175 Days
When COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, it seemed to have escalated quickly and flip our lives upside down in the wake. The office that I work for sent us home to work, and we have been working remotely since. I've heard varying opinions on the levels of coping and response with the pandemic, and I thought it was a good time to share what has been working for me and my own mental health journey.
Yes, I studied Sport & Exercise Psychology, but this does not make me exempt from managing my own psychology and mental wellness. I manage social and general anxiety disorder as well. As an outgoing introvert, I'm fairly well adjusted to the quarantine lifestyle, but not without challenge like many others.
The following has been helpful for me through such a unique and challenging time, in no particular order:
1. My rescue dog has always been an amazing companion, but she has been even more valuable during this time. She has become my greatest coworker and company within lockdown. She has made such tremendous progress as well with me being home more.
2. I want to encourage you to of course give yourself grace, but routine has really helped me tremendously. My personal routine consists of waking up the same time every morning, keeping my morning routine very similar to when I was still going physically into the office. When my "work day" ends, I try to disconnect (giving myself grace).
3. This might seem ironic given my field of study, but I am someone who has struggled with exercise most of my life. Yet I truly enjoy is walking and hiking, which works really well with the dog. Find what you enjoy, and move your body regularly.
4. Keep your mind sharp in ways that you enjoy. This might look like reading, games, or other activities. There are a ton of great apps available, whether you are looking to learn a new language, playing Sudoku, and so on. You can also find some amazing classes online. Be a lifelong student.
5. Stay connected. This may require creativity depending on what your "bubble" looks like and keeping everyone safe. The key is intentionality, whether in your bubble or through virtual hang-outs, regular FaceTimes, calls, and texts. Time is flying by, so be sure you are checking in and keeping your friends and family members close, along with your colleagues. Everyone is experiencing this differently. Lean on your support system, and also be a support to others.
6. Be present. It can feel challenging with a lot of uncertainty happening around us. Mindfulness practices can help center and refocus to the "now." This may look like breathing exercises or guided meditations, but the awareness is so helpful to keep us grounded in the present.
7. And with that comes gratitude. When you are in the mindset of gratitude, you are seeing it more throughout the day. This can include the big, life things like feeling grateful for the health and safety of your family, or the little things that make up your day, like a Zoom meeting that went really well and overcoming a technology challenge.
8. I'll end with self-care, and this can look a lot of different ways. It's important to give yourself time to rest, but for some self-care may mean an extra walk, listening to your favorite music, binge watching your favorite shows or movies, indulging in a delicious meal or treat, a little retail therapy, an at-home spa day, having a creative outlet, or just disconnecting from technology to name a few. The key here is getting some rest and recharging your metaphorical batteries.
At the end of the day, we are all navigating these uncertain times together. I'd love to hear what is helping you not just survive but thrive. Feel free to send a message or leave a comment!
