Theres no question that so much is continuing to happen around us.
And its extra fun on the days that activateallthose emotions hour by hour, isnt it?
The most consistent word I can come up with to describe how I feel is: scattered.
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I feel mentally, emotionally, and physically scattered.
Sometimes Im drained, sometimes Im energized.
Sometimes I dont know how I am feeling or who I am.
But figuring out which to lean on wheneverythingfeels all over the place is a bit trickier.
Its also super important to check in with your mental health to figure out what will soothe your soul.
So how do you disentangle all of this and figure out what you really need?
What Ive discovered is, you have to redefine what it means to listen to yourself.
And keep listening and keep feeling until youve really taken a full, honest inventory of your needs.
Heres what Ive found to work best for me in each of these moods.
Think back-to-back Zoom meetings, hours of being glued toelection news, or an emotionally draining phone call.
Anything that requires extra footwork, extra vigilance, or extra caution can be saved for another day.
Opt for the outdoors if possible, anything with great scenery and fresh air.
Let Mother Nature coddle you while you sweat.
An untimed run,hike, walk without worrying about your pace is great.
This saves me from any extra stress or pressure that I just dont need when Im already struggling.
Or maybemake your own playlist.
Then sink into the music.
Instead of a power yoga class, try a yin class.
Take a recovery ride.
Get social (but stay distant):If your emotional energy is high, spread that good juju.
If socially distanced wont work, pick up the phone and call them while you walk.
Play an audiobook or podcast while doing a light jog, ride, or walk.
Get into the why, and the nitty gritty of doing certain movements.
Or at least a super-light daythinkfoam rollingor mobility work if you had power yoga or running in mind.
If you are a habitual mover and shaker, your body will likely thank you for this.
Do theself-care things:Take a bath.
Or take a yin yoga or meditation class.
Its pretty self-explanatory and incredibly familiar, because, 2020.
Maybe do a meditation first.
Give it a go:Start an activity without any expectation or pressure.
Try five minutes and see how you feel.
If its made me feel better, I keep going.
Maybe I just needed to get over the mental hurdle and now Ive found my stride.
Now, these are obviously not the only scenarios that might creep up.
Forget the movement and move on to something that serves you better.
The key is to listen to yourself, be prepared, and most importantly, go easy on yourself.
Seriously, skip some workouts!
Your body and mind will thank you for the recovery.
Its okay to put the competition away for a bit and bring out the compassion instead.
