Our best advice for managing the immense stress of this moment

It is, to put it mildly, a lot right now. And for many of us, the chaos going on around us is having a crippling impact on our brains, our relationships, our sleep schedules, and our jaw muscles.

We’re not here to tell anyone to “stay positive,” because that’s not helpful, nor is it necessarily appropriate when taking action is essential for change to happen. But we are here to remind you that taking care of yourself is vital, even when it’s in tiny, imperfect ways. Even when it mostly involves lying down.

So if you’re looking for a place to start, here are some of our best articles on getting through stressful moments without pretending everything is fine.

When you want to scream…

Sometimes the move is not to journal, it’s to release the rage from the depths of your soul. Here we offer a few practical-ish options for those moments when the pressure has built up and your indoor voice has officially left the building.

When you can’t stop scrolling…

We all know the feeling. You pick up your phone to do one thing, and suddenly you realize it’s been two hours, your arm is numb, and you’re exhausted and wired at the same time. This article is for when “just put your phone down” is technically a good idea, but it feels too hard to put into action. It’s about replacing the scroll with something that actually gives your brain a break, like growing something, moving your body, or reading a book.

When everything feels too hard…

Some days, even “self-care” sounds like too much work. A bubble bath? Do you have to actually fill up the tub to do that? This article is about very small, very doable things you can try when life feels overwhelming, like opening a window, making bad art on purpose, or eating your favorite pizza. It’s not about fixing the world before lunch. It’s about helping yourself feel slightly more like a person while the world continues doing all of this.

When you only have five minutes…

Self-care does not have to be a whole production involving a collagen face mask, a matching pajama set, and a new sleep regimen. Sometimes it’s literally just cutting your fingernails. There are so many quick actions that can help you feel a little more grounded when you don’t have the time for a full wellness routine. Clean one thing. Put on lotion. Text a friend who makes you laugh. None of it has to solve all of your problems. It just has to help a little bit.

Start wherever you are

There is no gold star for being the calmest person in a stressful moment. And there is no prize for reading every headline, answering every text, or pretending you’re totally fine when your nervous system is clearly going into shutdown mode. So pick one small thing to do right now to make things just a little bit better.