How to Use Time in a Surplus (2/2)

Happy Friday!

Does every day in quarantine feel like a Friday, or just me? While I do love that feeling of Friday at 4:30pm when I get to close my laptop and look forward to 48 hours of uninterrupted time to explore my hobbies and interests, it's taken me a long time to get to this place and to gain this perspective.. The weekend actually used to cause me an insane amount of anxiety, which is why I think it's important to do a follow up to my post on Wednesday. 

The things that get me through quarantine now did not work for me when I was in a depressed state. Let's go down the list in a "swap this for that" format:

Walking (instead of Meditating)

Go outside with no headphones and just start walking. Start where you are with this one- it doesn't matter if it's 5 minutes or an hour, but you will find a similar sense of mental clarity from going outside, getting fresh air and moving your body.

When I was at the peak of my anxiety, I couldn't be alone with my thoughts, so I called my aunt. While I do suggest putting your phone on Do Not Disturb during your walk, you have to find what works best for you. These is no right or wrong here, just what you need to do to make improvement beyond where you were yesterday. 

Strength Training (instead of Yoga)

At the height of my mental health crisis, my mind was racing far too fast for me to enjoy practicing yoga. My anxiety stayed with me the entire time I was on my mat and didn't subside afterwards, but I did find CrossFit actually helped me a lot. 

I recommend trying something more strenuous in place of yoga if your mind is occupied. Even though gyms are closed, options aren't as limited as you might think. Peloton has free classes for 90 days when you download their app (they have a bunch, not just cycling), Kayla Itsines Bikini Body Guide or SWEAT app is awesome- this is actually what got me into working out in the first place- and Alyssa K Fit (on instagram or alyssakfitness.com) has a number of cheap programs you can implement at home. These are all programs that I have personally tried and would  recommend. Working out is critical to being mentally healthy, so even if you think you don't need to work out, trust me, you do. The physical benefits are actually  secondary to the mental in my opinion. 

Writing (instead of Reading)

I've heard writing described as free therapy, and it's true! A lot of our mind's chatter goes away simply by acknowledging the thoughts and letting them pass. I find we're a little more selective with our written words than with our thoughts, so writing actually helps you choose better thoughts. It also helps you identify which thoughts aren't actually true. I start each morning by writing 3 handwritten pages of nonsense and find it gives me mental clarity throughout the day. Reading was another activity that I just found to be too slow with a racing mind, but I was always able to write. Even a little bit each day can go a long way! Remember, you don't need to do any of these things for a reason beyond "feeling good"- I always make that my top priority. I learned that through Gabby Bernstein. 

Crafting your Planner (instead of doing a Puzzle)

I am doing a puzzle now I attempted to do last year and put away in frustration. Again, it was too slow of an activity for my anxious mind. I was however, always able to craft in my planner. It's a mindless activity that gives you the chance to be creative, which is why I love planners so much. I know there's not necessarily much to "plan" in quarantine, at least in the traditional sense, but I've been using mine lately as more of a habit tracker. I make lists of things that I've been doing, make note of when I start practicing certain meditations or anything, really. You could even throw your grocery list in there! I think a planner can be a kind diary in disguise, so even this could constitute your daily writing if you wanted it to. 

Intermittent Fasting (instead of Arbonne 30 or any other cleanse)

Even though an investment in your health is always worth the money, when I didn't have a job, there was a 0% chance I was going to spend money on a cleanse. Intermittent fasting doesn't necessarily give you all the same health benefits, but it's a start. I just started trying this 2 weeks ago, and I love how my body feels! It gives you more energy because your body only needs to digest in a limited window as opposed to throughout the entire day. It also gives you the benefit of mental clarity and just makes you feel good overall! 

I hope you can find peace similar to what I experienced simply through trying some of these activities! Take things one day at a time and you will get through this. Make sure to follow @allisonziggy on instagram if you aren't already and check back on Monday for our next post! We have a special release on Monday you aren't going to want to miss! 

Have a wonderful weekend!

xoxo, 

Allison