How to Use Time in a Surplus (1/2)
Hi!
Hope you're enjoying quarantine- I know I am :) The next two posts are separate but related; they correspond to my ways of adapting to life when there's a surplus of time. Today's post corresponds to things that work for me now, but please note I was not able to do any of these things when I was riffled with anxiety and depression. I will post alternatives that provided me with comfort in that difficult time on Friday. I decided to write the posts in this order because it follows the natural flow of how I found what worked for me. I tried to do these things first, but when they didn't work, I sought an alternative. I find the strategies in today's post to be higher vibrational overall, but there is no right or wrong. You just need to do what gives you peace in an uncertain time.
This is how I have been staying busy in quarantine:
Meditation
Literally anyone who speaks to me knows that I am obsessed with meditation and I attribute much of my newfound peace of mind to my practice. Since we do have so much time, I have been meditating more often and for longer than usual, but if you are just starting, I would suggest aiming for 10-15 minutes in the morning. I like to use music/different frequencies when I meditate, because the end of the track is more subtle than an alarm and it occupies my mind. Sometimes I do guided meditations, it just depends. I switch it up depending on my mood. I use Youtube, but you can find access to meditations all over, on apps like Gaia, Peloton or Headspace.
Gardening
It's so cliche, because the only places open right now are grocery stores and home improvement stores, but whatever, sometimes things are trendy for a reason. I am growing a bonsai tree, but those take a long time to grow, so in order to divert my attention, I started a vegetable and flower garden. I love visual progress, so seeing my plants grow from a seed into something more tangible with each day that passes is so satisfying. It's a very grounding practice because you literally put things into the ground and watch it grow. So far I have a Spider Plant, Money Tree, Bonsai Tree (soon- planted 3/23 and just about to break ground!!), tomatoes, lettuce, jalapeños, cosmos, snapdragons and petunias.
Puzzles
I keep a puzzle downstairs so that whenever I go to make a meal or grab something from the mail, I try to fit one piece and then go about my day. I find this a preferable substitute to checking my phone or going on Instagram. It's another form of visual progress and there's something to be said about the "crunch of satisfaction" when you get a piece right. S/O to my sister Haley for coining that phrase. It helps occupy your mind and keeps your eyes focused on something other than a screen.
Kundalini Yoga
"No, Mom, that's not the sex thing" (I wish...)
Kundalini yoga is like yoga, breath work and meditation all wrapped into one. I started doing it on Gaia, but they definitely have it on YouTube. I really like it because it's a quick way to cycle through your energy without exerting too much physical force. Apparently there's one pose that equates to 48hours of consecutive working out. I don't know why or how that's true, but I will definitely take it. I enjoy this practice and find it revitalizing, so I will continue to incorporate it into my daily routine.
Reading
I switch between books as I feel like it, but I set a 5 minute reading goal on my iPad, which helps to make sure I am reading a little bit each day. I like the consumption of knowledge through reading, and some of what I'm reading is dense nonfiction, so it holds me accountable to finish what I started without demanding too much.
Arbonne 30 Days to Healthy Living
I didn't like the way it felt to get drunk alone on my couch night after night, so I cut alcohol out completely less than a week into quarantine. This is actually what inspired me to start doing a round of Arbonne 30, not weight loss, but it definitely helps because I am eating way more now that my appetite is not suppressed from taking Adderall. Being on a cleanse during quarantine has forced me to learn how to cook, which I find to be a great use of my time. I am REALLY excited to eat hashbrowns and Papa John's pizza once the cleanse is over. Aside from that, eating healthy is easier than you might think, and it makes you feel great! If you are interested in learning more information about Arbonne, you can send Tori an email at [email protected] !
With all these activities going on, I'm finding the weeks are going by fast and I'm maintaining a positive outlook on life. I was not capable of doing a lot of these activities when I was in a bad place, but I will suggest even more ideas you can implement on Friday :)
xoxo,
Allison
