MINDFULNESS MATTERS: Inner Work

by Cynthia Runge

Strategies for supporting your mind and body from home during the pandemic.

Your Mind and Body: Being stuck inside the house for long stretches of time can be mentally and physically exhausting. It can seem like the hours meld together as one because there are no specific physical breaks built into your day. Trying to keep yourself on a schedule can help you to stay grounded and focused. You can also stimulate the right side of your brain by working on some art of your own, read a book for pleasure, journal, work on a puzzle, or go for a walk. Staying active also helps improve your mood. Break out the home workout DVDs (or if you are as old as me dig out your videos), yoga stretches, and the like. Make the most of this extended period while the world seems to be “on pause”. Consider staying in touch with friends and colleagues by using Facetime or other virtual tools to stay connected, especially if you haven’t used them before. Seeing familiar faces can help all of us keep our spirits lifted. 

Your Space: Staying at home may be the perfect opportunity for you to get rid of some of the stuff (i.e. clutter) that you no longer need or want. Rather than thinking that you have to do it all at once, which can seem overwhelming, think about doing one drawer, one closet or one room at a time. If you are living in a house with other people, you can recruit them to help you and try to make it fun. Although the process can seem daunting at first, once you are able to complete a section, you may notice that you start to feel “lighter” than you did when you started. Be well and take care.

This article appeared in our Spring 2020 Newsletter.