We’re in the pandemic. We’re staying home as much as possible. Here in California, San Francisco is on shelter-in-place guidelines and Los Angeles is approaching it with various closures which increase daily. I work from home so I’m used to solitude.
You may find it difficult to stick to wellness routines when you’re stressed. I bought some things I usually keep out of the house because I overeat them. Take this chocolate croissant *grin*.
I may have avoided comfort eating if I’d avoided buying it and starting the chain of decisions and actions in the first place. That’s ok. I believe in doing whatever it takes to get through a difficulty. It’s a form of self-love and it’s good to acknowledge that.
Being consistent doesn’t mean being “perfectly” consistent. It isn’t possible or desirable to adhere to every habit 100% of the time. Do what you can. This is why I suggest the concept of not ditching the good when you’re comfort eating, drinking more, or whatever-it-is that is getting you through. I may be eating more treats. But I’m eating my vegetables. And I’m still practicing my eating style for meals: only when hungry, at the table, mindfully, chewing, stopping when 80% full. My pastry is an add-on thing not a done instead of healthier food.
Exercise is easy to do at home. I’m doing Peloton online classes on my indoor bike and continuing with yoga tadasana every day. I’m going to add in some strength training if my chronic injuries permit. Otherwise I will stick to my prescribed physical therapy. I’m medically cleared to do strength with the caveat of “as tolerated.”
And recovery relaxation wellness practices are highly recommended. Long baths, self-massage, more recovery things like foam rolling, journaling, crafting, practicing you musical instrument, hobbies. Taking time for the things which make you feel good and bring joy is crucial.
We can do what we can to slow the pandemic. It’s possible to keep doing what we can for ourselves as well. Do the best you can with the wellness habits. Stay positive. We will get through this.
This is excellent advice, Laura, and a good reminder to take care of ourselves in the midst of change. Until a few weeks ago, I was taking yoga classes on the campus where I work (at UC San Diego). Now I’m working from home, which initially felt awkward, but became comfortable within a week. Still, I’ve not done yoga since i began working from home. I think that what it will take for me is to put it into my schedule. That’s what I did when I worked on campus; most days I’d have a reminder on my calendar for yoga classes, and I often managed to go. Now that I’m working from home, I realize that my old routine helped me quite a bit because it kept me doing the things I want to do for myself — in addition to getting work done. After arriving at the office, I would make some tea (or take the herbs provided by my acupuncturist), fill my water bottle at the office cooler, and sit to meditate for 10-15 minutes before starting work. With my office door closed and my door sign saying “in a meeting” — and with a few of my co-workers having seen me arrive — in a way, all of my time on campus then counted as work time. Nowadays, my co-workers only know I’m working when I reply to emails or show up for a video call. My lunch time has become more variable. I can sleep later since I don’t have to commute! The downside of that is that I can start work minutes after getting out of bed and making coffee. No routine, no meditation (until later in the day — I do usually remember at some point in the day). No calendar reminders of yoga class, and the constant tyranny of the email inbox, and at the end of the day I’ve not done yoga. With all of this rambling, my main point is to thank you for prompting me to examine these patterns more closely so that I can manage my time in ways that work better for me. Thanks also for your suggestion about playing a musical instrument. Since I no longer have an hour-long commute twice a day, I’ve got more time to play my trumpet, to rehearse my music, and maybe even to become more proficient at playing my washtub bass and my electric organ!