I have been offering gratitude for the time and space that COVID19 has created for me and my family. I recognize that this is not the norm; that for most people this is a very stressful time in their lives. I do feel very deep gratitude for this gift of time and I’m not taking it for granted for one second.
It took me a while to settle into doing less. I kept feeling the pressure of habitually needing to fill my days with things to do. Now that I’m no longer having chaotic-schedule-withdrawal-symptoms I feel more productive and less hamster-wheel-ish.
We’re used to allowing ourselves to do less productive work because we are always so busy hamster-wheeling in our regular lives.
COVID is now shining a light on how little is actually necessary to have a healthy and happy life. How did we keep up those lunatic schedules? If you’re a working parent of school aged kids – ya feel me! How’d we do it all and still manage to leave the house fully clothed and with color coordinated outfits – most days.
Why did I think my kids needed two extra curricular activities back to back on the same day? Why did they need to be in 7 different things?
Music, dance, Scouts, track, basketball, soccer…you know what I’m talking about?
Professionally too— why did I feel the need to go to so many meetings, trainings, conferences and committees?
At first I happily filled my days with digital meetings- feeling good that I was saving so much time since I didn’t have to spend time traveling to them. Zoom fatigue is a real thing! Back to back Zoom were making me cross eyed.
So I started being more intentional again about what I say yes to. Training webinars on how to pivot business practices due to COVID have sprung up like weeds. After attending nearly all of them for the first 6 weeks – I’m now being selective how i spend my time.
I’m back to asking my foundational questions before I say yes: am I doing this to for a purpose or for love? If the answer is no — I say no. And with practice I’m getting better at saying no.
I’m being project based instead of hour based in my work and I’m finding I can get more satisfyingly productive done that way— and in less time to boot!
So here’s my COVID inspired list of must do’s for self care.
- Let go of the fear of missing out
- Spend less time talking to a lot of people and more time talking to fewer people more meaningfully.
- Embrace Space
- Smile at Simple
- Find Joy in doing nothing
- Guilt doesn’t serve. Your heart will lead you to serve, not your head
- Trust timing
- Let the sun kiss you daily
- Walk barefoot
- Talk to birds
- Hug a tree
- Plant a garden
- Bake cookies
- Play board fames
- Sit in bed and talk
- Get lost in the fragrance of flowers
- Talk to your plants
- Nap
- Rest
- Sit still for a while
- Read for pleasure
There’s something truly magical about self care. When you do it with no motive except to love yourself and be the best version of yourself; the ripple effect is felt exponentially to those who you care about. It’s as they say “happy wife, happy life.”
Try it— and let me know what you experience.
Try it with no other expectation except to give yourself the well deserved and much needed space.
Until we talk again; remember to be kind to yourself.
The Breathing Space 