This week, I have started to use at least 3 hours a day to focus on myself and my well-being which proved to be one of the best decisions I have made since the University closed. Personally, mornings have been quite challenging filled with a sensation of uneasiness and restlessness despite my anti-anxiety meds. I tried to follow my regular daily routine (by regular I mean a world where there was no COVID-19 yet), but it just did not seem to work for me anymore. I had trouble concentrating, could not focus on the course work and spent days figuring out what do to with myself. I would start everything but finish nothing.
So finally, I decided to switch things up and use my mornings for self-care. Instead of getting up and rushing into work, I take my sweet time. This is how my mornings look like now:
8:00 am - The alarm rings, I wake up and stay in bed checking up on messages, doing a crossword puzzle, reading or watching one episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
8:30 am - I get dressed, go to the bathroom followed by going downstairs to cuddle with my dogs and eating a hearty breakfast with my grandma. Now I’m not rushing through breakfast anymore but have a relaxing conversation instead. (Big Anxiety Relievers for me - dogs and talking to my loved ones!)
9:30 am - I’m filling out the morning section in my 5-Minute Journal (Anxiety Reliever # 3). This journal is helping me so much in starting my day with a more positive outlook while also making me feel like I can be in control of my anxiety, my day and how I think - so important in these uncertain times! You can make your own 5-Minute Journal. All you need is a journal, a notebook, a pen and some alone time. Every day in your journal, you will answer these questions:
In the mornings:
• I am grateful for ........ Write down three things you are grateful for
• What would make today great? It can be as simple as going to bed early, watching a movie or finishing the topic you’ve been trying to study for. Think of something YOU have control over to make your day better.
• Daily affirmations. I am ... It’s a statement of what you want in life and a statement that defines you as you want to be in the present time.
Then in the evenings before you go to bed:
• 3 Amazing things that happened today ...... Take the time to reflect on all the good things that happened. Again don’t overthink it.
• How could I have made today better? .... Is there something that did not go as well as you planned or you wish you would have done differently? Write it down today and worry about it tomorrow. Tomorrow you can think of the actions you can take to move through this problem.
10:00 am – I make myself a cup of tea, organize my desk and create a to-do list for today categorized by priority. Sometimes before I start studying, I do some stretches, do a crossword puzzle, solve a few InSimu patient cases, work on a new blog post or the Mental Health Support page. (Anxiety Reliever #4 – I start with easy tasks which either relax me or give me a sense of accomplishment).
11:00 am – This time is the latest that I set for myself to start studying. Usually, by this time, I feel calm and ready to take on the day. If I still lack concentration at this point, turn on some instrumental background music and use the Pomodoro app to study, which is a fantastic study tool! And don’t forget some herbal tea!
This is an example of how I start my stress-free mornings now; however, it is a routine that works for me. Maybe you prefer to wake up later/earlier, or a gentle workout calms you down. Or perhaps, you feel more restless in the afternoons or the evenings. You adjust your self-care routine to the way it suits you and your lifestyle. The most important advice I have for you is to make the conscious decision of practising self-care every day for a set time. It is your guilt-free time to recharge, relax and focus on YOU!! Self-care is the best thing you can do for your mental health, physical health and overall wellbeing.
It has changed my life of physical distancing in a positive way, and I hope it will make these difficult times a little bit easier for you, too!
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