8 Ways to Thrive this Quarantine
Last week was rough. I found myself having moments of fear, my energy was super low, I couldn’t focus. I was having to hold space for my clients who were experience their own host of emotions. I found myself pacing around my house more than anything else. But on Saturday, something started to shift. I was able to harness my energy and I felt a sense of calm. My ego wanted to take me on a ride, but my heart and spirit knew that I had been preparing for this. I had the tools and strength to navigate this time.
My belief is that this is not happening to us, but happening for us. I truly believe that in my heart of hearts.
No matter where you are in your process of accepting the new (temporary) normal, know that all feelings are ok. We are exactly where we are meant to be in this moment.
I have created a list of tools I am using to not just stay sane, but tool that will give me the best chance at actually thriving during this crazy time.
Keep a schedule. Now this doesn’t have to be a rigid hour by hour schedule, but give yourself something to loosely follow at a minimum. Wake up at the same time each day, get out of your pajamas, have a ballpark bedtime. Set your working hours and include a lunch break. There is a tendency to either do nothing, work 12-15 hours a day as a distraction, or over/under do a host of things. A schedule will help you stay on track.
Get outside. I know this isn’t possible for everyone. Or maybe you just have to get creative. Even if its sitting on a patio, roof or balcony. Heck–lean out your window for a few minutes each day. This is important because you need to keep your body and mind acclimated to the outer world.
Set boundaries. Remember how I said it is easy to over/under do a lot of things right now? Well here is where your boundaries come in. Set boundaries for how long you will work each day. Set boundaries for how much you will drink. Set boundaries for how many times a day you will take personal phone calls from friends and family. Set boundaries in any area where you feel you are or could potentially over indulge or neglect.
Move your body. There are so many options, many of them free. You must make this a priority. This could be an at home routine that gets your heart rate up and feels good, a yoga class, a HIT class or you can join me at 9 AM EST every morning doing The Class by Taryn Toomey, a heart-centered car wash for the body, mind and spirit. Just do something for minimum 15 minutes a day. The average person takes between 2,000-3,000 steps per day. This has been dramatically reduced now that we are quarantined. Moving your body is not only important for your physical health, but your mental health. Remember what Elle Woods said in Legally Blond? Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people don’t kill their husbands (or friends…or humans/animals). They just don’t. We need those endorphins now more than ever!
Connect daily (preferably via video). Thanks goodness for technology making it easier than ever to stay connected. This is particularly important if you are living alone. Facetime/Skype/Zoom a friend or family member, set up standing group Facetime calls. Download Marco Polo so you can visually see your friends and family. Now is a great time to reconnect with an old friend. Video is best because it allows you to connect with your auditory and visual senses.
Journal. If you don’t have a journaling practice, now is a great time to start! There is information coming at us 24/7 right now and if we don’t have a place to process and release, it is going to get stuck. You need a place to release your feelings right now more than ever. Don’t know where to start? Start with gratitude. Write 3-5 things you are grateful for each day. Where your attention goes, energy flows! Focus on what you do have right now! Here is a list of prompts you can use to get started with as well!
Limit media intake using the 1 for 1 rule. Here is a good rule of thumb. For every one hour of media you scroll, watch or listen to, you have to take in one hour of something positive like a book, podcast, yoga, etc. I also recommend creating a “no media zone” for the first and last hour of your day.
Community. I saved the best for last because your community is crucial right now. Community comes in so many forms. Your family, friend group, church, gym friends, yoga community, etc. You may be thinking, I don’t have any of those. That is ok. You may not have realized how important community is until now. The great news is that you can create your own community or join mine! I’m hosting the first of a series of Women’s Circles for those who could benefit from additional support right now. You can click here to register.