Learning to Be Comfortable While Standing Still

It’s funny how a seemingly small thing like a couple months of quarantine could alter the fabric of reality for so many of us… but that’s exactly what it’s done.

At times, it almost feels like the world has stopped turning on its axis.

In just a couple short months our social structure has undergone radical changes, personal interactions are changing, business is changing and I think PEOPLE are actually changing too.

It almost makes you wonder if we’ll ever see pre-COVID “normal” again? Ya know?

And spending large amounts of time in isolation — whether truly alone or with a small group of others — forces us to learn more about ourselves. Not having the normal daily distractions or normal routines of life — work, seeing friends, running errands, and going out to eat or to bars creates space for inward reflection — and THAT can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming.

If you’re feeling this way too… trust me, I get it, I’m right there with you.

Here are some tips I use to help cope with too much time for self reflection:

1. MAKE LISTS

As cliche as it sounds I make tons of lists. Everyday. I’ll get up and make a list of what I want to get done for the day — big or small.  I’ve also been using Google calendar to help me organize my day (which I’ve been loving). I’m that person that color codes her events too. Hello OCD. (Don’t judge…)

As weird as it sounds, an old school list is soothing.  Physically writing something down then being able to cross it off later makes me feel like I “actually” accomplished something.

2. MUSIC & PODCASTS & BOOKS

I’ve never been a person to nap or be able to lay in bed all day. Sometimes I wish I could, I think I’d be able to relax better.

But, the truth is I suck at relaxing. …Really suck at it.

I have to be stimulated by something constantly. But it’s easy to get drawn in and spend WAY too much time on your phone. I knew at the outset that I didn’t want to spend the majority of my day on my phone.  I knew that would eventually drive me nuts.

Look for things that entertain you and captures your imagination. I bought 3 books at the start of the quarantine and I read for at least 30 mins before bed each night. It’s a great way to expand beyond the borders your living space, and it helps me focus my mind on something outside of that tiny screen.

I also find keeping music or a podcast on in the background all day is a great way to keep your mind stimulated no matter what you’re doing.

3. KNOWING THAT THIS FEELING ISN’T FOR FOREVER

Maybe you’re reading this during the quarantine, maybe you find it after the world returns to “normal”.  But regardless at some point everyone’s felt stuck in their life — not sure what’s going to happen next.

However you’re feeling right now, overwhelmed, bored, anxious, like everything is broken, it’s ok.  Let those feelings come. Accept your feelings and observe them. And, just remember that this won’t last forever.

Life is full of ups and downs, but good things come from unexpected places — even things that seem like negatives at first.

Use this time to get to know yourself a little better, learn some new things, try some new things.

You might find that this quarantine (and whatever comes after) may leave us all a lot better off than we expected.

XO,

Liv