19. My Silver Linings co-blogger, Sophie Balisky, has been writing an inspirational series of blogs regarding eating disorders and COVID-19. They cover themes such as control, temptations, triggers and support systems throughout isolation. You can read them here. In today’s blog post, I am also taking the opportunity to share some of my perspectives.
A major component for many people living with an eating disorder is the element of control. By controlling when and what we eat, how and how much we exercise and what our bodies weigh. the (distorted) thinking is that we are also gaining control over other aspects of our lives. For many, times of instability, frightening change, or destabilization, will trigger an even greater need for control. Enter COVID-19 and all of the ensuing scary world news, disruptions to our daily lives, social restrictions and more. This is why I’d like to share a few of my tips on how to nourish, not control, yourself right now.
We often think of nourishment in terms of food. However, to truly nourish oneself involves so much more than just what we physically feed our bodies. Nourishment also applies to our minds, our emotions and our spiritual and social selves. Here are a few of the ways that I keep myself well-nourished, and that I encourage you to explore for your own well-being during this very challenging time:
1) Nourish your mind
It’s easy these days to get caught up in the 24/7 news cycle, tracking all of the alarming statistics and new restrictions being announced each day. For myself, I’ve set limits on how much news I consume each day. I allow myself two opportunities to check the news – once in the morning and once in the afternoon – and then give myself a break for the rest of the day. I have also started to focus on surrounding myself with more positive content. For me, this includes posting a daily moment-of-gratitude on my channels as a counter to all of the negative and scary stories online. Another way that I am increasing the positivity in my life is by “sprinkling” my house with affirmations that I have written on coloured Post-it notes. These affirmations are beautiful reminders in visible places in my home such as on my mirror, my kitchen cabinets and my computer monitors. They remind me each day of all that is good and beautiful in my life.
2) Nourish your spirit
The social changes we are all experiencing in response to COVID-19 have required a lot of us to slow down and spend more time at home. This has meant fewer errands, fewer activities, and often, more potentially negative thoughts. To combat this, I’ve been using the extra time to take solo walks in beautiful places or even just around the block, focusing on staying present, observing my surroundings and finding joy in the birds and the trees. I’ve also been spending time on grounding exercises and on taking quiet moments on my yoga mat to meditate and read inspirational readings.
3) Nourish your connections
Isolation and secrecy are two elements that often play a big part in fueling an eating disorder. Spending so much time at home can lead to feeling more alone and isolated than ever. Currently, I have committed to connecting meaningfully with at least one or more friends or family members every day. As my partner works away from home, while I work remotely, I have found myself with much more alone time than I’m used to. To help ensure that I don’t spend too much time in my head and isolate myself emotionally - something that I have struggled with in the past - I have made an effort to call or FaceTime someone once a day, to invite a friend for a socially distanced walk, or to send an email to important people in my life. This practice has helped me mitigate the risks of isolation and instead, stay connected.
During this time of upheaval, it is so important that we commit to daily practices to keep ourselves feeling nourished – physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. For my own recovery, I know that feeding my body nourishing foods is only one part of keeping myself well. I must also ensure that I am taking care of myself in a well-rounded holistic way. I hope that some of my tips above also help you to care for yourself during this time. Please be gentle with yourself, speak to yourself with love, kindness and affirmation, and find small ways to nourish yourself each day.
Sending love and light
X., Benazir
