Over the last couple of weeks I have had so many interesting conversations with friends about what we are currently experiencing. Perspectives on this situation vary enormously. So much depends on a variety of factors.
What is your current working situation? Is your job at risk? Do you have children? What ages are they? Do you have school aged children who are e-learning? Do your kids need supervision during the day? What level of supervision? Do you live in an area where you can easily get groceries and other basics? Are your supermarkets missing the items you need/want? Do you find yourself cooking a crazy amount of meals? Are you trying to care for a child (multiple children), hold down a job, clean a house, make meals and do laundry all at the same time? Do you have an aging parent? Do you have a family member with a pre-existing condition?
There are vast ranges in the amount of stress we are experiencing. We are worried about the health of our loved ones (not to mention ourselves), the state of the world, the state of our job, all the way down to what’s for dinner! Just thinking of all of this is exhausting!
Then you start thinking about your physical health. So many of us are maximizing at home workouts combined with getting outdoors when we can. I am committed to finding time in my day to get in a workout. In some cases, I feel like a workout is not enough and I need more. Yoga is the morning to calm my nerves, a run in the evening to get out all my anxiety. All that anxiety then weighs on my mental health.
I know you are all feeling varying degrees of this. I’m here to tell you that you’re not alone. We’re all just trying to take one day at a time and remember to breathe. For some of us there is more down time that others. I don’t find much during my week but I have been able to clean out a few piles and organize a couple rooms. I call this progress!
One thing I have been trying to do is find activities that distract me. I’ve taken to watching old episodes of “I Love Lucy”. I’m trying to read more. I color with my kids. Anything that I think might relax or distract me… I’m in!
I’ve been asked if I would consider hosting a virtual closet clean out. This sounds amazing. If you find you have an hour or two or would like to dedicate an hour or two to cleaning out your closet and would like to have some help, reach out to me. It’s spring after all! Spring cleaning should be in our bones this time of year. Let’s clean out your closet together and feel a little lighter when it’s done! If you prefer to take on this task yourself, here are a few suggestions.
Take everything out of your closet. You need to start fresh.
If you are on the fence about an item, try it on. You need to see how it fits on your body. Especially for an item that you have owned for awhile but haven’t worn lately. Your body changes so items will fit differently over time.
Use a full length mirror. If you don’t own one, seriously consider the purchase. It’s so worth it! You need to see how you look from head to toe in any outfit.
Don’t keep an item because you think it will look good when you lose weight. It has to look good now or it’s time to let it go.
Be strategic about how you put items back in your closet. Think about how you get dressed in the morning and organize your closet to make getting dressed as simple as possible.
This is very trying time but I find comfort in the idea that we are not alone. We are in this together. Exercise helps. Talking to friends and family helps. Keeping active helps. Find what helps you the most and hold on to that. This is an amazing opportunity to be strong together.
