Managing stress when you have cabin fever.
My Good Things Jar. Chroma LOVE blocks by RedBliss Design.
I'll be continuing to answer questions from wedding pros (for free) here on the blog, but today I wanted to share some self-care methods you can use to keep your mindset as positive, proactive, and calm as possible.
Some of these ideas may sound cliché or cheesy, but you know what? The cliché, cheesy stuff often works. Who exactly does anyone need to try to impress right now with a detached, nonchalant, too-cool-for-school attitude?
Take what may be beneficial to you from this list, and skip the rest.
First things first, as always, we’re starting off by focusing on the splendid:
Splendid Progress Worth Celebrating
We're an industry that makes our living by celebrating life's milestones, so I'm going to start each of these update posts with a few positive COVID-19 things we can all smile about:
TOTAL GLOBAL RECOVERIES
The number of recoveries is now more than 84,000 people, up from 79,000 yesterday morning.
COMMUNITY FOCUS
Splendid Self-Care + Mindset Tips
Good Things Jar
I've been using a Good Things Jar for several years now, after shamelessly stealing the idea from Pinterest. Here's how it works: whenever something good happens, you write it down and drop it in the jar. I keep the jar near the kitchen so everyone passes by it multiple times a day. On New Year's Eve, we pull out the cards and reflect on and celebrate all the good things that happened that year.
This method can very easily be adapted to celebrate more frequently. Simply add more things you can include on the cards: What made you laugh? What did a sibling do to be kind? What is one of your favorite memories?
Instead of waiting until New Year's Eve, they can be read once a week (or even more frequently), at a time it best suits your family. This might be during a Tuesday game night, Saturday morning over pancakes, Sunday while you're streaming a church service, Friday Shabbat dinner, Monday Family Home Evening, etc.
It can function however you want it to, the key here is creating a tangible method for the people in your house to capture the things that make them feel good, make them feel happy, make them feel loved, and make them feel safe.
Morning Pages
I’ve talked about Morning Pages before, a journaling practice I’ve been using since I was a teenager, long before I learned the technique had an official name and entire creative movement behind it.
Here’s how it works: when you wake up in the morning, you write for three pages, stream of consciousness style. It does not have to make sense, you do not stop and think about what you’re going to say or how you’re going to say it, proper grammar doesn’t matter – you just write for three pages. After that, you move on with your day.
This method works because it allows your subconscious to get out whatever it is feeling on to paper. Often you’ll find yourself writing things you didn’t even know were on your mind. Once it’s on the page, your brain can focus on other issues.
Since you’ve given your thoughts a tangible outlet, it also makes it a lot easier to not take your stress out on other people. A not insignificant benefit while everyone in your family is stuck at home.
Move Your Body
Exercise. Yep, not exactly re-inventing the wheel here. However, my personal fitness mantra is “Workout for your brain and the body will follow.”
Having a brain that immediately maps out every possibly scenario from best to worst-case and can strategize a path for any situation is part of what makes me really good at my job as a wedding business consultant. It also means I’m great in a crisis – able to stay clear-headed and unflustered until everything’s back to normal (you all will need to check in on me when this is over - ha!).
A mind that doesn’t shut off is not so great though for other aspects of my life not related to work. Exercise is just as critical for my mental health as it is my physical health, and the benefits can be felt almost immediately.
Here are some resources I turn to when working out at the gym or a studio class aren’t an option:
Ballet Beautiful: ballet-focused online workouts led by Mary Helen Bowers, the woman who personally trained Natalie Portman for her role in Black Swan. (Paid subscription or individual workout videos available)
Tracy Anderson Method: the workouts change every week, plus you also have access to the entire cardio dance workout library. These are my current favorite for getting out of my head. (Free trial available)
Emi Wong (YouTube): HIIT workouts by Emi Wong, a fitness YouTuber based in Hong Kong. (Free)
The Fitness Marshall (YouTube): Upbeat, positive dance workouts to current pop songs. This one is fun to do with kids, especially if they need to burn off some energy. (Free)
Barre3: Online barre workouts that are the same as their in-studio classes. (Free trial available)
Splendid Self-Care Ideas from Other Wedding Pros
Wedding planner Debbie Geller on what’s helping her stay clear-minded and focused:
My Peloton. I thought I had wasted my money but now I’m so grateful to have it.
Internet games and apps that can be played with someone who is located elsewhere, like online Scrabble or Yahtzee.
Zoom calls with friends in the wedding industry.
I’ve been cooking and delivering dinner every day for an elderly couple who are at higher risk. I’ve found the meal delivery kits helpful because fresh produce comes right to my door.
I allow myself to watch the news for an hour in the morning and an hour at night, and that’s it. Otherwise I can get too wrapped up in it.
Betsy and Becca at Rebecca Rose Events have started the #weddingbizlift hashtag on Instagram so wedding pros can find encouragement in the kindness that’s being shown during this time. Examples of things to share via Instagram post or Stories include:
Wedding vendors and suppliers working together to postpone a wedding rather than cancel it.
A moment of joy in an interaction with a client or vendor.
Something good that happened to your business.
An unexpected act of kindness you have experienced from a client, fellow wedding pro, or member of your supply chain.
From event planner (and one of the most positive people I have ever met), Amy Zaroff:
In an effort to keep our thoughts positive and uplifting for ourselves and others, I am starting a daily Instagram Live called "TODAY is a reason to CELEBRATE!"
Every day at 2 pm EST, 1 pm CST, 11 am PST I will be having one special guest join in to share how they are celebrating the day. If you are interested in joining me and showing us your daily dose of fun (think: cooking, decorating your home, dancing, etc.) send me a DM on Instagram and we will set it up!
Let's party!
We’re All In This Together
I will continue answering Coronavirus-related wedding business questions from ANY wedding, event, or hospitality professional, located anywhere in the world, here on the blog over the next few weeks and possibly longer, so that anyone, anywhere in the world can access the information they may need for their business at any time.
I’ll be continuing to work through the questions sent in so far so that we can all navigate this together as best we can. Please send any questions you have to hello@thinksplendid.com and remember there is no such thing as a dumb question.
I’ll be keeping the names anonymous so you don’t have to worry about being attached to a question in a Google search or in case you don’t want a colleague or competitor to know what’s on your mind.
Written by
LIENE STEVENS
Liene Stevens, the founder and CEO of Think Splendid, is an author, speaker, and award-winning business strategist. Armed with $2000, a healthy work ethic, and an undeserved dose of privilege, Liene bootstrapped Think Splendid from a scribble in a notebook to a successful wedding business consulting firm with a client list spanning 94 countries.
