There’s no sugarcoating it – it’s a strange time. We’re all feeling a little anxious about the uncertainty of whats to come. Lots of us are either self quarantined or under mandatory lock down. Businesses are closing, people are working from home, kids are home from school, and everything feels a little upside down. I keep finding myself getting sucked into the news and the media and spiraling into a negative funk as a result.
It’s been over these last few days that I’ve found it more important than ever to incorporate things into my day that bring me joy and uplift me. From how I start my day, to what I do throughout it, I’ve noticed a dramatic increase in my overall mood. Whenever I start to feel anxious, here are something things I have found that have majorly helped lift my spirits.
Meditate
As I talked about in my morning routine, meditation has become an essential part of my day. Taking just ten minutes in the morning brings me an overwhelming sense of calm and allows me to function much more efficiently the rest of the day. Learning how to clear my mind and push away negative thoughts is of utmost importance right now, especially when we are surrounded by so much negativity. I love both the Calm app, and Melissa Wood Health‘s guided meditations.
Read
Admittedly, I’ve never been much of a reader. Recently, however, I got into listening to audiobooks & podcasts more (I’m currently listening to Girl, Wash Your Face and it’s hysterical!), and it changed my perception of literature. I suddenly found reading to be much more appealing and a way to force myself to switch off, and feel present in the moment. I’m making a habit of making my coffee in the morning and sitting with a book for 15-30 minutes. This helps keep my mind quiet in the morning, instead of immediately turning on the news and feeling overwhelmed. I’m loving reading motivational books and stories that keep me encouraged and positive, or coffee table books (I just got in Eyeswoon) for something a little lighter.
My ALL time favorite place to spend my time. I could get lost for hours scrolling through image after image. Right now, I’m consumed with finding ways to redecorate and new recipes to try. There are so many new and fresh ideas on Pinterest that it makes me feel inspired to be creative – my ultimate way I feel uplifted! I’m going through a major phase in our home where I want it to be beautiful yet functional, so I’m turning to Pinterest to help me create spaces with that in mind.
Organization
Having more time at home has me focusing more on my home and its functionality. I guess you could say I’m in a major nesting phase, but it calms me and brings me joy. Plus, our pantry and fridge has never been so full! I’ve been organizing every drawer and closet so that our house feels calm and clutter-free. I’m currently working on organizing our pantry and fridge, and having everything so organized has led me to something else that makes me happy…
Cooking
One last thing that I look forward to every day is cooking our meals. We started using meal order kits a couple months ago, and it made me realize that I have a sincere love of cooking! I’m so fascinated with incorporating new ingredients and seeing how it changes the flavor of a dish. I’m using this downtime to actually read my cookbooks and pick out new recipes that use some of the ingredients in our pantry. Stay tuned over on Instagram stories, I’ll be sharing some of my favorites there!
These are just a few things that have helped me – but there are so many others like connecting with others (via the phone or skype) or mini spa days at home, that can also help lift your spirits. Let me know in the comments below what some of your favorites are. x