One: Learn to be present
Every day I have the same routine of eating, working, and sleeping. It was a cycle on rinse wash and repeat. I never understood how people could just stop and be still. You should see me in yoga, I'm the squirming misfit in the back trying to "turn off my mind." My life flew by, and I was just trying to keep up, like a hamster on a wheel. I was grappling for a reset button. Early February morning, that reset button just landed in my lap as the stay at home orders were put into place as the world was overcome with the spread of COVID-19.
My once overbooked calendar was finally empty. Travel plans were halted, and my triathlon events were postponed. It was eerie. Silence and stillness are not two adjectives you would use to describe me. As I walked outside, my street looked like a ghost town.
I decided to use this time wisely and learn how to be more present in my busy life. The word "mindfulness" is the new health term thrown around in daily conversations, but our yogi friends are on to something. There is legitimate science behind this practice. When practiced, it can decrease your stress, reduce your anxiety, and help you become more focused and happier. Who wouldn't want more of that in their life, especially during a pandemic!
So, I set out to try this "mindful" journey. Here are the things I learned. First, you need a quiet place with no distraction, and second, you need to breathe. That's all! For us beginners, it is truly that simple. For me, I decided to use this time to practice spiritual meditation. With consistent practice, my thoughts transitioned from doom and gloom to more cheerful and bright.
Two: Learn something new
Due to the pandemic, I was given the orders to take a "staycation." I now had unlimited time to veg out on the couch and catch up on all my saved Netflix shows! This was going to be great!
After two days…I got bored. I mean really, there is only so much TV you can actually watch without getting antsy, am I right?! I decided that I needed to fill my time and be more productive. I decided to learn something new!
I browsed the library of the Linkedin Learning and Mastery courses. After some hunting, I found some courses I wanted to take. What stood out was the affordability of LinkedIn learning and the Mastery classes, you could either buy the membership or a single session. It was a no brainer.
We have unlimited access to a wealth of knowledge at our fingertips. Don't let the opportunity to grow to pass you by. When I think about all the young girls who don't have access to education, I feel guilty. We must take this knowledge and then give back to others. It makes a full circle. So take this time and learn something new!
Three: Learn the art of commitment
A promise is binding, it’s a commitment. We throw this word around all the time without really understanding its value. I learned during this pandemic that I needed to keep the promises I made to myself. I read somewhere that you lose a small piece of yourself whenever you break a commitment to yourself. Well, that did not sit right with me.
So during this time at home, I promised myself I would not let myself veg out. First, I decided to learn something new…check! Second, I needed to find a way to work out since my gym closed. Luckily for me, I followed a ton of fitness gurus on my social media pages, and I just needed to dust off the weights sitting in the corner of my bedroom. Easy!
What's hard is sticking to the plan. First, you need a goal. Second, you need to make short term and realistic goals to help you reach that long-term goal. Third, you need to see that goal EVERY SINGLE DAY. That's the art of the commitment. The commitment needs to be posted on your bathroom mirror, your closet door, your kitchen fridge, or the front of your phone so that you will be reminded of your commitment every day. The more you see it, the more likely you are to stay committed to that promise.
Four: Spend time with family and friends
Human connection is the core of our humanity. If we lose contact with the ones, we love we inevitably lose a part of ourselves. If anything, the effect of the quarantine taught me to put more value into what’s truly important in this life…the people who make up your family.
During this time, I was still working. I chose a day in the week to call or facetime all the people who were important in my life. The people I don’t get to see every day but are always on my mind.
Doing this small deed gave me a sense of deep satisfaction. I was able to reach out to my loved ones and share my day with them and tell them how much I loved them. I personally know I don't do this enough. It is essential to take the time to tell those you love how grateful you are to have them in your life.
Five: Learn to travel through your cooking
Before this pandemic, you would never find me in the kitchen. That was a danger zone!
I decided to pull out an old cookbook. I brushed off a year's worth of dust, thumbed through the pages, and like a magic 8 ball and let fate decide the first meal I would cook….drum roll, please…..Chana Masala.
The smell of curry and turmeric spices wafted through the kitchen. If I closed my eyes, I could imagine India, walking through the bazaars, hearing the sounds of people chattering and haggling, and taxi cabs honking their horns. With a little imagination, I transported myself to this magical land.
Cooking was an experience, and it was my substitute for traveling. I made dishes from the places I dreamed of visiting, cultures I wanted to experience. As a female who loves to travel and learn, I immersed myself in another country through my cooking.
If your travel plans for the year were halted due to the pandemic, remember you are not the only one. With everything going on, don’t let that stop you from immersing yourself in another culture. Let your taste buds take you on a journey. Let your handcraft a meal so delicious that it transports you to the place of your dreams.
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Well, that's it! These 5 tools kept me sane and, most importantly, healthy during this time of fear and adversity. Even though the world shut down, I didn't let that stop me from living. I used this time to self reflect and improve the areas of my life that I felt I was taking for granted. First, I took care of myself and became more present. Second, I learned something new to stimulate my brain, reignite my imagination, and find new inspiration. Third, I learned to adapt to keep my 2020 commitments. Fourth, I reconnected with my loved ones. And lastly, I learned how to cook so I could "travel" to the countries I longed to visit.
No matter how you choose to spend this time, do so to better yourself and those around you. Don't take for granted the time you have to live your best life, no matter what mother nature decides to throw at you!
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