Most of us know how to balance a financial budget although many may experience a deficit balance much of the time. This is especially true of some of the unemployed who do not qualify for the stimulus bonus or whose unemployment amount is so small that even with the stimulus bonus is not enough to meet essential expenses. There are also those who do not qualify for any unemployment checks and those who continue to work for minimum wage. Others who have worked hard and have retirement benefits are living with a stock market which daily or even hourly fluctuates. Knowing how to balance the financial budget does not mean one is able to do so.
There is another budget when many have a difficult time balancing even though they know full well the basics of doing so. This is the energy budget. This was often tough even before covid-19 arrived to add not only financial hardships but increased responsibility as daily child care provider, at home teacher, chief entertainment officer, chief cook for 3 meals a day and tending to the symptoms of strained nerves while shelter at home orders keep away potential physical and emotional support. There are amany families who have or had one or more sick members or even had to face the death of a loved one without the in-person support of family and friends. If one felt compelled to watch or read about the news one might have the visceral experience of hearing the hiss of the last bit of air sucked out of one. On top of that if one had a sick family member and a significant co-pay or deductible (assuming one even had health insurance) there was additional stress. A financial deficit can, for many, also means an emotional, physical and spiritual deficit.
One could easily see that a there may be more emotional, physical and spiritual energy going out than is coming in. Symptoms of a such a deficit might be physical exhaustion, anger, taking behavior of others personally, triggering of PTSD symptoms, intestinal issues, poor appetite, changes in nutrition, increased caffeine and alcohol use and the worsening of pre-existing medical conditions.
Clearly it is time for the family to gather and brainstorm ways of balancing the energy budget. One might be surprised at the creativity of adults and children once they begin to own and address the deficit. Suggestions might include
• Power off times - no television, smart phones, or other devices
• Bring out the board games.
• An outdoor picnic if weather and space permits.
• An indoor picnic - bring all the house plants together and gather the picnic supplies.
• Finger painting or other creative times.
• Family discussion about the emotional, physical and spiritual budgets.
• Physical exercise or even chair yoga if some family members are physically challenged.
• Communicate with friends via zoom or other apps, face time, email.
• Laughter, laughter and more laughter.
• Family discussions about reducing financial budget issues.
• Limited news.
• Time out to nurture oneself.
• Recognizing symptoms and calling a family meeting for support.
• Permission, if space permits or safe outdoor space permits, to have “I am not doing humans.” for the next two hours or other agreed upon time period.’
• If religion or spiritual practices are part of family customs be intentional about sharing such time. For example, share spiritual intentions daily with each other. Keep such intentions simple and achievable. For example, one friend decided that her spiritual intention was to be fully present to savor a cup of coffee for 15 minutes.
The mere recognition that all budgets have to be balanced or approximate balance as much as possible can initiate the process of moving closer to balanced budgets.
Written June 30, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org