By Dr. Jinneh Dyson, Special to Houston Style

The days are long, and often with no specific start or end times.

No two days are the same, and while some make it look beautiful, it is typically messy for most of us.

From changing diapers to the neverending piles of laundry to managing parent-teacher conferences, pleading with picky eaters, stopping fights among siblings, googling answers to homework questions, wiping tears away at bedtime, and helping our little ones learn to dream bigger dreams. Being a mom is both one of the most precious gifts on this side of the earth and also one of the hardest jobs that many of us have ever done.

As we embark on Mother’s Day 2020, I can’t just celebrate this day as I have always done without first acknowledging the immense amount of anxiety and ambiguity that this holiday, especially this year, holds for many moms around the globe.

To essential workers who are courageously fighting on the frontlines. You are standing brave and tall for others while reporting higher levels of stress and anxiety.

We salute you.

To our amazing teachers who are working diligently to move our kids to online platforms, while simultaneously making sure your own child is completing their work and not just playing Roblox.

We salute you.

To our military moms who have been deployed to help support and offer more aid to our healthcare professionals leaving once again your kids and families behind.

We salute you.

To entrepreneurs, small business owners, and service providers who may be experiencing severe financial hardships in this season, while still pivoting and smiling to the world.

We salute you.

To mental health practitioners who are experiencing an abundance of new referrals, but who are secretly praying that their depression and anxiety remains intact.

We salute you.

And to the stay-at-home moms who have been rocking this space, but now feel a sense of overwhelm and uncertainty as playdates and field trips have temporarily come to an end.

We salute you.

And to mom’s everywhere who are parenting around the clock, with no breaks, no alone time (besides sitting in your car in the parking lot of Target), no date nights with your boo, or outings with your girls.

We salute you too.

Motherhood. Parenting. This Covid-19 season is not easy; it is down-right hard.

And a few weeks ago, I too felt overwhelmed and entirely burdened by this temporary “new normal.” But, here’s the thing, it’s okay to feel this and experience this, but we can’t stay there. So as your advocate and friend “in your head,” I want you to know that you are not alone and that you can and will get through this.

Here are a few daily mental habits that have helped me over the years and thousands of ThinkUP friends around the world to not stay down:

1. Practice Gratitude. It’s simple yet powerful. Research has shown that reflecting on things you are grateful for, in as little as 90 seconds, can shift your entire mood.

2. Eliminate yo-yo thinking. Just like a yo-yo, our thoughts at times can go up and down. Stop this act of self-sabotaging and focus only on ONE thought.

3. Seek Silence. There is something beautiful about disconnecting from the world, social media, the news, and the noise around us. Whether it is sitting in your car, taking a walk around your neighborhood, or camping out in your closet. You deserve this, and you need this. Allocate the time that you need to sit and be still. 4. Move YOUR body. I can’t express the vitality of daily movement, especially as it relates to reducing your cortisol levels (these are the stress hormones). 20-30 minutes a day can change your life. Not only can you potentially look better over time, but you will start to feel better in a shorter duration.

5. THINKUP! This is not the time to be consumed with doubts and negativity. You must Think YOUR Way UP. You must think about what it is that you want to achieve, who you want to become, you must create it in your mind first, and then do ONE thing NOW that will help you get there. Remember, success is simply the sum of small efforts repeated over and over. Your job is not easy, but it is simple. You must win everyday. You must SEEK the possibilities and SEIZE the opportunities.

While we are not the “invisible heroes” that are paraded and celebrated across news mediums, nor do we desire such acknowledgment or attention, I do believe that we are a new class of unsung heroes.

We are apart of the Warrior Class of 2020.

We cry. We fight. We keep going. We may get tired. We may fall. But we won’t fail. We were born and created for a time like this.

Wipe your tears. Grab your journal. Your running shoes….and create what you desire!

You got this…you can do this….I’m rooting for you…. Happy Mother’s Day Girlfriend, let’s conquer the world together!

I’ll see you at the table!

ThinkUP,

Dr. Jinneh

If you or someone you know has a mental illness, is struggling emotionally, or has concerns about their mental health, please consider the following:

Call 911 if you or someone you know is in immediate danger or go to the nearest emergency room.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255); En Español 1-888-628-9454

Crisis Text Line

Text “HELLO” to 741741

Dr. Jinneh is an award-winning mental health advocate who travels the globe; teaching thought leaders how to think their way up. When she is not traveling the globe, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Anthony and their three ThinkUP kids.