Finding Calm in the Little Things

Being in Lockdown has been tough. Social distancing has gone against our human nature to stick together and socialize. We’ve been lonely, and now that many rules are being abolished, we are met with a difficult decision. The divide between those wanting to get out and those wanting to stay safe inside is continuing to widen, resulting in increased social tensions.

No matter which side of the chasm you’re on, mounting confusion can bring us unwanted stress and anxiety, and it’s important to combat these negative energies in order to maintain a healthy life, physically and mentally.

Here’s a list of ideas for you to try which will bring you moments of mindfulness in this crazy world:

• Turn to nature. If like me you’re lucky enough to have a garden and woodland trails within walking distance, take advantage of those privileges. In Japan, shinrin-yoku or ‘forest bathing’ has been proven to improve the mental state, and all you need to do is go for a walk while taking in and connecting with the beauty around you. Over the past few months, I’ve been on many walks with my family and enjoyed watching the different plants in our garden flourish and fade. By detaching yourself from the current moment to focus on something as simple and delicate as a blooming flower, you can find calm and gratitude for your position in life. If you aren’t able to access a park or garden, you can still watch nature through buying a plant and nurturing it (if you’re able to as I’m aware many people have different priorities during this time). Through caring for it, you’re able to apply time and energy to something that brings joy, consequently increasing happiness.

• Write it all down. Just like how I utilise my blog to share my thoughts and feelings, you can use a pen and paper to share the heavy mental load that we all carry around with us. And, you don’t have to write about anything special as it is just for you to see, or even throw away straight after you’ve jotted down your thoughts. Plus, many people have found that while writing down troublesome thoughts, they have a realisation or find some organisation of previously clouded chaos. This is because channeling thoughts helps the brain to prioritise and process ideas more efficiently.

• Work up a sweat. Here, I don’t mean constantly tiring out your body with intense at-home workouts – I mean finding a method of exercise that feels good. For me, this includes a regular session of yoga (I recommend Yoga with Adriene on Youtube), occasional walks and some Chloe Ting workouts, but this differs entirely from person to person dependent on interests and fitness levels. In addition, exercise seems to hit two birds with one stone, as it keeps your body in good shape whilst releasing endorphins that make you feel great about yourself afterwards.

• Set up that website you’ve always wanted to start. For such a long time I’d been wanting to start a blog or some form of media that could keep me connected to the world and possibly be turned into a future business. Now that I’ve finally done it, I’m so happy to have a chance to spread my ideas across a small corner of the Internet, and you can easily get involved too. In uncertain times, it’s reassuring to find the people who share your same passions/interests.

I hope that I’ve given you a few good suggestions for methods that can combat that sense of unease which we’re all feeling right now. Especially if you’ve got a lot of time on your hands comme moi, try out one or two, hopefully finding a brief moment of quiet, bliss, calm :).

Remember, as long as there is no vaccine, Covid-19 is still out there, so stay vigilant and safe. Even though the government may lift certain measures, this is likely for economic recovery only. The more cautious we are, the least likely it is there will be a second spike in cases!

Much love from yours truly,

A.B. x