How are you feeling?
As we head into another week of unchartered waters, uncertainty, and for a lot of us, ambivalence about what the week ahead may bring, I wanted to reach out to give you encouragement to keep going.
As lock-down is looking very likely to be for the long haul, I have no doubt in my mind that we are going to struggle at sticking to these changes required of us, at some point. So now is the time to think about getting a ‘Lockdown survival kit’ together.
What does she mean by this? Well, it’s not panic-buying for more loo rolls or stocking up on alcohol I promise you.
First off, I want you to notice where your energy lies right now. Check-in with how you are feeling. Do you feel ready to face this period head-on? Or are you digging in your heels, reluctant to accept the situation? Are you clinging to the morning amnesia, that buffers you temporarily from the magnitude of what is happening? Stop. Now. What you resist will only persist. Let go. Accept it. This is now.
Once we accept a situation, our mind no longer spends wasted efforts struggling to retain what was. Your energy can then shift towards making adjustments, setting goals, developing plans to succeed at what needs to be done. We are all going through this together. Remind yourself frequently of this. Let it take the sting out of the isolation and frustration.
The energy that propels us to change needs to be harnessed. Capture ideas of what you will do during this time. Make a ‘lockdown list’ for you. Your family. Your children. Share them and negotiate on who will help with what. Plan to make this time matter, or let the matter steal more of your time. Your choice.
Reduce the news. No you don’t need to be checking it on the hour, every hour. Enough said.
Mandate to get creative. With whatever we face ahead, our minds are going to need to switch off and recover. And not just through sleeping. No wonder that sales of table tennis, knitting kits, instruments, painting and art sets are booming. We are creative beings, we need mental stimulation. We also need purpose. Lead your tribe by example and surprise them with your newfound or even resurrected talents.
Journal. Ok, so writing may not be ‘your thing’. But I promise you, tensions will rise. Voices needn’t. A wise man once said nothing at all. Keep track of your thoughts. Pick up a pen, put down your phone. Get it all out. Further crisis avoided.
Breathe! Simple and easy instruction. Not so simple and easy when you may be feeling fraught with anxiety, overwhelmed with emotion and worried about your finances, loved ones, and just about all the other things going on that are completely out of your control. Yes, the last four words are what you need to hold on to. Many things right now are out of your control. Your breath isn’t. Slow it down, Notice the space in-between the pauses, and in that space, reset.
This is not going to be easy. But it will be possible. I’d love to hear what you are doing to get through this period. What else needs to go on this lock-down list? Apart of course from the obvious continued social distancing and hand-washing.
Let’s grasp this week with both hands to the helm and navigate these choppy waters together.
Stay the course. You’re doing a fine job. Esmee x
