Your media use can have a significant effect on your emotional health. Lately, it's been making me feel a little tweaked. So I did a mindfulness experiment and found a way to use it to boost my mood. I hope this helps you cope with media overload!

With a fully-stocked pantry, free food delivery, and nowhere to go, the corona-crisis is a setup for emotional eating. So I wanted to offer a tip for managing food cravings while social distancing. 
 
Ever notice that emotional eating urges are worse in certain circumstances? For example, when your child leaves half a syrup-drizzled waffle on their plate, when you sit in front of the TV, or when you're the last one awake in the house? These situations stimulate the impulse to eat, even when you're not hungry.

“The Waiting is the Hardest Part” – Tom Petty, Song The Waiting

The first two weeks of sheltering in place were unsettling. Yet, there was much to do to occupy your mind. You had to stock up, be resourceful, move your outside life inside, and make new routines. Once settled, the waiting set in. As Tom Petty points out, it might be the hardest part.

Waiting leaves you to wonder how long this will go on. It makes you ache for normalcy, security, and connection. It can take things from you like a job, financial security or aspects of your identity. It rips away your projects and puts important things on hold.  And it can leave you sick with worry. ​

By: Alison Ross, LMFT

Spiritual teacher and author Eckhart Tolle is one of my favorite teachers during a crisis. His wise guidance, sense of humor and mindfulness teachings remind me that everything is ok inside, even if it's chaotic outside.
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Last week Tolle addressed fears while dealing with coronavirus. He answered a difficult question from his audience:
 
“I am afraid I will get sick. Or someone I love will get sick. Or I will lose all my money in the stock market. How do I deal with the fear?” ​

Mister Rogers once said, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”
 
There is so much information to access about coronavirus. But taking in too much is stressful and not good for the immune system. I’m balancing my need to know with my need for self-care by getting information from only a few trusted sources. To me, experts like Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Sanjay Gupta who have knowledge, data, and experience are some of the biggest helpers and heroes. They help me keep things in perspective and navigate around speculation and rumor. ​