Last week, for the first time in months, I went to see three people I love. There were birthdays and graduations to celebrate, so I dropped off gifts at each of their door steps. We kept our distance. Masks were worn. And—it was harder than I thought it would be.
Where I expected my visits to be like little reunions, a sadness hung in the air. We couldn’t hug like we normally do. Almost everything we talked about related to how the virus has changed our lives. And being together—at a distance—was good, but strange.
We kept our distance. Masks were worn. And—it was harder than I thought it would be.
Tomorrow, things will begin to open up in our small corner of Pennsylvania. As we all know, we aren’t going back to what we remember as normal. But the restrictions are lifting which is hopeful. Though perhaps there will be further confusion over what safety looks like in this next phase, and fear may accompany us as we do things we once did without thinking, we are collectively moving in a positive direction. Only still,
All of this is exhausting.
As I shared on Monday, so many of us are feeling tired in a way we’ve never experienced before. Keeping our distance from each other, worrying about the effects this virus has caused, as well as grieving all the activities and plans we’ve had to cancel, is exhausting in a way many of us are unfamiliar with.
This weariness is not our typical weariness.
So how we take care of ourselves during this season may look very different from how we’ve taken care of ourselves through other hard times. That is why today, I want to share some activities that are helping me both process what is going on, as well as find restoration for my body and soul.
If you are in need of restoration—physically and/or emotionally—give at least one of these ideas a try. And, if you’ve found something that is unexpectedly helping you during this season, please share in the comments. May you find rest and peace today.
Listen to some old tunes.
I’m not talking about music recorded before you were born (unless it’s your jam). Rather, what music brings you back to good or meaningful moments in your life? What songs feel like home to you? As I shared on Monday, listening to some old Mat Kearney albums while baking, allowed something in me to loosen up, to feel more at peace. And, according to this article in Psychology Today, music is known to improve mood, reduce stress, and lower cortisol levels.
Do something with your hands.
Bake, paint, garden, knit, scrapbook—do something away from the screen of your TV, computer, or phone. Knead dough. Get your hands in the dirt and plant flowers. Write handwritten notes to loved ones. According to this Psychology Today article, the act of creating something with our hands can relieve anxiety, decrease stress, and modify depression—while also providing us with a sense of meaning, productivity, and purpose. All things that can feel elusive when our lives have been stripped of so many of our usual activities.
Go for a hike.
For me, hiking out in nature a few times a week during this time, has been an incredibly refreshing routine. Seeing the trees bud and finding wild flowers blooming has been an important reminder that the world isn’t ending. And, according to many studies, including those sited in this article from Berkeley, hiking is an effective form of exercise that boosts our mood, sharpens our minds, increases our creativity, wards of anxiety, and so much more. Find a hiking trail nearby and “get lost” in the woods for a little while. It will do you so much good.
What do you think is making you feel the most weary right now?
How does your body or soul need to be restored?
Feeling a little adrift in this strange, new normal of being at home? Sign up for my email list and get your free copy of my Social Distancing Survival Guide: Everyday Routines. Sign up here.
Photo by Jon Flobrant on Unsplash
