Plenty of books, blogs and articles have been written on great habits for success, life tips for mental health etc. Now seems like the ideal time, whilst we are all working from home or going through immense change to establish some new routines or rituals to support our mental health and to pace ourselves as we navigate the pivot of the way that we do business and the way we do life.
It's easy for me to say this, isn’t it? Behind a keyboard, I can say start the day with morning meditation and then do yoga and then write a gratitude list… but the truth is that I stumble out of bed because the cat is bunny hopping on my legs cause he’s hungry and my 17-year-old is not at school, so she is sleeping in each day. I have a stretch and then head for the coffee machine! really…. I am certain that all of the great humans that write these articles and books are definitely onto something. I think I'm gonna give it a try and I'm going to make a few suggestions and then let's see how we fare to share with me your morning routines and rituals and what is helping you during this time of physical distance and social isolation. Here are some suggestions and what I am doing and trialling - This is an honest list of things I do and what I would like to establish.
- Calming your mind, meditation or becoming present. Barbara Callan one of our team leaders and members of WWA has been making daily meditations for us to follow, so if you are a member you will be receiving this daily in your inbox. We have already had feedback about how soothing it has been. - I love these, great way to start or end the day
- Gratitude list - I am a huge advocate for a gratitude list. When I feel like I'm spiralling into anxiety and stress about what is happening in the world right now what is happening to people's businesses and our members, It does help to write a list of all of the things that you feel grateful for, and there is plenty. Usually, I write a few words of gratitude before I go to sleep at night sometimes I'm just grateful that the day is over but I'm going to flip it during this time and start the day with what I'm grateful and at the end of the day as well. This one exercise helps me so much to get perspective and most importantly shift negative energy or thoughts.
- Reduce the lists -everybody loves lists and everybody loves to-do lists. Are you still have at least until my lease became so long and intensive that whenever I wrote it out I would feel overwhelmed with the enormity of the tasks I want to complete. Rather than a big list of tasks how about trying to focus on just one overarching area. For example, It could be one area of your business or one area of your home to sort. Rather than a massive list, set your timer for a period of time that works for you and just work on that task. Not only will you feel like you have achieved, but you will also probably have cross off several areas of a list in a bilk action, rather than little bits and pieces scattered all over the day across a vast range of things. - I'm a trialling this one, its easier said than done,
- Get dressed… I have been putting on makeup and getting dressed at least the top half as I'm doing a lot of zooming, but balance it with your cosies. Sitting in pyjamas all day isn’t great for our mental health, but it is also wonderful to not have to wash as many clothes, be in heels etc and for me, that’s a positive worth celebrating too.
- Recognise when you need a circuit breaker. in your day for fun or perspective or finding joy. This is a big one I talked about this with a few people last week as I learnt this lesson myself. When I found myself dwelling on a problem or the reality of a situation or the negative of a situation, I started to feel overwhelmed and then I would start spiralling down into anxiety. Suddenly the job I love all the tasks I love to do I was not loving or completing with any joy or enthusiasm. This is when I realised that I need to have a circuit breaker. The energy that is negative that keeps me spiralling needs to break. The way to do that is to have some fun, laugh, connect and find my way back to my joy. For me, this is not simply walking away from the computer and having a break and a cup of coffee. This is about pausing, seeking a laugh, dancing, singing, roller skating.. any of the activities that spark joy and shifts my energy.
This is my list - what is yours? I have seen 20 rituals, 3 rituals and every number in between - what works for you? Would love you to share your new routines and rituals to get us through physical distancing and covid-19 fears.
Until next week Hugest virtual hugs
Andy xx
