Featured Guest: Aimee Nicole Walker~ Trying to Maintain Normalcy When Normal is Constantly Changing #Giveaway

Diverse Reader is thrilled to have Aimee Nicole Walker here today. I love her guest post. It comes at such a vital time. Please take a moment to check it out. There's a lovely giveaway at the end too.

Trying to Maintain Normalcy When Normal is Constantly Changing

First, let me say thank you to all the blogs like Diverse Reader, who are doing their part to spread love and joy while chaos ensues. Like us, they’ve had their worlds turned upside down and are trying to maintain a sense of normalcy when our normal is changing daily—hell, hourly.

I am honestly struggling with emotional energy right now. I’m the consummate cheerleader and, for some reason, take it upon myself to inject positivity and enthusiasm while the world is burning all around me. I’m going to share some tips I’ve found helpful over the years to take back control of my emotions and harness my energy.

1.     Limit negativity. Nothing kills your happiness, peace, and creativity than nonstop negative energy. That means I have to walk away from conversations, even limit interactions with certain people, and reduce the amount of time and energy I focus on social media. Twitter is a dumpster fire right now, and Facebook is filled with well-meaning but misguided people who are convinced this or that will prevent the spread of a deadly virus. We cannot turn a blind eye to what’s going on out there, but we don’t need to watch 24/7 coverage, and we don’t have to engage in fights with imbeciles online. People, we need to protect our mental health just as much as our physical health. Know your limits and when to tap out and take a breather.

2.     Many of you are working from home for the first time and are surrounded by your family. I feel your pain. Noise-canceling headphones. Set boundaries and mean it. Start practicing your mean face in the mirror when you brush your teeth in the morning.

3.     Invest in a white noise app. It was the best .99 cents I’ve ever spent. I get to choose from various different sounds and can create a playlist.

4.     Get up and stretch hourly. Get the blood flowing, prevent blood clots from forming, and energize your brain.

5.     Peppermint oil improves focus. On my desk, I have hand lotion, lip balm, and an essential oil roller I put on the back of my neck to help combat hot flashes. They work really well. If you don’t like peppermint, I’m sure there are other scents that can stimulate focus too.

6.     Try the Pomodoro Technique. It’s where you work in concentrated intervals of 25 to 30 minutes, take a break to stretch or refill your coffee cup, then get back to it. Authors call them writing sprints, but it’s the same concept. Put down your phone and block all outside distractions and concentrate on your work for a set time. I scoffed at the idea at first, thinking I’d lose my train of thought when the timer goes off, but I’m amazed how much I can accomplish. Nerds like me thrive on challenging themselves. Here’s the key to success: stay off social media between sprints/work sessions.

7.     Be kind to yourself. Self-care is more critical now more than ever. Know when to push yourself and know when to back off. Life is about balance, and only you can know what you’re capable of doing at any given moment. When I mentor writers, I tell them to just try. Set a small goal and attempt to achieve it, then reassess. Self-care is different for everybody but is ultimately what brings you peace and makes you happy. Sometimes that is as simple as a nap or a bubble bath. Oh, a bubble bath followed by a nap. Please don’t nap while taking a bath.

To spread a little joy, I am going to gift the complete set of eBooks for my best-selling romantic suspense series, Zero Hour, to one lucky winner. There is just one stipulation. International readers will receive their eBooks direct-to-kindle since Amazon won’t allow you to accept gifted books from the US site.

Virtual hugs and much love to all who need it.

xoxo

Aimee 

About Aimee Nicole Walker

Ever since she was a little girl, Aimee Nicole Walker entertained herself with stories that popped into her head. Now she gets paid to tell those stories to other people. She wears many titles—wife, mom, and animal lover are just a few of them. Her absolute favorite title is champion of the happily ever after. Love inspires everything she does, music keeps her sane, and coffee is the magic elixir that fuels her day. 

Linktree: 

@AimeeNicoleWalker | Linktree

 Giveaway

Enter Aimee's Giveaway :

complete set of eBooks for my best-selling romantic suspense series, Zero Hour, to one lucky winner. There is just one stipulation. International readers will receive their eBooks direct-to-kindle since Amazon won’t allow you to accept gifted books from the US site.  

Contest ends March 31st

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