As the pandemic drags on, I know I'm not alone in observing my Zoom-beleagered friends and colleagues reflecting back the exhaustion and burgeoning despair that we are all carrying the entirety of every day. Almost a full year into the COVID-19 experience and it continues to be an ongoing external pressure on every aspect of our lives.
It seems though that the majority of us have reached a saturation point. For me, a hardcore Doer, I've pushed myself to the point of utter exhaustion as I attempt to alleviate this stress and anxiety. So where do we go from here? How do we survive the next phase or handful of phases we still have in front of us?
In Minnesota where we live, temps can be well below zero for days on end. We are well versed in the art of Hygge, a Danish word that roughly translates into a quality of coziness. Maybe it's the view of snow softly falling outside your window, or a roaring fire. Whatever that means for you, now is the time to embrace the comforts in our lives. This doesn't mean eating your feelings, something that can only lead to trouble. It means that perhaps it's time to slow down. To REST. To find comfort and meaning in your life, and practice living in the moment.
What does this look like to you? Is it a virtual yoga class? Meditation? A brisk hike in the woods? Curling up with a good book? Let's collectively take this time to make space to slow down, get to those fun projects that we've been trying to find time for, or crack open a new novel. What does this look like for you?
Resources: Have you ever heard of Feldenkrais?
Looking for a new book? NYTimes best sellers