In addition to remembering to eat and hydrate, prioritize getting enough sleep to make sure your body and soul have the time to recoup and recharge. Movement will also support your mental health1, keep your energy levels high, and help you stay grounded in your body. A 2018 study found three to five 45-minute workouts each week can help decrease your number of poor mental health days by 40%, including alleviating stress and depressive symptoms. “It is important that we honor the full spectrum of emotions we rightfully have in response to these inequities,” racial justice activist Rachel Ricketts once told me. “Acknowledge and embrace your anger. It is there for good reason, and you have every right to it.” Remember that your anger is a tool for change. It’s an important emotion that’s signaling to you a need, that’s telling you what you value and moving you toward action. So make sure to stop and listen to it. Here’s a frequently updated roundup of concrete ways to help. It’s also a great time to educate yourself if you’re not very familiar with race issues in America. Rachel Elizabeth Cargle, Rachel Ricketts, and many other educators and activists create excellent resources and spaces for those looking to seriously commit to learning and action. Show up and do the work. Breathe in through your nose counting to 4, allowing the air to fill and expand your stomach (not your chest). Then breathe out through your mouth counting to 4. Repeat. On the flip side, make sure you’re spending time connecting with people who are going through the same feelings you’re going through, who are as alarmed and heartbroken as you, so you can love and lift each other up. Connecting with your people will remind you that you’re not alone in this and allow you to let your guard down and make space to grieve. Create a news intake plan that works for you, whether that’s checking in for five minutes a few times a day or simply carving out a one-hour window each day to fully immerse. Avoid the itch to keep checking if it’s not actually serving you or enabling you to serve others. This time should be about doing exactly what your body and soul need, whether that’s meditating, bingeing Hulu, making art, or simply taking a long, hot bath. As Ricketts recently told mbg, “I cannot pour from an empty cup. I cannot show up for others if I am not showing up for myself.” With her warm, playful approach to coaching and facilitation, Kelly creates refreshingly candid spaces for processing and healing challenges around dating, sexuality, identity, body image, and relationships. She’s particularly enthusiastic about helping softhearted women get re-energized around the dating experience and find joy in the process of connecting with others. She believes relationships should be easy—and that, with room for self-reflection and the right toolkit, they can be. You can stay in the loop about her latest programs, gatherings, and other projects through her newsletter: kellygonsalves.com/newsletter
