Five Fundamentals to Crack Corona Crotchetiness
With the corona virus affecting the world most countries are in various stages and severity of lockdown and it’s fair to say some people seem to be coping quite well with all the unprecedented change in every area of our lives. But others are definitely finding it a challenge - we’ve put together our five fundamentals to crack your corona crotchetiness and reframe the way you think about our current situation together with some fantastic fundamentals to take you through this and beyond into the “new normal”.
1. Attitude
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Change is often seen as something which is happening to you, rather than for you.
If you consider yourself to be a victim and put upon by this extraordinary change of circumstances you will be taking a reactive stance, using the stress to flee rather than fight. Typically this will be made up from submissive behaviour traits, such as low self-esteem and over indulgence in self soothing.
Switch it round and see this as an opportunity to be proactive.
Use this time in a way that will make you proud in the future. It's a time for us to be tested, to learn and to grow. Any situation, any experience is offered up as a learning opportunity
2. Discipline + Routine
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Routine gives us structure to our day and makes us spend precious time well.
Creating routine, habits and daily structure helps us boost and maintain our emotional energy and physical health. Giving them attention and space will help us make good use of this time.
Simple things like getting up at the same time in the morning, and possibly going to bed at the same time too, frames our waking hours.
Putting in place a manageable but dynamic structure will give us a solid base for growth. We will have the energy to explore things we have always wanted to check out, do things to our home which are long overdue, revisit some pastimes which have lapsed due to lack of time such as playing a musical instrument, reading or writing more.
It is highly unlikely we will ever experience having a long stretch of uninterrupted time like this, which is almost totally under our control. Carpe Diem.
3. Adapting Our Tech Consumption
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By now we have probably all got our digitally connected home office in place, but also noticed we are spending much more time on screen. Digital technology is serving our physical, mental and emotional health but we need to use it intentionally for our needs, values and aspirations.
The alternative is using technology as habitual distraction.
Make an audit of how you use your technology, how much time you are using it and whether you are 'fighting fires' or being proactive and creative.
Be aware that our mental and emotional health is affected by what we consume online and on TV in the same way as what we eat effects our physical health.
Taking a bold approach to consumption of news is going to help. How many channels do you need? Are you friends' and families' 'well-intentioned' but ultimately unhelpful comments and chatter to be indulged?
Change your mindset and make sure technology's employed in the service of you, for the life you want to live.
4. Stress + Rest
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We can see the effect of stress all around us, and particularly in ourselves. Sometimes this stress is 'silent', slowly building up and forming a distorted baseline. Sleep is the natural moment in the 24hr cycle when we de-stress, but the problem is most of us don't sleep well. It can be a vicious cycle of stress preventing us from getting to sleep or staying asleep.
In my experience the less stressed we are the better our sleep and that in turn boosts and maintains our immune system.
When we are properly rested our days are smoother and more productive. We are more creative and adaptable, relationships are easier and we have greater clarity and perspective. Challenges are easily overcome and we get more done..
Ideally we would you like to go to bed tired, exhausted, and awake refreshed.
Easing up on screen time and allowing the contents of our stomachs to be properly digested before we get horizontal will go some considerable way to helping us get the nourishing sleep we so desperately need.
5. The Future
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Whilst we may not be able to go anywhere we do have the opportunity to explore our inner landscape. You may have found that the current situation is magnifying underlying existing issues and certain traits will be more apparent in yourself and others sharing your lockdown space.
Your default mood will be amplified, and now is the moment to do something to change it. Many people will find that their coping mechanism leads to indulgence and excessive comforting. This can take many forms, often with wild swings towards over indulgence as well as deprivation, such as food, exercise and sleep.
With so much uncertainty, as well as misinformation and disinformation, speculating about the future is not helpful.