How do you eat an elephant? They say, one bite at a time... I don't really care to try one myself!
What can you do at home that would help you keep calm and stay focused.
Looking around my home, it's easy for me to get overwhelmed with three of my children abruptly needing homeschooling, literally on top of me right now. Dishes piling up in the sink, laundry on every flat surface, more kids asking for snacks and needing help with schoolwork, more laundry popping up - now I don't know whats clean or dirty - you get it. Not even taking into account working from home and staying in contact with my clients and writing contracts. It can become so overwhelming. So I wanted to share some things that help me take it one bite at a time.
Together lets rediscover the good things about our homes. Do you have your own bathroom? Great! Step one... Lock the door! Take a hot bubble bath & light a candle, or take a shower. Make sure you are taking care of yourself and your mental well being. Are you into face masks? Throw one on for your next online meeting, blame it on self care, or me. You can't fill the cup of others if yours is empty.
What does your green space look like? Do you have a patio, a backyard, some acreage or a park nearby? According to WebMD "A sunny day may do more than just boost your mood -- it may increase levels of a natural antidepressant in the brain. A new study shows that the brain produces more of the mood-lifting chemical serotonin on sunny days than on darker days." Make it a priority to go outside every single day, even for just 5 minutes.
Once you are showered and sunbathed, why not take one thing on your "to-do" list and check it off. It helps me to write lists. Just set a goal for one thing. Unload the dishwasher. If you did it, great! That's a win in my book. Replaced a burned out light bulb you've been staring at every morning? Good job! Before you know it, the sense of accomplishment will help your state of mind and you'll be able to tackle more without an overwhelming "walls are closing in" feeling.
Make time for day dates, or date nights. If you don't have a partner, focus on yourself. Take a lunch break and have a picnic. Pick up a book collecting dust on your shelf. After hours, shut off everything including social media for a few hours and watch a movie together. Unplug and talk. Get in the habit of naming something good in each day.
This is a marathon, not a sprint. Forgive yourself when you get snappy and forgive others around you as well. We are all in this together.
