daily rituals to promote well-being during uncertainty

how I am staying sane & optimistic through COVID-19

I debated writing this post for a bit because I thought it might be too simplistic. After catching up with some friends over the past few days (especially ones that are having a hard time right now), I realized entertaining oneself at home is not necessarily intuitive nor comfortable for everyone. As a self-proclaimed introvert, I am feeling very good about being stuck in my apartment alone and hope that these ideas will be helpful for someone else. I’d just like to outline a few of the things I have been doing to keep myself on track and make the most of this abundance of free time.

First things first, I made a daily to-do list on my fridge. It is the same list every day. I have found if I have too much free time and too little structure, I end up feeling overwhelmed and accomplishing entirely nothing.

Home HIIT workouts and yoga videos on YouTube have been queued up every day. I am also making a point to declutter one area each day, whether it’s a closet, storage box, junk drawer, or the top of my fridge. It feels good to go through things and lighten up my belongings. I am able to work from home somewhat, so that is on the list as well, along with a more consistent meditation practice. Finally, I need to wear my retainer (not glamorous, I know). This could be any other little annoying thing you put off doing but really don’t have an excuse to not do while sitting at home. Working through the list each day lends a little structure and a sense of accomplishment. As much as I love to binge Netflix, I would feel like garbage if I was doing that every day.

Next, I try not to over-indulge on the news, and brief myself once daily. It is important to be informed, but checking for updates constantly is not good for anyone’s mental health.

I’ve taken it upon myself to learn something(s) new. Earlier in the week, I took a virtual Ayurveda class on boosting immunity. It was offered by a yoga studio that I have been looking forward to trying, so I felt like I killed two birds with one stone (and I will definitely be going to that studio when we are allowed back out into the world). I’ve also knitted and crocheted for most of my life, but stuck to very easy projects (read: scarves and blankets). I found a free pattern on Pinterest for a knit summer top and have decided to take the plunge. I figure I can go as slow as I need to–at the end of the day it is just reading directions and watching some YouTube videos. This segues nicely into my next point, which is getting back into things I love but don’t usually have time to do. Can I sit around and crochet for hours after work every day? Absolutely not! Can I do that now? Uh, you betcha.

I have been on a creative kick lately, and have found that the more I create, the more I want to create. I’ve definitely picked up some momentum. I tie-dyed a sweatshirt that came out perfectly, and cut up some mom shorts into updated jean shorts. I even added a toucan patch to the back pocket. It’s so rewarding to work on projects, especially using what I already have at home.

Reading is one of the to-do’s on my daily list and I have had to institute a new rule for myself. I have a nice little habit of reading around 3-5 books at a time. I get interested in something, start reading about it, get going on another fascination, buy that book, and repeat. So, instead of blowing my savings on ordering books right now, I have decided I need to finish all the books I have started in my apartment before ordering any more. Although, The Plague is an exception because my dad suggested it for this interesting period of time and it is an audiobook. Other than that, I will be finishing up all my half-read books! Reading is also such a beautiful form of escape and can help take one’s mind off of current events–everyone needs a break eventually. As an added bonus, reading builds your vocabulary and is good for your brain, so do it.

Lastly, I truly believe it is good for humans to slow down and be bored at times. There is a lot of research backing up the importance of being bored for children, and I think adults can stand to benefit from some low-grade boredom as well. Go ahead and look that up while you’re at it.