Pickering’s very own Shawn Mendes
published an essay in Time magazine early Thursday morning, detailing all his own personal tips and tricks for managing emotions and mental health during the COVID-19 global pandemic that is wreaking havoc with all of our feelings. The “If I Can’t Have You” singer gets right down to business, eschewing any preamble or introduction, and dives right into his own routines and processes that help with his state of being during this scary and uncertain time.“My emotions have been all over the place … some days I’m O.K., and others it’s scary,” he writes as he encourages us to feel what we need to feel rather than sweep our feelings under the rug. “I am trying to be kind and compassionate to myself. You’re allowed to watch movies all day if that’s what your heart needs. I’ve been
bingeing Friends and
Harry Potter.” Same, Shawn. SAME![video_embed id='1928068']RELATED: Shawn Mendes, Shania Twain and more Canadians encouraging fans to stay home[/video_embed]He goes on to talk about the “magic” of focusing on his breath when he’s feeling anxious, and also staying connected with his parents and sister on FaceTime. In the section where he insists on the importance of taking care of our physical health (which in turn helps boost our mental health), he talks about going for morning walks, or going outside his in backyard.Now, we all know that Shawn has a cosy, lush condo in the heart of downtown Toronto as
he’s shared those pics with us on his social media, but if you know anything about Toronto, you know condos don’t come with a backyard. One of the last
Instagram videos he shared just as we all went into quarantine showed him in a sunny, bright, warm and green backyard, so we’re just gonna assume that’s girlfriend’s Camila Cabello’s
Hollywood Hills backyard. The couple that quarantines together...He tops off the essay by encouraging everyone to consider meditating. “I’ve been using the
Calm app a lot,” he writes, “but there are also a lot of free resources you can find on the app store or YouTube.” This essay comes just on the heels of
Mendes announcing that all donations to his eponymous foundation will go to Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto for funding the screening and prevention of COVID-19.If you think writing essays is beyond the realm of his talents, this isn’t the first time he’s written for
Time. Last year he wrote
a touching tribute to Taylor Swift, calling her one of his musical idols and influences for a piece honouring
Time's 100 most influential people.[video_embed id='1939706']BEFORE YOU GO: Father-daughter dance duo puts out another classic with an unexpected ending[/video_embed]
