Things this time has taught me

Before I say anything else, I just want to say, I hope you are managing, with whatever your situation is. I know this will be very different for everyone. I just wanted to share how I have coped with the uncertainty and the difficult times, and hope that some ideas may be things you could try too, if you want and are able to.

I’ve compiled a list of some things that have helped me cope, and even enjoy this time. I hope you will try some too.

Meditation. When we can’t go out, go in instead. Into your mind, which I will be the first to admit, can be a scary place at times. I first learned the basics of meditation with Dennis, from Denko Motivation. I learned some helpful techniques and strategies to use to start meditating- and now try to do at least five minutes twice a day. I will you warn you that it is not easy, especially at the start, so start small, maybe 30 seconds at a time and build it up gradually. Meditating helps you to find peace in your mind, and a safe, quiet place to go whenever you need it.

Breathing. This follows on from meditation, and actually my Grandma inspired me to do this. I do 108 breaths, every morning. It is not as intimidating as it sounds! In fact, it goes by fast and really helps me relax. Make sure you are breathing from the stomach not just the throat. Your stomach should expand as you inhale and relax as you exhale. If you don’t have time to do 108- do 12! Or even five. Deep breathing is always beneficial.

Yoga. I have been doing yoga everyday for the last four years, and some days now I even do it twice a day. It just really helps me relax and helps to loosen up the muscles. I have talked about some easy yoga poses and routines in a couple of my previous posts, which you can check out here and here.

Learn something new. In my case, I decided to learn to play the guitar. My musical skills were always seriously lacking so I thought I’d use this time to fix that. It has been three months now and I can play along to the likes of Oasis’s Wonderwall and The Eagles’ Hotel California (so I must have made some progress)! I used the excellent Andy Guitar App to learn and honestly this is THE way to learn guitar as a complete beginner. In his videos he takes you through the basics step by step but makes it super interesting by teaching you new songs along the way so that you can see the progress you are making.

Get back to nature. Of course, this depends on where you are and how strict the lockdown is for you. Here in The Netherlands we are lucky to be able to get outside as much as we liked. I enjoy a walk with Suzi most mornings, as well as a long bike ride through the countryside every day. This is a great time of year to make the most of being outside.

Spend time with family (and pets, if you have them). Again, this will be different for everyone, but if you are lucky enough to have more time to spend with family, enjoy that. This is probably the longest my Dad has been around, and it is very nice to have spent lots of quality time with him that would never have happened before. Likewise with the furry members of the family- they will be delighted that you’re housebound and will cheer you up during the dips. I know my two sure have. If your family are not around, keep in touch via Skype or others, luckily its all possible now.

Sharpen your CV. If you want to increase your professional development, check out an online course to do. I did a First Aid one (amongst others), which is not only practical but also useful for your resume. There are millions of free ones or ones not costing much more than $10.

Update your bucket-list. I know we can’t travel right now, but that only makes me want to add more to my bucket-list! Watch some documentaries, read travel guides, subscribe to a free online travel magazine (like Skyscanner’s) and get inspired. You can even research places to stay, a dream itinerary… so its all ready for when it is safe to travel again.

Practice mindfulness. Even if meditation or breathing seem a bit too full-on, everyone can practice a bit of mindfulness. It can be as simple as eating slowly, appreciating the texture and flavour of each bite. Or stopping to watch the leaves rustle in the wind, or to listen closely to the birds outside, or just to enjoy the sun on your face. I also use a journal to write down a few positive thoughts each day, and force myself to do that no matter what my day was like.

Be kind to yourself. This is a hard time we are going through. So respect that, and make peace with the fact that you WILL feel tired, frustrated, confused, anxious, lonely, angry, sad… sometimes all at the same time. Do not feel bad if all you want to do is curl up and binge watch your favorite TV series. Do not feel bad if you spend all afternoon reading, just because you finally have the time. We are made to feel like we should always be doing something, something useful, but maybe what you really need now, is to step back, reevaluate, and use this as a time to recharge. Because I’m sure this time won’t last forever.

So there’s my list. Of the things I do, the way I keep purpose in my days and appreciate this as a time given to us all for a reason. So use this time wisely, whatever that means for you.

To Grandpa- I hope you are reading this too- you never missed a post xxxxx