Fall has always been my favorite time of year. From the crisp air to the cozy blankets that envelop me—and the delicious excuse to bake apple pies—I am in heaven. I feel comforted and safe.
But now, as Autumn moves in and I look out my window to take witness of the leaves beginning to turn a gorgeous golden, I can’t help but think: what the hell happened to summer? In fact, what the hell happened to this entire year? Even more alarming perhaps: why don’t I feel secure or comforted?
The 2020 Thing
If you’ve scrolled through any social media feed (really, pick any) in the past 9 months, you’ve seen an array of tragically comical memes declaring 2020 the antithesis to a banner year. From the deadly pandemic that‘s ravaged the world, to the devastating effects of climate change and the hundreds of thousands of citizens forced to put their lives at risk in order to uphold their civil rights and stand up against discrimination, we’ve been overwhelmed in the sheer chaos and the disorientation this year has caused. It’s as if the world has suddenly decided to collapse upon itself like a failed, pitiful soufflé. And we are all left deflated, gasping for air.
Bonus tip: breathing does wonders for peace of mind. So take a few minutes to breathe with Typeform's mindfulness coach, Kasia, in this guided and relaxing short exercise:
Our minds are likely spinning from this roller coaster ride of misapprehension. Luckily, we’ve (to some degree) all compartmentalized our complex feelings and chalked it up to a “2020 thing”. That’s a good thing. It’s healthy and normal for our brains to work in this way. Like the superheroes we all are on a molecular level, we’ve managed somehow, to protect ourselves from a lot of the more detrimental effects persistent fear and trauma can cause. But even with all of our superpowers, the levels of emotional distress, anxiety, or stress we may all feel, should be attended to and consulted with a little help from a friend or a professional.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 450 million people have, —or are—currently dealing with a mental health illness. Mental health illnesses like anxiety or depression don’t discriminate. They don’t care who you are, what you do for a living, your ethnicity or your gender. They surprise you like an uninvited guest, sit themselves beside you, and chew away at your peace of mind.
So, how do we ensure we are staying emotionally healthy and continue to be badasses in all areas of our lives?
Leaning in and letting go
The WHO defines mental health as a state of wellbeing in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, and can cope with the normal stresses of life. It defines this healthy state as one where we can work productively while also making a contribution to the community.
Here at Typeform we take the well being of all of our colleagues very seriously. Words like empathy, teamwork and bring joy to the journey aren’t just words we throw around because they sound nice. They are values that are ingrained into all we do and how we treat one another.
In that spirit, some of us here at Typeform have gathered our voices for Mental Health Awareness Day in a show of solidarity, to, in part, feel understood in our own suffering, but more importantly, to ease the stigma of mental health illnesses as well as outlying the importance in taking care of our mental health.
We’ve reached out to each other and asked pertinent questions like:
What’s been keeping you up at night?
Do you have any favorite techniques or practices that help you look after your own mental health?
Do you have any other useful resources that you think others may benefit from?
Do you have any tips or advice for combating stress in the workplace?
What advice would you give to somebody else who was struggling with their mental health?
We’ve gathered some of these responses in the hopes our learnings are helpful to you as well. Please note, we’re no experts. And our intent isn’t to school you on how to deal with your suffering, but rather, to join you on your journey, shine a light and simply say: we see you. Scratch that. We are you.
So, here’s a highlight reel of what some of our brave Typeformers have to share about the daily stressors that keep them up at night, along with some helpful coping tips and sound advice for those that can relate to feeling this way:
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Uplifting our own soufflé: tips that are good for the soul
I think lately, many of us can relate to needing a break from the stressors of life as we currently know it. And though the triggers are personalized to each of us, our professions and work life, especially with the increase in isolation and remote work, are key areas.
You might wonder as I so often have, when was that exact moment, [the millisecond even] when you crossed the line from “this is fixable” to “I’m too far gone”. When was that instant when it all became too much? If that’s the case, here are a few additional tips we’ve gathered from our own personal experiences, for ways some of us are healing from, and beating the 2020 blues:
Daily exercises help me. Very regular eating and making sure I have a strong social support mechanism.
I try to keep perspective, remind myself how lucky I am with what I have, and remind myself I do a good job. Also, I find little things to laugh at. And try to make others laugh.
I try to do activities that I enjoy like reading , listening to music, or watching movies.
I find that going for a short walk before starting work is a nice way to get in a clear frame of mind for the day.
Talking and trying to rationalize my concerns is helpful. Some mindfulness and grounding exercises and techniques help me as well.
Taking a bath, doing yoga, or spending time in nature really helps me.
We’ve also shared some advice that has helped us when we’ve gone through our darker days:
Please don’t pretend the problem does not exist. Show vulnerability, it’s okay.
Talk to people. If not your friends or family, then find a therapist. It will really help you.
Don't try to fix yourself alone. Seeking help is a good thing.
More people are dealing with this than you think. Try to prioritize your life’s main values, and invest more time and effort on that, which are the things that in the long will make you happier.
Take a break. Don't try to get everything done. Split your tasks up and work on them one by one. Don't over plan, don't look too far, and plan your imminent future now. Plan for the day, or by the hour, or minute.
Be patient with yourself.
You're not alone. Speak to somebody you trust. It can really help to speak your mind, even if just to deal with the stress. Ranting can be helpful :)
It's normal to not feel OK. Your feelings are completely valid, regardless of what other people might tell you. Give yourself time to heal. Take into account that recovering might be a long process, so don't hesitate to ask for help if you feel like you need it.
Talk. I'm a firm believer in therapy. If you take a pill when you have a headache, know that therapy is exactly the same. It’s a pill for a different ache. Anything that is in pro of caring for ourselves is the way to go.
Don't be scared or ashamed to start psychotherapy. It can be really helpful and help you grow as a person. More people than you think are doing it!
Winds of change (and the light at the end of 2020, hopefully)
Full disclosure: even though I love to bake, I’ve never actually attempted to make a soufflé. Partly because I’ve seen enough movie scenes and cooking shows of deflated chocolate disasters to muster any motivation. But if I’m being real honest, I don’t want to be exposed to others as imperfect in an area of my life that I am so passionate about and have invested so much time in.
Lingering negative feelings can be stressful. They can also lead to panic-stricken instances that pave their way into bad days. Bad days can manifest into not-so-great weeks and those, into painful months. Maybe you can relate, or maybe you know someone who can. Maybe it’s persistent, and maybe it has just been a 2020 thing. The point is, let’s not let our fears or anxieties (or 2020) get the best of us. Let’s fight back - punch it in the face, if you will - by taking care of ourselves and our loved ones.
Cheers to your health and all of ours.
With love,
Typeform.