This summer has brought two critical issues to the forefronts of our minds: racial injustice and the importance of mental health. When the pandemic first hit, many of us started to experience the detrimental effects of staying indoors, disrupted schedules, uncertain careers, and anxiety over our own mortality. And, while we slogged through the battle for calm, hope, and health, we found ourselves compelled to dive into a renewed fight for the basic human rights and racial equality that have been systematically denied from Black people in America.

It feels as though our nation went straight from a struggle for our sanity and right into a struggle for our souls: were we really going to choose people over profit and politics to do the right thing, to affirm racial equality through action, education, and initiative? Exactly how many times would our country need to band together to fight for the most basic of rights and privileges for ALL of our citizens?

The one thing I have maintained throughout the past 4-6 months is that I am certainly able to provide guidance, advice, or insights as a professional on any of these topics. It would be inappropriate to do so. However, I do have the opportunity to be a conduit for information and help to share resources that are credible and helpful. I was fortunate enough to speak to so many different people including friends and professionals, who gave me a lot of helpful resources that I want to share with you all! I hope that this post helps to answer some of the questions you’ve had and gives you a jump-off point for continued learning. I would not be able to share this information without the investment of time and attention from others, and I thank them dearly for their efforts!

Feelings of Anxiety or Being Overwhelmed
A lot of people feel this way right now, so your feelings are completely valid. Here are some tips:

1) Maintain a schedule or routine! Humans actually really enjoy routine. Make sure that you get light (I use a lightbox in the winter) and make a plan for the rest of your day so that you can check things off your list and feel good about your accomplishments, both big and small. Even if you are aren’t really interested in exercise, try to get up and get moving. Activity helps to release endorphins and play a major role in improving your mood.

2) Searching for a job or trying to get work done from home? Take breaks! It is totally possible to get fatigued from staring at a computer screen, so we need to take breaks to reduce the stress and give ourselves a break.

3) Breathing exercises are great for taking a beat and bringing down stress levels. A friend recommended this Instagram post that might be helpful for mental health during this time.

This post focuses on depression, but my friend suggested that the same would apply for feeling overwhelmed. Here are some other posts she found helpful to share and she fully endorses as a therapist.

Social Justice from Home
Just because you can’t leave the house doesn’t mean that you aren’t able to participate in acts of social justice and be a part of the good fight (or good troubele!). Immuno-compromised individuals should always put their health and lives first. Fighting for equality and inclusion is a marathon, not a sprint, so it is extremely important that we all take care of ourselves and our health. The important thing to remember is that there are still a bunch of other things that you can be doing if you can’t be protesting or out and about. Here are the top 3 things to consider:

1. Write emails to the DA’s in the states of Brenonna Taylor and Elijah McClain. Heck, write letters and emails to anyone that you expect to create change. I’ve been writing letters to my local representatives and local officials. I want them to know that I’m watching, and that I expect changes to be made.
2. Donate and sign petitions. Think carefully about where and how you spend your money. Your wallet is an easy place to start your protest.
3. Engage in difficult conversations with people to continue the conversation. Black lives matter all the time, forever, not just when it’s trendy to be marching or protesting. This work isn’t new for many of us, and it’s not performative. This goes beyond just posting on social media or wearing a catchy t-shirt. This is a daily effort that we all must maintain. There are plenty of accounts you can learn from and use to continue to do the work from home. Here is a post that a friend suggested checking out.

Microaggressions
This was a hot topic in my inbox from followers wanting to shut down microaggressions and subtle racist comments that they encounter in the work place and elsewhere. Many of us have come across education on this from programs hosted by our employers or through diversity workshops, but Kate sent me a bunch of suggestions on where to look in terms of other resources, so I want to share them with you, too.

1. Look at the research of Dr. Derald Wing Sue and his research team about microaggressions and how to respond to them. I watched this video on YouTube he did on Race Talk that I thought was really interesting and I learned a lot. It’s a little bit over an hour and the perfect companion to your morning cup of tea or coffee. Around 55 minutes in he talks about “color blindness” and I like the way that he explains why we need to acknowledge color and cites some interesting research on how people talk about race or don’t.
2. Helpful Rebuttals for Racist Talking Points: https://www.instagram.com/p/CBvywQQBYUZ/  
3. Simple response to microaggressions: https://www.instagram.com/p/B_A38lLFRoV/
4. Self care when the news is awful: https://www.instagram.com/p/B_5hB5_gshX/
5. Overt vs. covert white supremacy: https://www.instagram.com/p/CAq9_0uJary/
6. Anti-racism resources: https://www.instagram.com/p/CAqp2Gkne0m/
7. Guide to White supremacy: https://www.instagram.com/p/B9DfahhBChU/
8. Anti-racism mindset: https://www.instagram.com/p/CBWKntUj0AU/

Relationships and Difficult Conversations
The biggest piece of advice I received on this topic: “Lean into the discomfort!” In my Instagram Live with Ayo from the Council for Relationships, she reminded everyone that communication is key. This is something I completely agree with. It is so important to not only ask thoughtful questions but then also follow those questions up with active listening. Check-in with yourself on how you feel. I do this all the time, and if something feels off I continue the conversation to try to get to the root of how I’m feeling and why. You can also check out The Gottman Institute for some helpful posts on relationships. I’ve actually been on their website many times and enjoy reading their blog and would definitely recommend checking that out!

Another great tip from a friend: follow Alicia Tenise on Instagram! So, of course, I did! Alicia has a style that I certainly connect with: colorful, positive, thoughtful, and real. I’ve enjoyed reading about her life and learning from the information she has shared on mental health and the issue of racial injustice. Alicia’s profile is a great example of what I think influencers can aspire to because it doesn’t just showcase her personality, but it also works to lift others up, educate, and inspire. As I continue to share my life and experiences through my blog and Instagram, I definitely want to continue to make strides towards this perfect balance.

In a blog post from the Denver Public Library, the author writes, “It is a privilege to learn about racism instead of experiencing it your whole life.” The post also links to a ton of good reads for continued learning. It is true that if your only experience of racism is to learn about it and not experience it first-hand, you are privileged. It also means that you are also in a situation where you can use that privilege for good and be proactive in your work to support others. If you don’t already support a nonprofit or cause that you feel passionate about, I would encourage you to think about getting started. Every one of us has incredible power to create positive change for others if we choose to do so. I have always felt passionate about education, food security, and women’s issues, so I am regularly engaged in nonprofit work supporting these causes both through volunteering my time and monthly donations. After the killing of George Floyd, I sought out additional opportunities to continue to pursue work in these areas through organizations that specifically dealt with these causes as they affect people of color. There is a lot of research I still want to do to educate myself on how people of color experience education, food security, and women’s issues, but this work is all about lifelong learning and work and that is a journey I am completely committed to.

Don’t forget to check out my Instagram Live with Ayo from the Council for Relationships to catch up on our discussion about racial injustice, mental health, and COVID19. We had some technical difficulties, but we also had some really great conversation that might stir up things you want to reflect upon.