Over
the course of the past few days, all of our lives have been turned
upside down by the continued spread of COVID-19. We went from going
about our daily, normal routines to being advised to practice social distancing by staying home as much as possible. It’s like an alternate universe or something straight out of a movie!
While
the idea of social distancing isn’t hard to grasp in terms of avoiding
crowds, the idea of not being able to interact with our friends and even
family members is. No dinner parties? No meeting up for coffee? No
Sunday meals with extended family? How are we going to do this?!
But here’s the thing…
Social distancing will only put a damper on our lives if we allow it to.
If we think of it as a setback and something that is a huge disruption, then guess what? It will be.
If we look for the silver lining in the situation and make the most out
of it, however, it’ll serve as a reminder that even in tough times,
there is always something to be grateful for. True or true?
Instead of viewing social distancing as a negative, let’s focus on the positive aspects:
- We
have extra quality time to spend connecting with our partners,
children, and immediate family members. How many times in the past have
we complained that we “don’t have enough time?”
- We’re
being forced to hit the pause button, to slow down, and to stop
over-committing ourselves to being in 100 different places at 100
different times. Couldn’t we all use this break?
- We’ve
been given a reminder that we can never take our health or any day we
have on this earth for granted, which is teaching us a lesson in
perspective.
Before I get
into some ways that you can make the most out of your time during
social distancing, there’s a big principle that I want you to
understand…
Coping With Fear
While
we need to be mindful of this uncertain time and need to make sure that
we avoid putting our health in danger, there’s a difference between
being careful and being fearful.
Being
careful means staying informed and taking the proper precautions (like
practicing social distancing). But living in FEAR is what has the
potential to consume you and waste your time. If you allow it to, that
is.
Why? Because fear only exists in your mind, and it only has power over you if you let it.
Most
of us are fearful of this virus on some level. But the mind has a habit
of always looking for what could go wrong, which is a natural defense mechanism that it uses to protect us.
Here’s
what I want you to do. Whenever you feel fear starting to creep up, ask
yourself what thought is causing you to be fearful, and then get into
the practice of reassuring your mind that everything is going to be ok
and tell it “Thank you for sharing.
You are in control of how you react to any given situation, not your mind, and certainly not FEAR.
Don’t
let your mind become another virus to battle in addition to
Coronavirus. We may be in an uncertain and scary time right now, but how
we choose to react will dictate whether or not we come out on top. It’s
easy to stay positive and upbeat when everything is going your way. But
it’s how you react when the shit hits the fan that will make or break
you. Good or good? If you want to explore this further, I dive deeper
into these concepts here.
Ok, so now that you understand that… let’s get back to finding new and creative ways to make the most out of social distancing.
One of the best things you can do to make sure you don’t let fear overcome your mindset is by finding new ways to pass the time and also enjoy it.
Here are a few suggestions to get your creative juices flowing…
10 Ways To Make The Most Out Of Social Distancing
1. Learn a New Skill or Gain Some New Knowledge
Take this time to learn a new language, or brush up on one you’d like to be more fluent in.
Now is also the perfect time to check out some of my free online trainings to get well on your way to living your best life possible.
2. Spend Time With Family and Loved Ones
There is no better time than to connect to your nearest and dearest.
Turn
off the TV and plan a family game night, or if the weather is nice,
have a picnic together on your deck or in your backyard.
3. Connect With Old Friends
Even
though you can’t get together face-to-face, you can always reach out to
those old friends you haven’t seen in a while via FaceTime or Zoom.
Or go the old-fashioned route and pick up the phone instead of texting.
4. Start the Big Project You’ve Always Been Talking About
Each
and every one of us has some big idea that’s been floating around in
your head, something you’ve wanted to learn or a project you’ve meant to
tackle but just haven’t had the time.
Well, now is the time.
Always
wanted to start writing that book you’ve already made an outline for,
or call that investor you want to share your business proposal to? Go do
it!
5. Teach Your Kids a New Skill
Use
these days spent at home to teach kids new arts and crafts, or even
lessons that will help them later in life. Have them help you prepare
and cook dinner, work alongside you to learn more about your job, or you
can even start teaching them some money management skills.
6. Practice Self-Care and Self-Love
It’s so tough to stay productive and take care of everyone else when you aren’t making sure to take care of yourself as well.
The
one thing we do have on our hands right now is extra time, so make sure
to set aside a period of time each day to do at-home workout programs,
practice meditation, write in your journal, watch your favorite TV
shows, create art, make delicious, healthy food, or whatever it is that
helps you unwind and relieve stress. And don’t forget to get plenty of
rest, too!
7. Goal-Setting & Planning for the Future
This
is the perfect time to revisit your vision board to see what progress
you’re making or create a vision board if you haven’t yet. It’s also a
great time to set goals to keep you motivated and moving forward.
Whether
it’s career goals or personal goals, take this time to get in touch
with yourself, and think about what you truly want in life, and start
making a plan of action for how you’re going to get there.
8. Spring Cleaning & Home Improvement
Since
it’s something most people have had on their list for a while but have
never had ample time to do, you might as well take advantage of having
extra hours in your day to clean out the clutter.
Getting
organized can be very therapeutic, so why not finally clean out your
bedroom closet and fill up boxes with clothes you no longer wear so you
can donate them.
Now is also a
great time to clean up the yard for Spring or fix those loose door
handles and leaky faucets. Once this virus has made its exit, you’ll be a
few steps ahead of the game when it comes to productivity.
9. Get Outside and Explore
Of
course, keep practicing social distancing and be mindful of how many
people there are around you, but taking a walk or hike on a trail or
taking your bike for a spin is a great way to tackle cabin fever.
10. Online Health & Wellness Programs
Even
though you might miss the gym, there’s really no need for it with apps
such as Aaptiv, Glow, Asana Rebel, and DownDog. You can still get a
great workout right in the privacy of your own home.
Whatever
way you choose to pass the time during this period of uncertainty, just
remember that we’re all in this together, and we WILL get through this.
When the going gets tough, take a deep breath, stay focused, remember that YOU are in control of your mind and your thoughts, and make it a point to prioritize your happiness and always practice gratitude.
Use this time to ask yourself,
“What can I do with this time to improve myself and the people around me?” And then take ACTION.
By
doing so, you will be able to overcome your fear-based mindset once and
for all. Years from now, long after this is all over, you’ll look back
on this challenging time and realize that by making the best of every
situation, you can conquer ANY situation.
How do you plan on making the most out of social distancing? Share your ideas below in the comments section and let me know!
For your freedom,
