Our new reality.
Our new reality… Lockdown
By now, the reality of ‘lockdown’ has probably well and truly hit us. We have set our bubbles for the next month and this can feel daunting at times. Which is why, it’s more important now than ever before, you prioritise your holistic wellbeing so you can get through this the best that you can.
Here are some scientifically proven tools that enhance our mental and emotional resilience.
1. #htgs – “Hunt the good stuff” – US Army’s Resilience Training
Remembering our brains are hard wired to look for the threats in our environment and one negative is FIVE times stronger than one positive! Negative emotions last for five times longer and feel five times stronger than one positive emotion! By hunting the good stuff during your day and turning up the frequency of positives during your day! Make it a morning and evening ritual to #htgs
2. Emotions are Contagious
You are responsible for the energy you bring into a room. The people in your bubble are hard wired to read your emotions at any given moment in less than a second. Be aware of what you are spreading within the house.
3. Connection
Our brains are highly social organs and the biggest contributing factor to wellbeing and longevity is the quality of our personal relationship. When we have strong and supportive connections with others we thrive. Reach out and connect with the people who matter to you. Ask someone to help you learn to use Zoom, Skype or Facetime if you are not familiar with these apps.
4. Do what makes you feel good
Be deliberate about seeking out the things and people that make you feel good.
5. Routines
Our brains need certainty to feel safe, so one way to bring certainty into your day is to maintain as much routine as possible, but be open minded about needing to create new routines too while in the lockdown.
6. Focus on what you can control
Be aware of when you are being swept away, thinking about all the things you cannot influence or control. Instead, focus on the things that matter which are in your circle of control.
Limit watching too much sensational news. Instead, get your news from reputable sources such as The Ministry of Health.
7. Quality Conversations
Is this conversation serving me well or is it harming me? Do I feel energised by this conversation or depleted?
Ideas for entertaining kids during lockdown
This is a very rare time where you can change things up and do things differently together.
Here’s a few ideas to get started:
Take photos of things in the garden then search the web to try and find the names of them.
Draw hopscotch on the driveway with chalk.
Baking/cooking classes – teach your kids to make a meal by themselves.
Teach them how to clean a bathroom - i.e. tick off those life skills we as parents haven’t had time to teach them.
Shoot some hoops. Keep track of personal best scores.
Play tag on the lawn.
Learn magic tricks with a deck of cards (kids LOVE this!). YouTube is a great place to learn.
Write a letter to a friend or family member and send it via post when NZ Post is back up and running.
Each person writes their own Bucket List for the future.
Discover your family values and write a family purpose statement.
Ideas if you are flying solo during lockdown
Focus on completion - write down all those ‘incompletions’ you have rolling around in your thoughts from time to time. What do you find yourself saying, “I wish I had time to do this or that?” e.g. paint the spare room, sort the pantry out, declutter my wardrobe. Tick them off one by one!
Reframe this period as ‘you time.’ What have you been putting off for yourself? What would fill your energy tanks up right now?
Organise a virtual lunch date or wine time with a close friend via Facetime/Zoom/Skype.
Write down your goals. Never got around to doing your New Year’s resolution list? Do it now!
Commit to some movement each day. Walk around your block or try an online Yoga or Pilates class.
Connect with your top 5 core values again.
Personal development time – connect with your coach for ideas on what this could look like.
You can download this resource as a printable PDF (no signup required).