15 ways to look after yourself during these crazy times
Living in this time of coronavirus is a bit like living with a teenager in addiction. It’s big, and scary, and important. It’s potentially life-threatening, and certainly life altering. Maybe it’ll end up a passing phase, nothing to worry about. Then again, it could be total devastation. It’s tempting to live in denial (“It’s no big deal, everything’s fine!”) and justify bad behaviour. Think about it: “But I need to get together, just this once, with Jane and Mary because they’ll be so disappointed if we don’t!” sounds a lot like, “But I need to give him money for Mary Jane, just this once, because he’ll make my life hell if I don’t!”
Yeah. Been there, done that. And it’s never just once.
We have no more control over this damned virus than we have over somebody else’s addiction. All we can do, as always, is make changes to our own thoughts and behaviours and watch the remarkable ripple effect it has on the world around us. Positive change starts within each one of us.
So, here are fifteen small, positive ways to take care of yourself that work for me whenever I need to change my world from the inside out. And they’re all easy to do while social distancing or self-isolating.
Maybe they can work for you too.
Exercise. There are so many free online sessions right now to help you move your body at home, in pretty much any way you want to move it. Online Fitness New West is a group of local small businesses in the fitness industry that are offering online sessions free or by donation. Support local small businesses and stay active—win/win!
Eat healthfully. That means different things for different people. Do whatever eating well means for you, as often as you can.
Sleep well. Sleep is really good if you can get it. Try your best. Stick to a routine, limit screen time before bed, yada, yada, yada.
Meditate. Like exercise, there’s plethora of online offerings. Good Vibrations: The Energy of Resilience is run by a local New West resident, healer, and spiritual leader (who happens to be my cousin) and is offering multiple sessions online each week. The Chopra Center is also offering the free 21-day meditation program, “Hope in Uncertain Times”. Find something that resonates with you.
Laugh. Watch a funny movie, Facetime with your favourite preschooler, use a laser pointer to make your cat run in circles until he stumbles like a fool. Be purposeful about finding laughter—hunt it down!
Indulge. Have a bubble bath, read a good book, eat chocolate fudge ice cream, give yourself a pedicure, snuggle up with your isolation partner—two-legged or four—and have a popcorn and movie night. Whatever feels like a treat.
Limit news and social media. It’s important to stay connected and aware of developments, but we can get obsessive at times. Get your news from trusted sources like WHO, local health officials, and government sites. Use social media to look at baby goats frolicking. Basically, know your limit and watch within it. Then turn it off.
Be grateful. There’s a ton of things we each have to be grateful about. Find at least three, morning and night, or whenever you find yourself drawn to doomsday thinking. If you’re really stuck, be grateful for your breath and your beating heart. They will take you forward to a new, easier moment.
Have faith not fear. Try not to feed your worst-case scenario fears. Focus on having faith that, whatever happens, you’re strong enough to find your way through.
Let go. If there’s nothing you can do about it, then let it go. It’s not yours to worry about. Holding fear or anger for things out of your control doesn’t help anyone. It just hurts you. To help you with this, see #4 above.
Be creative. Draw, knit, write, sing, cook, dance. Whatever inspires you. Make something for no reason other than the making of it. If you feel able, share that something with someone to brighten their day.
Try new things. Learning new things is interesting, and challenging, and engaging and moves us forward in sometimes unexpected ways. And with so many free options online right now, the virtual world is your oyster! Try a new workout routine, sign up for a self-paced history class, practice your Spanish, take a free drawing lesson. Dig in and see what happens!
Stay connected. Even if you live alone (like I do), you’re not alone. Connect with friends and family ever day by phone, Facetime, email, text, Zoom. Do it for yourself, when you begin to feel isolated or downhearted. Do it for your loved ones, so they know that you’re right here with them through this crazy time.
Be kind. Forgive yourself when you’re not perfect. Nobody is. Just do your best, as often as you can. Think about one kind thing you can do for someone else each day. Give them a call (see #13), drop off groceries or home-made cookies if you can get out and they can’t, support a local small business in some small way.
Remember, this too shall pass. Hunkering inside our homes is not forever, it’s just for a while. We’ll all move freely again. If you’re in an apartment in an urban area (as I am), and you feel the walls closing in, just focus on getting through one more day. Or one more hour, or one more minute. To help you with this, see #1-14 above.
For those of you who, like me, aren’t that great at looking after yourselves, and would rather be caring for someone else, remember: You’re important. You matter. When you take care of yourself, your actions shine a light that helps others to do the same.
Stay well, everyone! And, unless you provide an essential service, please: #StayHome