In this (short-lived, we hope) series, the PHOENIX magazine editorial and art teams share what quarantine is like for them, from who they’re sheltering in place with to where they’re ordering takeout.
What have you been doing to take care of your mental, emotional and spiritual health during this crazy time?
Craig Outhier – Editor-in-Chief
Nature walks on the Arizona Canal, bike rides with my kids, Internet poker.
Leah LeMoine – Managing Editor
I’ve been meditating for almost a decade, so I continue that daily practice, even if it’s only for five minutes. I employ all sorts of tools I’ve learned in therapy, from tapping to breathing techniques. I read a lot of spirituality and self-help books and continue to turn to them long after I’ve finished them. I especially love the work of Pema Chödrön, Thich Nhat Hanh, the Dalai Lama, Brené Brown, Glennon Doyle, Gretchen Rubin, Anne Lamott, Amanda Palmer, Yung Pueblo, Kate Braestrup and Elizabeth Gilbert. I have found Gilbert’s TED Connects conversation about feeling overwhelmed and building emotional resilience to be incredibly helpful during this time of high anxiety. I follow a lot of Instagram accounts that focus on mental/emotional health and spirituality, too.
Finally, I’ve been spending more time in our backyard – much more than I ever did during “normal” life. I drink a cocktail or a glass of wine on the patio a few nights a week. We’ve been watering our baby lemon tree and checking on its progress. I’m dreaming about how I’ll use the lemons when they’re edible in a year or so. Watching it persevere and grow has been sweetly symbolic.
Madison “Maddie” Rutherford – Associate/Digital Editor
I’ve been revisiting my previously neglected bookshelf and plucking various self-help books to pore over while stuck inside. I’m currently reading Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo, which was a Christmas gift that I just recently cracked open. When I read a really good book, it inspires me to write, so I keep my journal readily accessible while I’m reading. It’s a great source to sort out all the thoughts swimming around in my head on a daily basis.
Judy Harper – Calendar Editor
I started walking years ago for my physical health, and discovered along the way that it also improved my mental, emotional and spiritual health. But life often gets in the way, and I’m the queen of excuses when it comes to exercise. Like many, I find that the hardest part is just getting out the door to get started.
It had been awhile since I was walking regularly, but when the pandemic hit and my commute went from 30 to zero overnight, I convinced myself that I truly had no excuse. So I started walking again. No longer attached to my computer or phone, I hear birds chirping and leaves rustling, and I see spring blossoms, scurrying lizards and so many things that I miss while driving through my neighborhood at 25 mph. I’ve spotted hearts and flowers in chalk, painted rocks with smiley faces, friendly messages hung from balconies, calming water features and even a koi pond that I never noticed before.
My favorite walks are Sunday mornings, when I return home, relax and watch my church service online. It’s a great mental reset for mind, body and soul and a nice reminder to live by faith, not fear.
Mirelle Inglefield – Art Director
As I was reflecting on the things that are keeping me sane through this time of isolation and uncertainty, I discovered they all start with the letter G – gratitude, grounding and growth. Now they are collectively referred to in my head as the 3Gs, haha.
Gratitude lists have been a source of comfort for quite a few years – just accounting for the good things in each of my days seems to make the stresses and sad things feel more manageable. Grounding myself by staying connected to friends and family gives me a sense of support and belonging and not feeling so alone and vulnerable in the world. Growth by learning new skills like cooking (yes, this is new to me, and my friends, family and boyfriend who have sent recipes and have walked me through the steps are all credited on said gratitude list) and revisiting and refining old hobbies such as sewing and painting have provided a feeling of accomplishment and self-efficacy. Anytime I experience a low moment, one of these 3Gs will surely swoop in and lift me back up.
Angelina Aragon – Associate Art Director
During this quarantine, I definitely went through a time where I needed to get my mental health back to a normal state (me just wanting to feel like myself again). Once I discovered that my therapist was doing Zoom sessions, it was the best thing I could ask for!
A quick little background: I’ve been taking therapy sessions since January. During this quarantine, I had a moment where I regressed, and I felt extremely bad about regressing. I felt like I did so much work on myself for me just to fall back and not able to get out of this funk. I felt like crap. But we are human, and this is just time for growth. We will always regress or find new triggers. All it means is that we need to get back up and keep moving forward. We have to constantly put in the work and grow. After my session, I felt like a huge weight was lifted from my body. It was just what I needed to feel like myself again.
I’ve also been trying to take time to meditate daily. Donny Starkins has been so amazing with sharing videos and live stories on Instagram and videos on YouTube. Sometimes all we need is quick, five-minute meditation for ourselves, a time to let our minds breathe and just focus on that and nothing else. Donny is really great at shifting our thoughts.
I really appreciate how everyone is still trying to help others through this time and providing helpful tools online. It’s what we all need, especially now.
