For various reasons life had been pretty stressful before the 'lockdown', and then the world changed for us all bringing a whole range of emotions, concerns and changes I hadn't anticipated.
I have felt anxious, sometimes terrified about what the future might hold for my family and I. I have felt scared about the impact for those I love. I have felt sad about the huge impact it is having across the globe to individuals, families and businesses. I have felt like staying in bed, not bothering.
Having spent years delivering Change and Personal Resilience training programmes, supporting colleagues to build their own resilience, I have spent the last few weeks taking a leaf out of my own book.
Key to this has been self-compassion: being kind to myself, employing a growth mindset, recognising what is in my control and what is not, and being mindful.
So, here are some of the things I have been doing to recharge my batteries, develop my resilience and build myself up towards moving forwards again:
Spending time with my partner and children; having fun,
Recognising when fun is slipping into irritation and finding our own space for a while,
Limiting my exposure to social media and the news,
Having a go at Zen Doodling, sketching, jigsaws, sewing and knitting (with varying degrees of success),
Doing yoga in the sunshine in my garden,
Enjoying the home we have created together and what we have on our doorstep,
Slowing down and 'going with the flow',
Trying out some new exercise with Oti Mabuse (tried Joe Wicks I'm but not sure I'm ready for that yet!),
Connecting with people - friends, family and colleagues; old and new,
Recognising what is really preventing me from moving forwards, without judgement, and then making a plan and acting on it.
I haven't stopped feeling waves of anxiety, and sadness, and I still don't know what the future holds. But I do feel more in control of those feelings. I do feel ready to face forwards, make a plan, and get on with the next chapter - accepting the new world as it is and whatever it will become.
How are you being kind to yourself in these challenging times?
Comments