Keeping Habits
How are you handling the world opening back up? Does it feel like an eternity since the lockdown began in your community?
Do you recall the fear or worry or shock factor that you had when the world entered this pandemic? That was normal. It is just as normal to have fear and worry creep in as you get back into the new normal.
Have you learned a few things about yourself since the pandemic? Like finding new ways to cope without the access to therapists or your regular outlets like the gym. Finding joy in the simple things in life — including putting a priority on your health. Learning how to make meals from home including the patient creation of sourdough bread.
The question is how can you ease back into life while still holding on to the gifts discovered in the last few months?
It is not an unusual thing that is loosing the ability to maintain new habits. We have seen this with those that have gone to a retreat centre for any time. They seek a retreat centre to learn new tools to support their health. If they have been away for a period of time they begin to see the benefits of those new tools. Entering back into their home those tools stick in the beginning. But in time - 3 - 6 months - they find they are back where they started well before their time at the retreat centre.
Why do we loose these health promoting habits?
Routine creeps in. It is easy to forget how great it was to meditate on waking every day when now there is pressure to get to work or have your kids enter school on time.
We don’t put importance to our health. This can be the number one problem. Eating better might have been out of a necessity — as junk food wasn’t as easily accessible or you were reducing the frequency of your grocery store trips — leading to a side benefit of feeling better, reducing pain and inflammation. Possibly the link was not created between a healthier diet and lmproved health.
Enter the familiar haunts & distractions. Temptation is a tricky one. Habitually it is easy to give in. You may have more desires to bring back the things that you missed while in lockdown. But before you give in to those desires - take an inventory on which haunts were health vs disease promoting.
How can you enter back into the world with ease, less pain & a focus on your health?
Write it down. Make two columns. Write down the positive effects of lockdown for you and your family in one column. In the second column, write down the negative effects - particularly those pieces of lockdown that worsened your health.
Make a plan. Connect with your family as to what benefits you gained for your health during lockdown.
Remove as many barriers as you can to stay on track. Nip any excuses right from the start.
Set boundaries. You may be having to set boundaries with others outside of your bubble. Consider setting boundaries for yourself too. Like not negotiating a change in your diet, despite having more access to tempting foods. Or not sitting down to a TV show until you have gotten your workout in.
Keep to the basics. Healthy food, hydration, sleep, movement, social connection & nature. These are all of the keys to optimal health.
I wish you grace as the world opens back up. If you are looking for more support for helping you to stick to your health and routine - get in touch.