COVID-19 Create A Daily Structure
Changes in our life are normal & we adjust. COVID-19 was not expected & crash tackled us! Daily life & our routines were changed with most areas affected, but the majority have been stopped or altered in some fashion. Humanity is in lockdown, the new normal is completely foreign & many are struggling to cope with the pressure, stress & unknowns. The major culprit are impositions around what we cannot do. Any action from your previous daily life will add a degree of normalcy. While we cannot control the overarching situation, it is important to remind ourselves often that we are in control of how we chose to respond to it.
The indicators reveal the fallout is going to be lengthy. Some aspects that will assist to keep you in a healthy space are remaining calm, focussing on emotional & mental resilience, accepting the situation & remembering that you are not in this alone! Humans have many ways in which they experience & deal with life. Many will be fearful, apprehensive, or worrisome. These thoughts & feelings are completely normal but, in my life, experience the expected outcome never occurs. The advice I would give is to become aware of your focal points which are what you focus on, what you give energy too & your self-talk conversations. Hone these to create outcomes you need by catching the negative thought in your mind & replacing it with a desired outcome. Also, to be aware that regular human interactions give great comfort & enjoyment on many levels & they play a key role in our sense of belonging. Organize a list of who, how & when you will connect with those on the list based on the understanding that a lack of human contact is emotionally & mentally unhealthy. Most people today have laptops, mobiles etc which have numerous apps that are great for videocalls.
In a crisis or unknown times, an important step is creating structure in your days & focussing on that routine, one day at a time. Best practice is work style activities & projects for your working week & fun more relaxed style activities on weekends. Set waking times, mealtimes & bedtimes to create a rhythm. A known rhythm produces the holistic environment that assists our bodies systems to function optimally. Structure is defined by what you do, when you do it & how you do it. Choose activities you enjoy & at any item they can be interchanged providing flexibility in your routines. Staying as close to your plan as often as you can as this will produce the best results. Discipline provides numerous benefits but small deviations from your routine become an issue if they are occurring frequently. COVID-19 provides an opportunity to get creative in an area you may not have thought of or previously did not have time for.
A few ideas are researching nutrition & nutrient density which has a direct link to our bodies function & health. Cook or bake some wholesome cakes & biscuits. Create projects you can work on e.g. researching a topic. Begin learning another language. Listen to music. Develop a fitness program. Set aside family time to watch a movie or play games. Set aside alone time where you can read, contemplate, ponder, meditate, or sit in the garden during the day & do some stargazing at night. The primary goal is to ensure you have some fun.
Our Guest Blogger is Paul Barry from Brisbane, Australia where he works as a Coach & Consultant in High Performance Sport. He can be contacted by email: pbelitecoach@gmail.com
