March 30, 2020
If you are struggling to find ways to continue to get things done, or you’re literally stuck at home, there is wisdom in Teddy Roosevelt’s quote.
We can ALL do things to move forward in our “on pause” world. Here are a few of our favorites:
- Stay Healthy. When you are under a lot of stress, taking care of your body is imperative. Get enough sleep and eat right – www.WeightWatchers.com has a great online program for eating healthy.
- Exercise. Get outside and walk, bike, or hike. Take a yoga class or exercise class in front of your computer or television. Or go old school and do some simple calisthenics (you remember them from gym class, right?)
- Get Positive Input. Shut off the news and lean into some positivity – books, tapes, the Bible! One of my favorites is Shawn Achor’s The Happiness Advantage. Shawn did one of the best Ted Talk’s ever and it’s guaranteed to make you smile: https://www.ted.com/talks/shawn_achor_the_happy_secret_to_better_work?language=en#t-4489
- Meditate. Meditation improves your focus, among other things. If you haven’t done it before, now may be the time to give it a try. My go-to guru has online resources – visit her website, www.LoisKramerPerez.com, for a free 10-minute guided meditation.
- Create a Vision Board. Inspirational speaker Iyanla Vanzant mentioned this on an entertainment show the other night, saying “Your vision will pull you forward.” A vision board is a collage of images and affirmations designed to serve as a source of inspiration and motivation It’s fun, easy, and you can get the whole family involved! Grab some magazines, scissors, and glue or go digital using www.Canva.com.
- Start Thinking Ahead. Get busy getting solution oriented. What can you do to position yourself for the recovery?
- Stay in Community. Human beings are social. Get together virtually – phone, email, text, video chat, computer conferencing, whatever works. We need to stay connected!
- Learn a New Skill. If you have extra time right now, put it to productive use. Attend online webinars. Get that certification you’ve thinking about. Take a self-improvement class. Beef up your industry knowledge or train for a job in a new field.
- Stick to a Schedule. With days stretching ahead and nothing to do, your world can feel off-balance. Stick with your normal routines as much as possible. Get up at the same time, have your coffee, read, meditate, exercise and get to work – whether that’s a paying job or learning for the next one.
There are only so many TV shows to watch and so much junk food to eat (although I don’t think I’ve hit my personal limit yet). When we emerge from this, and we will, it will be the self-discipline we practice NOW that will help us surge forward and THRIVE.
