“I was consuming so much unrelenting bad news, it was like a fog was covering me, almost like a hangover,” he says. amy aniobi. “In 2020, we were all stuck at home and only communicating with the world through our phones. News was hitting our feeds at such a fast pace: the pandemic, George Floydthe climate crisis – that it felt like we were underwater, drowning in guilt and pain.”
Fast-forward to now, and unfortunately, not much seems to have changed. Inequality abounds, our faith in the political system has been demolished, carbon dioxide emissions are rising and the energy crisis is so serious that it poses a humanitarian risk. one late afternoon scroll of destiny it can leave us feeling sad at best; riddled with anxiety at worst.
That’s why Amy, a writer, producer, and director known for her work on the hit HBO series Insecure – started a podcast with her colleague and friend Grace Edwards, called the antidote; literally, to provide an antidote to the madness in the news. Each week, the show shares tips and activities that spark feelings of joy in its listeners, and Amy and Grace share mental health strategies. they use to cope with the difficult times we are all surviving.
“We wanted to make a podcast that would be accessible to everyone,” says Amy, “and create something that would bring listeners joy in such difficult times.”
Here, Amy shares her top 10 coping mechanisms, from small acts of self-care to more pertinent commitments to your mental health, to help you weather the storm and feel a little more like yourself in these dark, scary, and uncertain times. .
Joshua Kissy
flower arrangements
It may sound like a small thing, but arranging flowers is something I do entirely on my own. On Friday nights, when I finish my work day and before I go out to see my friends, I put on a good soundtrack: Beyonce’s. Renaissance at this time, naturally, cut the stems, put them in vases and place them around my house. I needed a hobby that wasn’t related to work, that wasn’t on social media, and that would bring beauty into my home. It’s something I do just for me – and we all need a little more of that.
Take long walks in open spaces.
I’ve never been much of a hiker, but during the pandemic, I realized how much walking could lift my spirits, even if it’s just a brisk walk on my lunch break. I often just go around my neighborhood walking the streets and getting out into nature, listening to music, a podcast or an audio book, or sometimes I just live with my thoughts. It’s fresh air, it’s exercise, and it’s a great mood-boosting break from screens.
Have “non-negotiable” friendships
This is a phrase I learned from Tefi. [Pessoa]also know as @helotefiwhen she was our guest at The antidote. She explained that she has best friends, but she also has ‘non-negotiables’. They are the friends who have to find out about everything that happens in your life; they are the ones who know you best. They always show up for you, and you always show up for them. It’s the people who call, and no matter what time it is, no matter how busy you are, you answer. It’s the people who ask, ‘Do you want to hang out this Friday?’, and I’m going to find a way.
.
