Quarantine Life
“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity”
Let’s face it, most of us have more time than money right now as this global pandemic continues to weave its way into our daily lives. We have been instructed to isolate within our homes and practice social distancing.
As an extrovert, this is so incredibly PAINFUL for me. I feel so much joy and fulfillment when I am connecting with my patients and my team that having those parts of my day absent, feels almost surreal. And downright unfair.
BUT…
I am consciously choosing to believe that there is a silver lining in all of this, knowing somehow, it’s going to unite us all on a deeper level. I’ve had to surrender to the fact that this isolation will go on for some time and I’ve taken some time to navigate a sort of plan to keep my mind occupied and healthy. My goal is to share these intentions with you to potentially help you find a way to cope different emotions or challenges that may come up in your personal journey.
Outlined are 5 categories that will help turn a bad experience into a positive opportunity.
1. Personal Time
This is something we wish we had more of.
The intention behind personal time is to determine what you are going to do each day that is going to add value to you as a person. This could be a book you’ve been wanting to read for a while but never had the time. Or maybe it is an educational class you’ve always wanted to take or a skill you want to get better in. The key is to grow yourself in some manner so that you can wake up each day with a goal or purpose. The sky is the limit. Get creative.
2. Family Time
This is something we NEED more of.
Whether you are working from home or not, the key part of it is… You are at HOME! This doesn’t apply to health care workers because they are at the front line managing this crisis. But if you aren’t a health care worker, then chances are you are isolating at home. Take this time to plan some activities you want to share with your family. The intention is to gain deeper connections with your loved ones. Write down the people in your life who you love and you want to help or get to know again. Our phones, televisions and other devices can be distracting and take our attention away from what really matters. Be present where your feet are.
3. Gratitude Time
This is something we should focus on daily.
During a crisis, it is difficult to find things to be grateful for. This is true. In fact, we typically want things to go well all the time. Life will always have hard times, no matter what. Fortunately, it’s the good times that make us appreciate who we are, where we came from and where we are going. The intention is to sit in gratitude for at least 5 minutes every day. Get a journal and write down 5 things you are grateful for. If a journal isn’t your thing, then during supper or a conversation with family members, ask each person to say out loud the things they are grateful for in that moment. The more gratitude you put into the universe, the more joy you will receive.
4. Health Time
This is something that relies on consistency.
As we are faced with this invisible enemy, the health of our world is being challenged. Health has many different components (physical, emotional, chemical), each of which are critical on how our body functions. Exercise, for many of us is not a priority, or we lack the time to do it. I encourage you to utilize this isolation period to move your body for at least 30 minutes every day. Whether it’s in your home or outside, it’s important to have a good endorphin release each day to improve your mood and immune health. Workout with a friend over FaceTIme to keep you accountable, or challenge your body in new patterns of movement.
Also use this time to get creative in the kitchen and expand your culinary skills. We are more likely to eat healthy and make health conscious decisions when we are part of the process of cooking or preparing meals.
5. Catch Up Time
This is something that you’ve been putting off.
We all have that closet or drawer in our home that is cluttered, unorganized and full of useless junk. Now is the time to de-clutter our space. Think of it as a prolonged ‘Spring Cleaning’ event. Tackle one project each day (or week if it’s larger) and enjoy the process of getting caught up on the things that we usually don’t have the time for.
Crisis has a way of putting things into perspective. If we are intentional about our isolation period, then I know we will all find the blessings among the battles.
Love and Light,
Dr. Kayla Lucas