Finding balance and tangibility in a world of chaos
I came across such a wonderful post on Yoga Girl’s Instagram (Rachel Brathen) the other day.
I love how Rachel in this post manages to give words to something I am sure many of us have already been thinking lately. Either that, or we really need to hear these words for the sake of our own sanity and health (yes, I am especially talking to you over-achievers and perfectionists out there).
“YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE PRODUCTIVE WHILE IN SOCIAL ISOLATION! This is not a great time to write a book/start a new business/make a hit record or whatever it is that your brain is telling you you “should” be doing with your time right now. It is absolutely okay to feel uninspired. We are not missing out. We are not losing time. WE ARE IN CRISIS!”
And she is right. This is not a time to expect productivity and high performance.
This is a time to take extra good care of ourselves. Eat foods that nourish our body and soul, prioritize movement (in a way that feels good) and get out in nature (if that is possible). It is a time to be with our loved ones. Maybe call a friend or relative you haven’t talked to in a long time. I could go on for all eternity about how crucial I think it is for each and every one of us to prioritize self-care over hitting big goals right now. It’s like Rachel says: We are not missing out. We are not losing time. We are in crisis.
At the time of writing this blog post, I am in Germany visiting my boyfriend Jost. I managed to arrive here literally just a day before things started to get really crazy even in Sweden. I’ve been here for 2,5 weeks now, and as the days have gone by our daily lives have become more and more restricted. Shops, movie theaters, gyms, restaurants and cafés are closed — pretty much everything other than supermarkets, pharmacies and gas stations. Gatherings of more than two people are forbidden (but at least we are not in quarantine). The cashiers at the supermarket have a big chunk of plexiglas separating them from customers. We are living in a world that has suddenly and involuntarily been divided in order to slow down the spread of the virus. These are strange times, and I think I am not the only one who finds it difficult to pretend like everything is normal. It takes time to adapt to a new reality.
I’ve already pointed out that I don’t think this is a great time to strive for high productivity, performance and hitting high goals — even if you suddenly find yourself having more “free time” than normal. Maybe you’ve dreamed about writing that book for a long time, but haven’t been able to get down to it yet — and so you think that now should be the perfect time to do just that.
On the other hand, it could also be that you’re finding yourself on the other end of the extreme, where you don’t feel like doing anything at all. Your daily routines have been shattered, maybe your training has suffered as a result of the crisis, and you are not sure how to find ways to stay motivated to get through another day.
Whichever the case, I think it is important to find a balance between these two extremes — over-achievement and lethargy. A sort of strategy to keep you somewhere on the middle of the scale. To keep you sane (yes, call me over-dramatic if you want).
For me, the key in the last few weeks have been to 1) stick to a daily routine as a sort of safety net and 2) figure out small goals and challenges to work on that help me stay happy and motivated for the day ahead.
The power of having a daily routine
When the world is a clutter of chaos, I believe strongly in the power of having a daily routine that helps me stay grounded. The daily routine becomes sort of a safe haven, a shoulder to rely on when nothing else seems to make sense.
Jost and I have our “safe spots” throughout the day, routines that we stick to and whatever happens in between is voluntary (e.g. work or training).
Some of these include:
Waking up at 6.45
Breakfast/lunch together at 12.00 (we fast in the morning, according to the 16:8 method)
Dinner at 19.00
It’s not a lot, but it gives my day the structure I need. And I think that having too many of these safe spots would be having too much of the good stuff, leading to unnecessary musts — which is the last thing I need right now.
Establishing small goals and challenges
I’ve created small challenges for myself to work on every day. They help me stay motivated and happy when it comes to maintaining my health and fitness, but they don’t demand a huge amount of time or effort from my day. I also don’t expect from myself that they have to be completed at any cost. If I miss a few reps or exercises one day, that’s OK too. Because in the end it’s all about the small things: It is not about using this “free time” to become the fittest person on Planet Earth, but just about keeping on smiling and staying sharp in body and mind each day. Some of the challenges I am currently focusing on are:
Move in some way every morning just after waking up — whether it be a walk, a run, yoga, or a few minutes of core training on my mat.
Stretch or practice yoga 10 mins or more/day. Focus on lower body and hip mobility.
Work on my technical climbing skills for future adventures and projects, such as how to do certain types of knots and when to use them. Clipping the rope in and out of a carabiner efficiently. That “boring” stuff I wouldn’t have the time or motivation to do otherwise.
Go out in nature (walking or running) at least one hour every day.
Work on being able to do 3 clean and controlled pull-ups. My whole life I have had trouble doing even just one pull-up. I would like to be able to do 3 within the next few weeks (no deadline though — how wacko is that!), so each day I aim to practice my pull-up skills. Sometimes I also do a couple of rounds of rope climbing and push-ups in the garden. How many reps? Doesn’t matter, depends on how I am feeling on that particular day :-)
These are all strategies that I’ve found work for me in these times. Tangible actions throughout my day where the world outside seems to change from one hour to the other. They are simply a way for me to remind myself that I don’t have to commit any great deeds right now, while at the same time they help me to get out of bed every morning.
How are you coping with the situation right now? What are your strategies? Or maybe you haven’t been affected that much at all? It’s always great to exchange experiences and thoughts, so do let me know your thoughts.
And just one last reminder again: We are not missing out. We are not losing time. We are in crisis.
/Jënni