I think we can all agree that 2020 was a bit of a crazy year and so far 2021 does not seem to be much different. There are so many scary things going on in the world and none of it is in our control so it's very easy for it all to get a bit overwhelming.
I have recently come to the realization that this pandemic is here to stay for a while and that things might stay this way for longer than we all wish it would. What was once a "normal"way of living is now replaced with face masks, sanitizing and social distancing and this may be the new way of life for the foreseeable future. This is not the way that people want to live their lives - constant fear, not seeing family and friends for long periods of time, unemployment and financial difficulties. But as much as we may hate it , it is completely out of our control and all these precautions are necessary for our safety.
So what now? Do we just continue to live in state of anxiety and frustration? Do we continue to be sad every day about something we cannot change? Or do we maybe start to come to a gentle acceptance of what is and instead find ways to try and stay calm and grounded a little bit more during this time of uncertainty. We may not be able to change the circumstances we are in and everything that is happening around us but we CAN change the way we react to and deal with it in the hopes of easing some of the stress.
My emotions throughout this pandemic have definitely fluctuated and gone through many ups and downs since the first lockdown in March 2020. I had days where I had a good routine and felt motivated, and other days where I felt extremely frustrated, hopeless and sad. It was important for me to make my mental health a top priority and so I tired my best to be consistent with self care practices such as movement, journaling, meditation and deep breathing. I definitely did not do this every day but I tried my best and felt a big difference in the state of my mental health on the days I did these things compared to when I didn't.
The longer the lockdown took the harder it became to stay positive. Not having a job and being forced to push back a lot of the goals I had hoped to achieve was very frustrating for me.
Not being in control is something I battle to deal with and I try to work on it constantly so in a situation like the pandemic where nothing is in your control this was and still is a very tough task for me. On my really low days I try my best to change it around by meditating, doing something joyful to take my mind off it or just talking about it with a family member or close friend.
Now that lockdown has eased a bit some of these things have improved and gotten better but I still find myself feeling frustrated and lost at times. So I have put together a list of activities and practices I will implement into my daily life and routine in the hopes of staying grounded and bringing some calmness into my life.
Gratitude list - every day I make a list of at least 5 things I am grateful for. This is an easy way to stay focused on the blessings and good things in your life which always helps keep things in perspective and uplifts the mood.
Journaling - every day or just whenever I feel like it I do some journaling. This is a time I can sit down and put all my thoughts and feelings down on paper. Sometimes we don't want to talk about the things that bother us or make us feel down but we still need to acknowledge them and get them out of our system so journaling helps you to do that. It's also a great way of making sense of your thoughts and any worries you may have at the time.
Daily movement - this is something I really need to do more of. Moving the body is good for your physical and mental health. Go for a walk/run, do some stretches, yoga, dance and literally anything else you enjoy that gets your body moving.
Deep breathing and Meditation - staying present is an important part in staying calm. You can do this by spending a few minutes during your day where you sit in silence and focus only your breath in that present moment. Don't try quieten your mind or avoid your thoughts, but just let it be and let yourself have some time to feel completely at ease and worry free.
This pandemic has changed everything - the way we live, the way we feel and the way we see the world around us. It has brought devastation to many peoples lives ,some worse than others. Regardless of how this pandemic has or hasn't effected you personally, just know that everything you are feeling and have felt during this time is completely valid.
So lets try bring some calm and ease into our lives as best we can by doing some grounding practices throughout your day or at least a few times a week. Take note of all the small beautiful blessings you do have in your life and try focus your attention on those things, even if just for a little while.
Stay safe and remember we are all going through this together and you are not alone.
love and light x
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