#BreakThings: And We're Back...

03.16.21

In the early days of the pandemic, I felt mentally strong. Staying at home and away from others was the Olympics that I had been training for my entire life. Then, the isolation lasted for almost an entire year. Now, my mental health feels more tenuous.

Little things become big things. My emotions are closer to the surface. And when I started back to work, I realized that I’d forgotten how to interact with people, and handle the noise and stress of an office.

Three months back in the office, I feel a little more stable, but not healed. My emotions are just raw. My surge capacity is depleted. And I am genuinely concerned for what may occur when we’re all back in the office even though our inner-selves are now used to the environmental control and solace of WFH.

This is all to say that before you venture back to work or out into the world again, remember that your emotions may not be ready for the onslaught yet. Be gentle with yourself if it’s hard to go back. Create quiet time for yourself after work. And start establishing boundaries to protect yourself when you need it.

It’s a loud, stressful, chaotic world out there. And as much as we all want to be back to ‘normal,’ we may not be ready.

Big box and online retailers have decimated many American main streets. Some argue that they can’t compete, others say it’s not a level playing field. A bookshop owner in Kansas is fighting back, advertising his higher prices and explaining what that additional cost does, from employing local people to paying for the town t-ball team.

Being willing to change your mind has recently become a bad thing. You’re a flip-flopper if you let new facts mold your thinking. But what if being flexible is also necessary for combating anxiety?

This Atlantic article discusses how admitting that you were wrong and adjusting your thoughts accordingly may be just what you need to feel more in control.

Sunscreen, just like all skincare products, can lose its effectiveness over time. If you need a new SPF, I have 12 fabulous recommendations to share. Some are from my favorite brand, Supergoop, others are from clean beauty and drugstore brands. A little something for everyone to protect themselves from the sun.

The female founders of The Wing, Away, Man Repeller and more 2010s companies were christened the entrepreneurial ‘girl bosses’ that came to save the day. Then, many of them became mired in scandal.

Elle Magazine looks at whether the criticism was justified or just more proof that women are held to a different standard (or maybe, a little of both).

My week was a torrent of emotions, apparently.

{this post contains affiliate links that may generate commission for the author}