Hello lovelies.
These few things will not make isolation feel like a trip to the Carribean but hopefully it will make it more bearable.
Please leave comments and suggestions for topics to cover on the blog but in the meantime – look after yourself.
~*Stefanie*~
So checking in to see how everyone is getting on with this lockdown. I thought I’d put a post up to remind everyone that although this is a time that is very difficult and what we are doing is quite limited – please do still take the time to look after your own well being.
Please remember to do things that you enjoy and to talk to people that enrich your life. There may be certain things you simple cannot do or that you have no choice but to do but when you can, choose the options that makes you feel like you are looking after yourself.
* Do a form of exercise every day, even if it’s simply having a dance to the radio, or a little jog around the garden. Releasing that Adrenaline allows your mind to settle when it may find itself racing, desperate to make up for the lack of inactivity. Use household items to aid you with this. Use your stairs as a step up and down exercise; dance whilst you’re hoovering; do squats whilst lifting… There are many ways you can enrich your home enviroment with exercise.
* Do some meditation and/or listen to calming music. I find instrumental music and music with piano, violin and cello very soothing but different people will find different music soothing and this depends a lot on the bpm, instruments, pitch etc. But have a little play around with music that you can listen to. Put it on at a low to medium level and find yourself a comfortable place to sit or lay. Shut your eyes and focus on the sensation in each individual part of your body. Start with your legs and feel whether they are heavy, cold, warm but feel within, do not look. Focus on a soothing bubble around that part of your body and allow it to release the tension within it. Repeat for the whole of your body in around 8-10 segments. Once finished with the head imagine that soothing bubble is pulsing around your body and radiating a gentle heat that lets all the tension in your body just slip away. Throughout this exercise your focus should just be on whatever area of your body you are focused on. This can really loosen muscles in your body – mind over matter doesn’t work for everything, but with stress it often can be mitigated by the right techniques.
* Journal or express your worries and fears. It’s fair to say that the way things are going right now is not ‘normal’ or at least, not what we used to call normal. We are out of our regular schedules and many are facing financial difficulties, relationship tensions and for many struggling with work and home schooling children is a real problem. That’s why it’s so important to express these negative feelings we are having. There is no shame in admitting that things are not okay – strength can be found by admitting our difficulties and finding strategies to cope with them. So write down all that is irritating you, making you fearful or unhappy. If preferred you could dictate this in a voice recorder and play it back. Often seeing the problem in a tangible, real way makes us acknowledge them and then increase desire to deal with them. It’s also a good idea to write what did go right or what did make you feel happy. If you do this for at least a week, you’ll likely find a pattern and be able to work with this information to better your situation. If you would like to do this in a guided manner, please feel free to contact me and I will do my best to assist you.
* Get fresh air. You don’t have to go for a walk or even outside, but make sure you get some fresh air throughout your house as well as natural sunlight in your dwelling. Even if you’re blind or photophobic this is advised because it increases your level of oxygen, Vitamin D and also allows for you to hear the possible birds and animals outside. Don’t also forget many critters that like living in houses like the dark and stagnant places – so keeping it fresh and bright will make these critters less likely to stick around.
* Have a laugh. There is nothing better than having a bit of humour in your life to make you feel a little less… humourless. Watch a funny animal clip, your favourite stand up comedian or binge watch The Inbetweeners and/or be eaten alive by Shaun of the Dead. Why? Laughter releases all sorts of good hormones. Endorphins, adrenaline… All those things that give you a sense of well being and contentment. Besides, who needs a reason to rewatch something you’ve not seen in over 10 years but you still continue to quote at least once a week.
* Balance, Balance, Balance. Sometimes it’s difficult right now, but try and keep your activities to moderation. Avoid drinking large amounts, smoking more, eating more or less of a certain food type or change your level of physical activity. As well as some of these things being outright bad for you, a sudden change in condition can negatively effect your health. Instead, try to do alternatives – can’t get the usual Granola Bars you have, have a little look what similar products are available. Used to going to the gym at least once a day, 5 days a week? Make a workout regime happen in your house or if you have the funds hire a reasonably priced life or fitness coach (I know a few who are incredibly reasonable priced, as well as being very passionate about what they do). Try to keep things as normal as they can be, when things are not normal.
Forever Young Visions 