During this uncertain and turbulent time, you have every valid excuse to stress out, eat what you want and give up your fitness routine.
A new and scary virus, a quarantine, a toilet paper shortage and constant influx of varied information gives you every reason to feel overwhelmed and anxious. This global pandemic has everyone wondering...what are we going to do?
The way I see it, we should be asking the easier question, what am I not going to do?
I am not going to panic.
I am not going into crowded places.
I am not going to eat everything in my pantry.
I am not going to become a couch potato.
I am not going to give up.
This is the time you have been waiting for. The time you get to focus on YOU. The self care routines you have been longing for. Sure it's not under the best circumstances, but none the less, this is the time for you to shine!
Self care will help you stay sane and there are so many ways you can slip self care into your day. Here are a few suggestions:
1~Daily meditation or gratitude practice. While meditation is wonderful, some people simply cannot do it. If meditation is not in your vocabulary, I suggest a gratitude rumble. Turn phones to silent, get in a comfortable position, focus on getting your breathing regulated and begin saying what you are grateful for. Attempt this rumble of stringing appreciative thoughts together for 2-3 minutes or more.
2~ Nurture yourself with nature. You can still go outside. In your yard, for a walk, on your front porch or deck. Step outside. Breathe in fresh air. Have coffee with the chirping birds or wine under the starry skies. Take time to be one with the magic and beauty of nature.
3 ~ Home spa treatments. Facials, mani-pedis, hair masks, long warm baths, and my favorite, hot towel therapy! Soak a face cloth or towel in hot water and place over face, over feet or over the back of your neck. What a little luxury!
4 ~ Exercise. If I had a dime for how many times I heard "Oh, I wish I had the time to exercise." Well, here's your time. You have all the time in the world. Start with 30 minutes of movement daily, with 3 of those days focused on body weight training. If you need help, follow my social media pages. If you need more detailed help, I am offering in home, personalized fitness plans for only $30 during this pandemic.
5 ~ Eating better. Yes, it is super easy right now to live off of your favorite bag of Doritos and peanut butter on pretzels. But I promise if you do that, when this is all over, none of your clothes will fit you. You will feel and look like shit. Self care requires actually caring about yourself! There are many food delivery services available, including produce and meat based services.
But there is something to be said for beans, rice and frozen veggies. Plant based diets have proven through research to be super healthy for us. Get on your computer to get recipes for healthy meals. You-tube is amazing for watching cooking demonstrations. And while you have hundreds of valid excuses, there are even more options at your fingertips for better eating.
6~ Puzzles, board games, cross word puzzles and coloring. It is truly important to keep the mind sharp. Netflix, video games and social media scrolling are all great to pass time, but your mind still needs exercise! Family board games really come in handy here, from Scrabble to Monopoly, Uno to Chutes and Ladders, anything to keep the mind working. Puzzles are a great way to pass time and word games help the brain flex its mental muscles. The time you have been searching for has been given to you. And while it is not convenient or the way you had envisioned, it is none the less, time. I urge you to use it to your advantage. You cannot change the course of what is happening. It is something we must ride out, learn from and emerge better than before.