*Doctors with Stress and Burnout in Coronavirus Crisis*

It sure has been awhile, huh?

I’ve definitely experienced some lack of inspiration that I suppose I could blame on COVID since that’s what’s hot these days. And there’s some truth to that. Being present for other people’s stress and mental health issues 24-7 (Oh, you thought a therapist’s job ended with the clients!) has left me feeling more exhausted and with more diminished mental capacity than usual.

I’ve gone through all the emotions. Over and over and over. Hopeful. Excited. That people will use this less busy time and space to go inward and emerge as butterflies from the cocoon of avoidance of all that’s scary and uncomfortable. Disappointed. Sad. Angry. That the opposite seems to be happening. People are digging deeper and deeper into avoidance, harming themselves and others. Calm and peaceful. When I spend time alone and in nature. Which unfortunately doesn’t pay the bills or satisfy the craving for human connection. Impatient. Stuck. Restless. Happy. Joyful. It isn’t always the uncomfortable emotions, but there are a lot more of those.

It’s funny because the pandemic in and of itself hasn’t bothered me a whole lot. Sure, I’d love to freely travel and spend time with the people I love without having to give it a second thought, but I’ve also accepted this current reality and have done the best I can to make the most of it. And I’ve even found some silver linings. I know it will end and life will change again because that’s what it always does so I’m trying to appreciate this season as best I can.

Where I’ve struggled more is with other people not being able to do the same. I’ve judged them, been angry at them, had to set hard boundaries to protect myself from excess toxicity. It’s been exhausting. And all I can think is it doesn’t have to be this way. There are ways to deal with life not going the way we want it that build us up and make life better rather than the other way around.

I’m not trying to take away from the very real struggles, fears, and pain that we’ve experienced during this last year. It’s been A LOT! But avoiding all of that leads to unnecessary suffering.

So I had to do something with my own pain and discomfort. And in being very present with and listening to what that had to tell me, Mindfulness IRL (in real life) was born. I realized that mindfulness was what helped me cope better than most with the lack of control. But many people struggle to stay present or don’t really know how to. Us human beings will do almost anything to avoid facing reality and ourselves, which has led many to become stuck in emotions and unhealthy behaviors. This isn’t entirely unique to this last year, but it’s definitely been much more in our faces. Many are struggling with depression, fear, anger, loneliness, loss of loved ones, loss of job, loss of control, and not that mindfulness will immediately solve all problems, but it’s a necessary first step in order to move forward.

*Woman Driving Car While Looking at Cell Phone*

Mindfulness IRL is based around the idea that mindfulness isn’t just meditation, but rather present moment awareness that can be practiced anytime, anywhere, and doing anything. Driving in the car. Stuck with screaming kids. Burning dinner. Attempting to learn a new skill. Literally anything. As uncomfortable as it may be, being present with the reality of our lives actually reduces stress and allows us to consciously make decisions that best serve us so we can live our best lives.

Mindfulness IRL will be many things. I’ve spent the last several months creating a YouTube channel. This is something that is very much outside of my comfort zone, but please check it out, subscribe, and give me feedback (Mindfulness IRL is its official channel title/name/whatever phrase YouTube uses.). I’ll also stay more on top of this blog, with written mindfulness advice. Hopefully I’ll find a more mindful way to be on social media more, but I’m leaving that as TBD. And there will also be workshops, programs, events, and other opportunities to learn more about and practice mindfulness in your real, day-to-day life. Especially in the outdoors! I’m looking forward to sharing this journey with you so please let me know what you’d like to see and what would be most helpful to you in the comments below.