Home, Daily Rythms, and Resilience

The famous pediatrician-turned-psychoanalyst, D. W. Winnicott, once observed, "home is where we start from." Home, whatever it may consist of, largely influences our approach to crises or disasters, as well as our approach to life and the world in general.

Below are some ways to help your home, or the spaces in which you reside, enhance your ability to cope. 

Beginning the Day

As much as we like to remind one another that the sun rises, even if behind the clouds, the reality is that the sun does not rise and you do not have to pretend that it is rising behind the clouds in order to help yourself feel better. Rather, the Earth carries you, every evening, to greet the sun in the morning, without you doing anything at all. In gratitude, you can rise to meet it. 

Then, greet yourself in the mirror, and, if you live with others, greet those around you. No matter the circumstances in which you may all find yourself, allow your greeting to be a sign of how much you value and care for one another. 

Beginning in the morning, strive to do the following throughout the day: 

• Hydrate with water
• Include proteins, vegetables, and vitamins with your meals
• Especially during stressful times, limit sugar, caffein, and alcohol
• Move (i.e., walking, stretching, or other forms of exercise)

Throughout the Day

Continue to greet people you encounter in ways that express how you value and care for them. Be grateful when others do the same for you. Work with care, and take at least five minute breaks at least every hour to walk around and focus on something else. These breaks actually will help increase your ability to work well, especially in times of stress. Some people find it helpful to set an hourly alarm for themselves. 

Mid-day and/or early evening, set aside time to talk with or share a meal with people you care about and who care about you. If they are far away, talk with them on the phone or video. 

Ending the Day

Create or recommit to a bedtime routine. Here are some practices you may find helpful:

• Limit screen usage at a certain time
• Use dim lighting at a certain time
• Read or listen to a book you enjoy
• Enjoy an herbal tea 
• Take a bath
• Use aromatherapy
• Say prayers
• Journal
• Meditate
• Practice breathing slowly
• Silence your phone

Creating or recommitting to a regular bedtime routine will help your body feel that it can rely, and relax, into a restful night. 

If you are an organizational leader or volunteer leader, you can be encouraging your staff or volunteers to be practicing healthful routines at home and throughout their work days. This can help to increase moral and productivity, and encourage an overall supportive culture. 

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Rev. Dr. Kate Wiebe serves as the Executive Director of ICTG. She is an organizational health consultant and pastoral psychotherapist. She lives with her family in Santa Barbara, CA. ​