This is for YOU

Yes, I am saying all of this to myself as well....(picture taken before everything went downhill)

Hello!

Instead of the numerous typical COVID-19 emails you have been getting recently, I am taking a different approach. First, it’s because I typically work from home and only meet clients one-on-one at coffee shops (which I can’t do right now anyways) or virtually – so I don’t really have to tell you that I am keeping things sanitary and clean. I mean, I have somewhat cleaned my home but that is beside the point. If I meet with anyone else it is for an outdoors workout with at least 6-10 feet of space between us. But that is not why I am writing this today.

I am here to remind you that “living life balanced” is a lifestyle that holds up for anything life throws at you; be it a pandemic, a recession, a quarantine, the holidays, vacations, or just another ordinary day (although that might be far off from how things feel right now). What that means is – I don’t offer you diets…because they don’t last. They don’t stand up to stress or when something comes and completely turns your world upside down. But a healthy, balanced, lifestyle does.

When everything gets crazy, people resort to what they know. You could have been on a health kick but as soon as your quarantine happened, everything went out the window and you gave up. If you haven’t changed the little habits and behaviors that you do every single day and make them part of your life and instead make a huge restricting change all at once, you haven’t actually implemented something into your life. The day eventually comes when you can’t do it anymore and you reach for comfort.

While I have been laughing at some of the memes out there (“me after I eat all my quarantine snacks in one night”) it just reminds me how important it is to actually change those habits and behaviors slowly over time so that when shit hits the fan and you end up resorting back to your “comfort level”, it won’t be much of a difference!

I understand there are other things that also get in the way, but I’m talking to all of you who just decided not to care anymore as soon as you got stuck at home. If you are working from home or are staying home because of your family and kids and everything has changed – you CAN still eat well and you CAN still exercise and you CAN still have a healthy mental attitude. It just is going to look a little different and maybe feel a little harder at this point – but it doesn’t need to be. Let’s keep it simple by following the steps below.

1. Make each day count. Don’t become numb to your life and just wait for each day to pass and for this all to blow over. It’s going to take time (unfortunately). SO in the meantime, think about what you are thankful for and truly treasure and explore each day – “What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it.” ~Heartsill Wilson. Do good each day. Help others in whatever way you can. Everyone is suffering in their own way. How can you help? Make sure you are doing something each day that you truly enjoy! Do something each day that makes you feel alive!
2. Stick to a schedule. Make a new one each day if you need to. But pencil in the hours for when you will wake up, when you will exercise, when you will work, when you will teach school (if you need to), when to do something you enjoy, when to relax, and when to go to bed. Schedules and routines make us feel safe and secure and in control to help make room for all that’s important.
3. Plan your meals. Ok, now let’s talk about food. You know, all the stuff you ran out to buy “just in case”. I find it interesting what I am seeing out of stock at the grocery store - frozen pizzas, frozen dinners, chips, crackers, cookies, Gatorade, soda, meat, bread, milk, canned things and oh yeah, can’t forget the toilet paper and paper towels. I understand having SOME of these things, especially canned goods if you just want to stock up for the future but we are stuck in our houses people...with electricity and running water. We can still eat regular meals. If anything, now is the time to start practicing new healthy recipes. Put down that bag of chips. Look at the food you have, buy some produce (if you can), and create your meals for the week. Write them down. Include your snacks. Don’t restrict yourself from those cookies, BUT instead of eating them all in one night, make them last. That was the point in stocking up on food, right? To make it last? Not to eat it all in one night. If you schedule your day, schedule your meals too. Know what you will be eating for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Utilize the food you have so you don’t waste anything. Just stop grazing and eating it all at once.
4. Get active. You have all the time in the world to exercise right now. There really aren’t any excuses. Plan your workout into your day just like everything else. Get creative if you have to. The outdoors isn’t closed so you can definitely go on a walk, run, hike or bike ride. In fact, it is strongly encouraged! If you can’t do that then create a small space in your house/garage/driveway/front yard/back yard/etc. where you can do your own workout. Come up with the moves on your own, or follow a free or paid routine or video online. There are SO many options available right now. Look for them and you will find them. Move as much as you can. It will do you SO much good.
5. Focus on your mental health. It is TOUGH right now. I know. I feel it too. It’s scary. You know what else is scary? Constantly being on your phone looking at social media and the news and the fake news and reports you can’t trust and even ones you can. It is NOT healthy to do this to yourself. Stop looking constantly. Pick one or two times a day where you will check in with a trusted source to see what is going on. Then, put it away. Other than that try to only use your phone to connect with others which is also SO important. Do this by talking, texting or even better – video chatting. STAY connected. And as I said before, you have all the time in the world right now so what better time than to aim for 8 hours of sleep a night? Yes, you heard me. 8! Need help with the stress you are feeling? Utilize all of the free resources like yoga videos, meditation apps, therapists, warm baths, books, music, etc. Need specific help with something else? Please ask.

 
This is hard. Your health doesn’t have to be. Don’t wait for this all to blow over to start taking care of yourself again. Whatever your personal struggle may be, you can and you will get through this. You need to put yourself first so you can not only take care of yourself, but your loved ones as well.

Let’s think of “quarantine time” as “self-care time”.  

I’m going to leave you with the rest of the quote I used in the beginning because I think we all need to hear this:

 
“This is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this day to use as I will.
I can waste it or use it for good.

What I do today is very important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it.
 
When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving something in its place I have traded for it.
 
I want it to be a gain, not a loss – good not evil.
 
Success, not failure, in order that I shall not regret the price I paid for it.”
 
– Heartsill Wilson
 
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In the meantime, if you want to support small businesses and gain a comfy new shirt for your loungewear wardrobe, please think about ordering one here (thanks to Twine)! Limited edition - order yours before 3/27/2020.

I appreciate your support!