It seems that we are nearing some form of relief from the Covid-19 pandemic as the government tries to re-open the economy. Some of you may feel like you are going to crack with boredom and are eager to get back into what used to be our “normal”. We are not completely in the clear and I caution us all to make the most of the rest of our time indoors. So how are we going to fair the last of these days on lockdown?
LEARN TO COOK HEALTHIER
The internet is saturated with knowledge. Google some of your favorite dishes and try to find healthier alternatives. I don’t know about you but this pandemic has urged me to take better precautions. Instead of eating out and being unsure about how my food is prepared and cared for before I digest it, I’d much rather prepare it myself and know exactly what goes in it. I am a firm believer that food should be thy medicine. Look at your family history. What types of ailments run through your bloodline? Diabetes? High cholesterol? What types of ailments do you personally have that you can improve? Use more produce in your diet, take a more holistic approach, try ground turkey instead of beef, try cooking from scratch instead of boxed meals. I will be adding some recipes to my YouTube channel so that you can get some ideas on how I prepare some of dishes I’ve been preparing and some of the tips I’ve picked up on.
HAVE SOME ME TIME
Now is the time where we can get all of the quiet time you can imagine. Now is the time where we are excused to SLOW DOWN. Take some time to look inwards while we are indoors. Have you noticed how happy your body is that you have gotten some time to relax? Have you been anxious? Maybe it is time for you to do some meditation and breathing exercises. Just take a moment to be present. We cannot forget about self through this storm we are weathering. Don’t allow the media to make you anxious and stressed. That opens the door to sickness all the same. Be mindful about what your body wants from you. Take advantage of this time to slow down, because when we speed back up, you are diving back into a fast paced world without a life jacket.Here are some other ways to have some me time.
2 Chronicles 7:14 has continued to repeat in my head throughout this entire pandemic, “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” We are living through some of the last days and though none of us know when the last day nor hour will be, it would behoove us all to humble ourselves and pray. No matter who we pray to, there is only one that holds the keys to our destiny. Take this time to pray for our world, pray for the essential workers that are on the front line saving our lives, pray for those who have lost loved ones due to this terrible virus, pray for your own health and those who surround you.
Now that you have idle time, what is it that you can do to get those creative juices flowing? We all have our own unique talents. What is it that you can creatively contribute to yourself and the world? Once we tap into our creative worlds, we are one step closer to being more self sufficient.
GET ORGANIZED
I don’t know about you but as daunting as organizing can be, it NEEDS to be done. Your future self will thank you, trust me. If we are stuck in the house, why not make it a more manageable place to be? Organize your work life as well; clear those emails, organize your bills and start your financial peace journey, pack up some old clothes to donate, rearrange some furniture, the list goes on but you get the picture.
RECONNECT WITH YOUR LOVED ONES
Now that we are spending more time with our families or even distancing ourselves from them, RECONNECT. I don’t know about you but this pandemic has given me a greater appreciation for those that I love and how much they mean to me. It is important that we don’t lose touch. Check on your people and make sure they are okay. If you are not visiting them, at least call them or text them. Don’t make it harder than it has to be, just do it. Don’t take anyone for granted.
SPREAD AN ACT OF KINDNESS
As we speak, Zayden’s (my son) baseball coach along with a couple of other coaches rode down our street handing out free lunches. That warmed my heart to know that there is so many acts of kindness out there that we can do to either make it easier on someone else or at least to make them smile. Be selfless in a world full of selfishness. It doesn’t have to be anything on a large scale, it could be something as simple as randomly telling your kids you love them, or bringing a neighbor a home cooked meal.
ENJOY NATURE
This is one thing we can do without having to stress about social distancing so so much (still be courteous to others and keep your distance). This is one of the easiest ways you can take time and be one with nature. How does it feel, how does it smell, what do you hear? Try putting your phone down while you are out there. Try being unplugged for a while. Some of us are so connected to the world all the time and never take the time to distance ourselves and de-complicate things. You have nothing to lose. This is one of my personal favorites so I definitely urge you to try it. I will never take a kayaking trip for granted again.
EXERCISE
Exercising is scientifically proven to improve your mood. It is best for your health and can jump start you in the right direction to getting back into the swing of things. Since we all have not been so super busy doing things and going places, I’m sure our bodies have adjusted to our stillness and in turn our metabolism has gone down. I personally have finally been able to learn how to be more cosistant with working out. My issue has always been consistancy when it comes to working out and it is mainly because it usually FEELS like a hassle. A hassle to wake up early, put on workout clothes, drive to the gym, and THEN finally workout. I now see that it’s time to cancel my gym membership. During this pandemic I have learned how to push my body to it’s limit without a gym or equipment. I will be posting a few videos soon to my channel so stay tuned. Let’s get those endorphins moving in the right direction and get our beach bodies ready for the sun again. Besides, if you’re like me, (I eat a lot on a regular but quarantine season has my fridge shook!!) you have been eating a lot during this time….. that’s all we have to do right? Why not work it back off and be proud of yourself for achieving some goals.
LEARN A NEW SKILL
This one is pretty self explanatory. What skill is it that you have always wanted to do but never had the time to do so? You have the time now. Go out and learn. Knowledge is power my friend, don’t waste it.
I pray for the person reading this right now. I pray for your family and friends. May God continue to strengthen you and build you up. Be strong my brothers and sisters.