Right now there is so much uncertainty. When will social distancing end? Will I still have a job at the end of this? When will I be able to do another round of fertility treatments? Well, that last question might have been something you asked your reproductive endocrinologist (RE) more than a year ago. We honestly don’t have the answer to any of those questions, but we do have some tips to help you with the feelings of a long wait or uncertainty.
Get Grounded
1. Start with your feet
Nothing sounds more grounded than placing your feet on the floor – but do more than that. Take off your socks and shoes, spread your toes, and notice all the places where your feet connect to the ground. Next, try a different surface. Try carpet, wood, tile, grass, concrete. Lastly, go for a walk, or try a walking meditation.
2. Tap into your senses
Start with what you see. Take it all in, but without labels. Just experience what you see. Now close your eyes. What do you hear? How far away can you hear? What do you hear inside? Now with your eyes open or closed what do you taste? Next, use your hands to touch. Start by touching your feet. Do you feel calmer or more grounded? Cover your eyes. Place your hands over your heart. Then gently touch hands to hands, either your own or with a partner. Lastly, notice your breath. Notice how the air enters the body and where it goes. Then watch as the air leaves the body and how it exists.
3. Get a hug
If you’re in quarantine with another soul, give them a warm embrace in the form of a hug. Set a timer for 15 seconds and hug. Do the hug in silence, and no butt grabbing (until the timer goes off).
4. Move mindfully
You may know this by now but here at Orchid, we’re huge fans of yoga… but that walk under 1. above works too! You can also dance, do Tai Chi, or workout.
Get Clear
1. Write it down
Journaling is a great way to organize your thoughts. Sometimes we have expectations on what this looks like, but it can literally just be a list or even doodled images. If you need some tips on how to get started check out this post.
2. Meditate
Another thing we’re a huge fan of is meditating. Both of our programs, The Experience and The Paths, have several meditations to help you feel more clear.
3. Talk to your partner
If you have a partner, they’re in it with you. They’ll have knowledge of what’s going on and the difficulties you are facing. Just remember to listen and respect each other. Here’s a blog post on ways to promote healthy communication.
4. Talk to a friend
Sometimes your partner doesn’t get it, and that’s ok. Reach out to your best friend, or someone who has been through infertility. Getting your thoughts and feelings off of your chest is sometimes all that you need.
5. Talk to a professional
Talk therapy is used by many because it’s really helpful. A trained professional will listen to you without judgment and often can give you advice on how to approach your situation.
6. Talk to your doctor
Your RE knows your fertility situation. They may not know how this pandemic may play out, but they can tell you what their plans are for you and your treatment.
Get a Plan
1. Ask your doctor
When you talk to your doctor ask them when you should call back. If your clinic has suspended treatments at this time be compassionate, but ask how they will notify you when they are reopening. Also, ask when in your cycle (the first day of menstruation, after your current prescription runs out, etc) you should call back to schedule your next appointment.
2. Create a schedule
This sounds simple but so many of us don’t actually do this. Create a daily, and a weekly, schedule. Take a moment to look at our tips above and include some of those grounding and clearing practices (maybe add in a few self-care activities) into your life.
3. Download our ebook Reset Your Fertility Mindset
This 125-page workbook was designed to get you thinking, daydreaming, and working towards the fertility experience you desire. It guides you through 31-days of self-reflection activities to help you tap into what you truly want deep down. By the end, you will reframe how you want your infertility journey to look and feel moving forward.