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"I deserve to do things that help me feel refreshed."
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Welcome to another week of self-care! Today, we're talking about:
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Did You Know?
What percent of U.S. adults have a mental illness?
Scroll for the answer!
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What To Know About Anticipatory Grief
Loss can be extremely difficult — especially when it's unexpected.
But what about when you know a loss is coming?
It can feel like our grieving is drawn out as we know that loss is coming. And that can make it all the more painful when we're mourning something we haven't even lost yet.
However, sometimes, we mourn a quality of life, a future that suddenly looks different, or sadness we know we will experience.
This is known as "anticipatory grief."
We may immediately think of the loss of a loved one when we think of grief, but we can also experience it when a relationship ends, we become unemployed, or experience other hard situations.
Anticipatory grief may arise when we or a loved one are diagnosed with a terminal illness, when we feel the anticipation of a relationship coming to a close, or when a loved one's quality of life or health begins to decline.
Grief can appear in many forms — anger, sadness, frustration, and disbelief.
Feeling this grief before the loss has actually "happened" may also lead us to feel guilty — but experts note there is no "right" time to grieve. Like all of our emotions, this feeling is valid when we experience it.
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How To Manage Grief
As author Nora McInerny said, there is no "moving on" from grief — instead, we learn to move through our lives with it.
But where do you even begin?
Whether you're currently grieving or if you're experiencing anticipatory grief, here are a few ways you can navigate these challenges, as shared by Mayo Clinic:
- Permit yourself to feel: We may want to push away the uncomfortable emotions that come with grief. However, experts say allowing ourselves to experience them is so important.
- Talk with others: Whether it's friends, family, or a professional, sharing your experience and connecting with others can help you navigate some of the complex emotions and challenges you may feel.
- Be patient: We may get down on ourselves for being sad months or years after a loss. However, there's no set timeline for when we should stop feeling those emotions. Allow yourself to feel what you need to feel as long as you need to.
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Your Daily Companion For Stress Releaf
Feeling overwhelmed by stress is more common than you might think. According to a 2022 study by the American Psychological Association, a staggering 34% of participants reported feeling “completely overwhelmed” by stress on most days. Stress may not just affect your mind—it can impact your entire body which can throw you off balance.
Introducing Ritual's Stress Relief supplement—a daily companion crafted to help you support the body’s natural cortisol response so you can take on each juggle with daily relief. With an instant and extended-release formulation for all-day support†, this new supplement is here to provide the relief you need to stay calm while you tackle that never-ending to-do list with ease.*
†8 hour release
Why we love it:
- Clinically-Backed:
- Shoden® Ashwagandha has been clinically-studied to support normal cortisol levels and reduce stress.*
- Quick Stress Relief:
- Suntheanine® L-Theanine is clinically studied to provide quick stress relief within the hour and a non-drowsy sense of calm.*
- Positive Mood:
- affron® Saffron is clinically-studied to promote a positive mood and reduce stress.*
Ready to reclaim your calm? Save 25% on your first month with code NOTETOSELF25. Learn more at Ritual.com and take the first step towards stress relief.*
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Thank you to Ritual for sponsoring Note To Self.
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Ways To Manage Self-Care When You're Truly Struggling
When we're going through something difficult — whether it's the daily challenges of life or something unexpected — self-care can feel impossible.
However, self-care doesn't always mean going above and beyond. Sometimes, self-care means taking care of your basic needs and making sure you can get through the day.
Here are a few examples of simple ways to show yourself love when it may feel less than easy:
- Make sure you're eating: This may include getting takeout, relying on freezer meals, or taking turns cooking with family or friends to ease some of the burden.
- Keep up on basic hygiene: Showering, brushing your teeth, and brushing your hair are important for your well-being and will help you feel better.
- Lean on others: Whether it's friends, family, or a professional, your support system is essential when you are going through a hard time. Remember you are not alone!
- Give yourself grace: Know that if you are struggling, it's okay! Go easy on yourself and do what you need to to get through the day. Know that things will get better.
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Final Thoughts:
Ready to reclaim your calm? Save 25% on your first month with code NOTETOSELF25. Learn more at Ritual.com and take the first step towards stress relief.*
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Parting Thoughts:
- Did You Know: Around 20%. You are not alone if you struggle with your mental health.
- 🏼♀️ Snapshot Of The Day: We'd love to see moments from our readers lives that they are proud of! If you recently accomplished an achievement, experienced a joyful moment, or are proud of a picture you have taken, be sure to capture it on camera and send it to us for a chance to be featured next week!
- Final Self-Care Thoughts for Today: Grief and experiencing challenges in our lives can impact how we feel. However, giving ourselves grace, time to heal, and caring for our basic self-care needs can help us move through these difficulties.
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Share the love
Know a fellow self-care lover who would benefit from joining the Note To Self Community? Forward this email or refer them at readnotetoself.com!
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Know of a great self-care tip or article you'd love to share with the community? Want to send us pictures of you completing one of your self-care rituals? Email us at care@readnotetoself.com!
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