Finding the Routine in the Quarantine
As we move into week 6 of this reality, we are starting to see people getting more anxious, pushing for things to be back to "normal". It's challenging to know what will come during this time, how long we will be in this situation, and if we will have to repeat the process again depending on possible waves of the virus and re-opening protocol.
During this time many people are waiting out this situation, waiting to go back to work, waiting to have things return. Many are missing friends and family, missing date nights, going to restaurants, going to the movies, having dinner parties or gatherings. All of this waiting and yearning for our regular routine feeds our anxiety and keeps us from being centered in the present.
Feelings of anxiety generally stem from expectations and reality being misaligned. Currently, in this situation, we know we are not going to be safely back to normal anytime soon, but if we keep thinking about "normal", about what we would be doing, or about what we should be doing, we are highlighting this mismatch of what we want and what is true for us at the moment, exacerbating the anxiety.
For the time being, this IS normal. This IS our new routine.
How does that make you feel?
Sometimes the hardest thing is not knowing, the uncertainty of what is going to happen. If we can change our expectations and settle into this new reality, we can create a healthier mental state for as long as we are in this crisis. Instead of constantly waiting, we can work on projects that feed our creativity and inspire us, instead of watching the news feeding our anxiety and fear.
Creating pleasure at this time is so important for our overall wellbeing. Personally, I'm lucky to be able to continue working from home, teaching virtual classes, so my work takes up a chunk of each day. I also enjoy the work that I do, so that is inspiring and fulfilling to me, and reduces fears of financial instability. But I also do have more free time than during my regular workdays. With this extra time, I'm enjoying being home, cuddling with my puppy, cleaning out things I've put off for a while, and working on projects I've had stuck at the back of my mind.
If you find yourself feeling stuck while stuck at home, here are a few projects, some of which I have found personally beneficial. Maybe try a few of these ideas that resonate with you:
Draw Zentangles (google it, it's a fun way to create doodles)
Read articles about things you've been wanting to learn
Write a gratitude journal with 5 things you appreciate each day
Weekly virtual happy hour with friends or family
Online exercise class-there are many free or cheaper group sessions on IG live, zoom, and local studio websites (dance, yoga, pilates, cardio HIIT, boxing, barre…)
Learn to bake a new recipe
Start a book club online with some friends
Online board games
Meditation-there are many guided apps and websites to help start, but you can also do walking meditation while outside (with a mask on) trying to notice 3 new things you've never seen before in your neighborhood; or try a sitting meditation where you set a timer for 2-15 minutes trying to clear the head, think of a mantra to repeat, or simply focus on the breath; or sit quietly and notice all the things you can hear outside.
Read some old comics (personally, I love Calvin and Hobbes)
Look through old photo albums
Watch some stand-up comedy, action, or another genre you enjoy
Listen to music (I love classical Indian and Spanish Guitar)
Learn with podcasts (I love Fresh Air by Terry Gross)
Spend the time to talk on the phone to friends and family
Or, find some quiet and don't do anything for a while. Take the time to be bored and see what comes from that. Many creative ideas come from this space, allowing oneself to be bored. We rarely have the time to do this in our "normal", especially in the constant rush and bustling of busy LA.
If we are lucky enough to be bored while at home, we can be grateful we have a comfortable and safe home to be in; If we are lucky enough to worry about getting unhealthy from eating so many snacks, we can appreciate that we have the money to buy the groceries we like. There are definitely many real and pressing concerns during this time, so let's be grateful for the things we DO have, and take the time we have to look at other projects.
Let's actively participate in our time to slow down, finding the things we don't usually make the space for, and reconnect to these ideas.
Create a routine for your new normal to give yourself a foundation to stand on during this change. Routine can give us stability, a schedule, purpose, and inspiration. Participate in this time, and create what you need from it.
