How to get through a month lockdown
Yesterday was the first day of lockdown in Singapore and it was enough time for me to realise that if I am not going to make some sort of routine it is going to be tough!
A couple of things first that I would like to say.. What works for me, does not need to work for you, it’s all about getting to know yourself and discover what works for you. Second, I am not going to tell you that you have to be productive and you have to use this time to set up your own business and that you MUST be creative. Mental shit is real and people are going through tough times now, do not force yourself and listen to your body. There is no point to be all productive if you are not feeling 100%, so first take care of yourself.
And maybe after your first priority which is taking care of yourself, you have time left and feel super creative then yes, you can do something with it. But if you are not experiencing this at all, that’s ok! Some people are losing jobs, experiencing intens uncertainty and have very little support. Don’t ever compare your situation to someone else but see how you can make it the best for yourself and what is in your power.
So which ever situation you are in, nothing is wrong, do what is best for you.
Now I can share a couple of things that I will apply for myself and can be useful for you as well.
- Catching up with loved ones. Especially for me being so far from home this is a perfect time to call everyone as time difference doesn’t matter anymore as we are all inside anyways! I also decided to catch up with friends who I haven’t spoken anymore in a long time, just to do some reconnecting.
- Meditate. Meditation is keeping me sane in hard times and I prefer to do it outside or a good guided one. So recently I stared to follow https://www.instagram.com/kinrgy/ and Jules Hough was guiding a live meditation session yesterday which made me super emotional but afterwards I was so relieved! So don’t be afraid if you have emotions coming up, it’s normal, once you accept it and allowing it to come up it makes you feel so much better after.
- Listening to music and dance! Salsa and Bachata are my life and it’s been really tough to not dance for such a long time already and who knows how long it will lasts. But we have got to be smart and thinks of ways we can still do stuff that are similar to the things that make our heart skip a beat. It might not be the same but for example music will never disappear and we can always dance! So choose your favourite happy songs, and if you want, dance! But even just having music on while you are making food, or working can uplift your spirit
- Hobbies! What kind of hobbies do you have? Or if you have not been doing any hobbies anymore recently, this question might help: What were the things that you liked to do as a child? Me for example, I love reading, but this doesn’t mean I am going to read just for the sake of reading. No I am going to pick a book that I really want to read and I am excited about! But it also can be something like drawing, or painting, cooking, baking, writing, anything! Anything that gives you that happy feeling
- Exercise. Keep your body moving! We are not meant to sit still the whole day, and no I am not telling you that you must have extreme fitness goals (Go for it if you want!) But please, don’t sit you ass on the couch for the next 4 weeks, it will not do you any good. Of course do what works for you, that can be yoga, going for a walk (which is scientifically proven super healthy!), follow any of these classes online: zumba, bootcamp, hiit and many more because there is so much offered, hurray for the internet! Btw a good tip: If you have any of your friends that are doing online classes, follow their classes! You are not only supporting them but you are also connecting with someone you know and care about.
- Take care of you appearance. Treat yourself with a nice face mask, paint your nails, do your hair. Of course, you can have PJ days as well but isn’t it nice to get up and treat yourself with your best self? This is a really good time to train yourself that feeling beautiful is something you do for yourself not for others and that you hold the power within to feel this way. Learn to love yourself and enjoy looking at yourself! You have got your whole life to deal with yourself so it is for the best to start loving you
- Oh and I love this one.. Whether you have a partner or not, get intimate! Play in the bedroom, get to know yourself or/and your partner a little bit better and have some fun! It releases tension, gives your immune system a boost, eases stress, makes you sleep better and a lot more scientifically proven facts! You know what they say .. An orgasm a day keeps the doctors away 😉
I hope these tips are helping you and for when you are having an off day, I have found this nice quote for you:
Staying positive doesn’t mean you have to be happy all the time. It means that even on hard days you know that there are better ones coming.
I am sending you good vibes and I would love to hear what works for you in a comment below! Everyone is going through this and I have seen so many people helping each other out, it’s amazing! Let’s keep up with this!
x Nien