23 Jun Two things that got me through quarantine

How special were these past months?
On the one hand, a lot has changed. On the other hand, nothing changed as there was not a lot to do.

The beginning was stressful, I have to be honest. Especially because of the overload of information, in combination with the uncertainty.
And that resulted that I fell back into an old – unhealthy – lifestyle.
I then realized I needed to decide what kind of information I needed – and how frequent – in order to cope. In addition, I needed to start to take more care of my mind and body.

I also experienced the importance of language again.
How do you feel when you use words as: locked in, nowhere to go, desperate, dramatic, powerless, frustrated, exhausted, terrified and hopeless.
Or: temporary, safe at home, catching your breath, worried or inconvenient.

Every word, and certainly the combination of words that we use, has effect on how we feel. And we don’t only talk to others, but also to ourselves. In our mind admittedly, but we do so all day long.
And what we feel, how we feel, has effect on what we think again.
Can you imagine that in the first example, you can think yourself ’down in the dumps’?
And, that even as the situation is the same, you see things differently in the second situation?

Using different language, thinking different thoughts, makes your body feel different. Which then makes you think differently: do I want to survive? or do I want to thrive?
So, I decided to focus on what would now be possible. Which things I would now – finally – have time for.

I need to look at the future

A friend asked me ‘How do you want to come out of this quarantine time?’
That got me thinking and it shifted everything for me: instead of looking at the past – and questioning whether and when it will ever be ’normal’ again. Or looking at the present – with all the things we currently can’t do.
I realized it helps me a lot to look at the future. Even if I don’t exactly know how that – new – future will look like.

I wanted to keep learning – especially as live events were also on hold.
So I searched online, and signed up for a couple of (free) webinars from my favorite authors, mentors and trainers.
Some of them were at crazy times, given the time difference with Europe, but heck. I was working from home, and was therefore able to be a bit more flexible than normal. Still making my hours –  don’t get me wrong – but starting a bit earlier to finish on time, or starting a bit later, because of the late previous night.

I also discovered audiobooks. I love reading. I always have. And yet, I did not read as much as I used to. As I live closer to work, or work from home, I have no commuting time by train, which was a guarantee for two books per month.
With audiobooks, you don’t have to ‘sit on the couch’. You can, of course. But I now ‘read’ while working out or cooking. Or even driving. How convenient: killing two birds with one stone!
I love how reading and learning can take me on an adventure, spark ideas in me and give me energy.
Did you know even YouTube has (free) spoken books?

When I feel stuck, I need to move

And by this I don’t mean ‘stuck in the house’.
My body can feel stuck, stiff, tense. And – more often – my mind can be stuck. Analyzing, Overanalyzing. Going around in circles. Over and over again.
The best thing for me to do then is to go for a walk. Or step on the cross-trainer. Anyway, I need to start moving.

The big advantage of going for a walk of course is that you can do it together with someone. And it’s outside.
And there are two more bonuses, which both have to do with the fact that you will have a different kind of conversation.
The first has to do with the fact that your body is moving and your energy will be more ‘centered’: more in your belly (and less in your head).

The second is that instead of sitting opposite of each other at the dinner table, you are now walking next to each other. There is nothing ‘in between you’. You both have the ‘same perspective’. You are both looking at it ‘the same way’.
You will experience that only that will result in a different kind of conversation.

Looking back, these past months were tough and relaxing at the same time.
There was a lot not to do, and yet a lot of (new) things to be explored.
One thing I am absolutely grateful for is the weekly video date with my nephew and niece to read a story to them.

Which things were essential for you during this ‘great pause’?
What would you do – or do different – if this were to happen again?

Much health,
Maaike

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