Most of us have been working from home for the past few months, unless we are considered essential workers. Many of our lives have changed dramatically due to changes in childcare and not having appropriate ways to separate work from the home space, among many other new situations.
One thing I have noticed during this time is the irritability and fatigue most people are experiencing. I call this non-moving fatigue. You may ask, what is it? It’s when you feel lethargic, unmotivated, and sluggish. The reason this is happening is that we have stopped using our fight-or-flight response. For example, as a parent myself, I used to be constantly on the go: waking up early in the morning, making breakfast, preparing lunches, and driving my kids to school. Then the afternoon jobs would start—taking the kids to their after-school activities, supporting their homework, making dinner, and then starting our nighttime routines. By the time the day was over, I just wanted a moment to myself to relax.
Since the start of the pandemic, a lot of this structure has been removed, and we are working at a much slower pace. Believe me, it had its benefits in the beginning, but as we entered the fifth, sixth, and seventh months of this, we have become tired and ready to get back to our normal lives. Young adults are also struggling, as they are used to hanging out with friends, going out, and mingling with others. A lot of these activities are no longer possible due to the pandemic. Even simple wellness activities that I enjoyed, such as massages, yoga, and the gym, are no longer feasible indoors at this time. We are definitely in this unknown space, as we don’t know when things will return to how it used to be. So, in the meantime, we need to redirect our focus. This is something we can’t control. We need to find strategies to stay collected and be there for our children, friends, family, and colleagues as they are dealing with many emotional difficulties during these challenging times.
It is very easy to turn to the negative and get immersed in negative thinking. However, we need to be mindful that our thoughts control how we feel. Mindfulness is an exercise that can help us get out of the negative pattern of thinking into the positive. Yes, it is easier said than done, but it is possible to stop these thoughts and energize your mind, body, and spirit.
Another important reflection is to pause and think what has changed within yourself and your family since the pandemic began. For example, many families are feeling more connected, thanks to spending more time together. I don’t believe there will ever be a time again when we are all together in this way. For others, who are single or living alone this has been more challenging, as they are having to find new ways to connect with others.
Before we go into the three ways to staying calm and energized, let’s quickly revisit what a mindfulness exercise looks like. One of my favorites, which I commonly practice personally and in my office with clients, is the three-minute audio guided meditation produced by UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center (MARC). Before starting, take a deep breath through your nose and exhale through your mouth. It feels like you are emptying out your lungs. When you start the recording make sure your eyes are closed, and you are seated upright. This is a great daily exercise for adults and children. If you are a parent, you can do it with your child before they go to bed or before they start class.
Here are three ways you can stay calm and energized:
- Change your routine by waking up one hour earlier than everyone else. Take this time to enjoy your coffee, protein drink, or whatever it is you like. Go for a 30-minute brisk walk, do some yoga, or do anything that gets your body moving.
- Nutrition is also vital for our mental health. Creating healthy meal plans can be helpful, especially as you may find yourself busy taking care of others and forgetting about yourself. I like to plan meals ahead of time. In our family, we create weekly meal plans together, so everyone is involved. It relieves a lot of stress and challenges, especially with kids.
- Redirect negative thoughts and worries. Usually, our negative thoughts and worries involve futuristic thinking, which sets us up for failure. Try to be in the moment and take one day at a time. If a worry pops up, try to redirect it by saying to yourself, “I don’t have control over that thought or worry right now, so let me try to focus on the now, and make each day as productive as possible.”
