A corona checklist

Balance is a myth I think. Daily rhythms, I believe in.

As an #EnneagramOne, my self-worth seems to be strongly linked to my productivity (and in the midst of COVID, I’m not nearly as *productive* as I usually am).

So, this is the mental checklist that I am ticking off daily. I try to do some work in each of these categories daily. No hard and fast rule on how much time I spend doing each one. No beating up on myself for what I didn't get done that day.

Once all of these boxes are ticked, I’m able to better enjoy my downtime (we just discovered Ozark on Netflix, it’s 👌🏻 if you’re into thrillers and cartel drama).

In no particular order:

▫️Bodywork - to me, this means feeding myself well and doing any activity to move my body in a meaningful way. Stretching, deep breathing, a walk around the block, yoga/Pilates in the living room, a run in the park, whatever gets you moving.

▫️Soulwork - spending time with God, being in nature, reading a nonfiction book (I just started Permission to Feel by @marcbrackett and it’s BRILLIANT), going to a therapy session, writing, or really anything that nourishes my soul.

▫️Work work - that 9 to 5 grind for me, or for you, whatever gets you a paycheck. 🙌🏻

▫️Schoolwork - either my own school work (finishing up my 3rd year of my PhD ✨) or my kiddos’ schoolwork (dear homeschooling, let’s break up ✌🏻)

▫️Housework - Self-explanatory. It’s the worst, yet necessary.

▫️Relationship work - Conversations, texts, phone calls, volunteering - anything to build a stronger relationship with other humans in my life.

This is what works for me. What works for you? Share your own Corona Life hacks! Happy Wednesday friends! 

a COVID brain dump

• Loss of control, uncertainty and scarcity are huge themes right now in all of my conversations with patients.

• If there was an end date to all of the restrictions, it would be much easier to cope. It’s very hard to have hope when there is no end in sight, when there is no assured timeline.

• The basic tenets of mental wellness that I teach (structured days, staying in community with others, avoiding isolation, feeding yourself well, spirituality and exercising) are out the window because of the stay home orders, and limited access to food, gyms, childcare, etc.

• I am heartbroken thinking about people who are dying alone in hospitals because no visitors are being allowed. I am also heartbroken thinking about people in abusive/toxic relationships that are being forced to quarantine with their abusers.

• I find myself constantly encouraging the skill of re-framing. I.e., instead of ‘why is this happening to me’, say ‘what can I learn through this?’

• I am having to impress upon people the importance of setting limits with consumption of social media and the news cycle

• Counsel that I am giving: It’s ok to have big feelings about all of this. It’s ok to get emotional and feel overwhelmed. Just don’t let any emotion-driven behavior get you in trouble ✌🏻and don’t stay overwhelmed.

• Remember – Sometimes we feel something so strongly, it feels like we will feel it forever. But this isn’t true.

• Music is SUCH a powerful processing tool (for me personally, I’ve had With You/Paradoxology by Elevation Worship on repeat)

• I hope you’re staying well through all of this, friends. Today is a good day for me. I feel peaceful and confident. ✨