Hey, all you cool cats and kittens! It is Good Friday, and we are still under stay-at-home orders. There is a new meaning to the Live-Work-Play concept as we are forced to adapt to the demands of school or work or kids in addition to finding time for self-care within the confines of home. I know it seems like Groundhog's Day every day, but I hope you can rise the occasion and stay sane despite this unfavorable time. I can work from home safely, but others do not have that option. I understand I am coming from a place of privilege, and are constantly mindful that my challenges are not yours. I hope everyone can find a silver lining and embrace the positive vibes I'm channeling.
Whether you are sad, or mad, or confused, you are entitled to your feelings but don't discount how others choose to emote. A recent post floating around social media platforms read, "If you don't come out of this with a new hustle or skill, you're lazy," and that couldn't be any further from the truth. There are people truly in survival mode, whether it is visible or not, and the added pressure or false positivity can add anxiety. Use this time to do whatever makes you feel good without causing harm to yourself or others. Determine the best ways to block out the negativity around by setting boundaries and recalibrate. Ignore the societal pressure of social media millionaires to come out of this experience a new person with an advanced skillset if it was not already in your plan for the year.
When you think about it, you are already learning how to survive a pandemic. That is a skill in itself! I am working from home, and it is still an adjustment, but this a new skill for me. I can better manage my time and learn to focus under these unpredictable conditions. So what do you do when you feel like you have hit a wall? Use this time at home to reconnect with yourself or others. I decided to take a stab at stocks with Robinhood, search Instagram and YouTube for free tips on how to give my brain a break, and continue to create a space to be comfortable. Some days I sleep a little longer or stay up and watching insane series like Tiger King, but overall I have learned to be careful with imposing expectations on myself. I am also more selective about the news I take in daily. I appreciate platforms like Twitter that allow you to mute words or phrases, so when I log in, I'm not bombarded with constant news about COVID-19 and spiking death tolls. It is best to be informed, but for my mental well-being, I choose to limit as much as possible until things take a turn for the better.
I want to mention how I am so much more appreciative of the in-person interactions I have. My friend, Sydney, worked from home before now, and talking with her gave me the motivation to stay on track. Our little time on the couch this week was so refreshing (and YES we were still practicing social distancing). I feel like I'm also on FaceTime more the past three weeks than ever before. While I'm not 100% loving the frequent video calls for work, I do it for those that may need it more than I do. All in all, my saving grace has been laughter! Whether I'm cracking jokes in the kitchen with Kita (my mama) or going IN on any of the many group chats, a good laugh session keeps me from crying in despair. So my challenge to you lovely peeps is to laugh a little more—a little louder—and watch how the happiness and joy become contagious.
Thank you reading this week!
xo Mia Shantel