Finding light in the dark: Remaining healthy and happy during a pandemic

During this time where darkness seems to reign, with isolation, fear and negativity front and center, I have been putting some thought into how to bring about light in this time of darkness. During this self-discovery, I found that there is much to be thankful for and have engaged in opportunities afforded to me. I am choosing to enjoy my life in a new way. So how do you make a mental shift from feeling defeated to finding happiness within the situation? How do you shift your thoughts and become mindful of how you spend your time to produce positive results?

Here are some of the things that I have found work for me and my family and what I am grateful for in the here and now.

1)     Stuck at home. No! Safe at home. Working from home for me hasn’t been that difficult of a change as I’ve been doing it for over a couple decades now, however, what changed for me is the shift from being able to work from home to having to work from home and having everyone else in the family working from home or being at home with you. Challenging true… but not impossible. Now is the time to make and stick to a firm schedule and bring out your inner multitasker. It can be a daunting task to remain focused and content in this new environment, but it’s possible to remain hopeful and joyful, I promise!

2)     Strengthen your relationships. I have found that many of my relationships have deepened, including with my immediate family. Why? I have time, real time to spend with my children, my husband, my friends, my extended family. We communicate a lot, we are playing board games, electronic games, card games and exercising together. I have recently re-found what is most important. My faith, family, friends and staying healthy.

3)     Stay in touch. Miss your family and friends? Use video conferencing to stay in touch with family and friends. As good as Zoom and other video platforms are for work, they are equally helpful in staying in touch with your family and loved ones. Download a free version online and send out the link and see what happens. I’ve had dinner meet ups; prayer meetups, and coffee and tea meetups. They work wonderfully.

4)     Enjoy God’s Gifts. I am, every day, marveling at God’s hand in the universe; no matter how small it be. Birds for example; when was the last time you paid attention to how many colors and varieties there are? I’ve cleaned my fountains in my front and backyard and can now sit back and revel in watching them bathe and eat the treats in their feeders. It brings me abundant peace.

Enjoy a nature walk if you can. Take notice of the trees and all the greenery that abounds. Spring is upon us. You can watch the bees pollinating new flowers and blossoms. Roses are starting to come back in bloom and you can start to see some greenery on the brown branches of trees. Yellow mustard is now on display. Just sit back and watch the butterflies fluttering. All of it is breathtaking if you just take the time to notice. Remember when you were young, and you would lie down on the grass and look up at the clouds to see what you can make out of their formations? Well, grab a blanket and try it out again. Nature will remind you of God’s glory and his power.

5)     Be the solution. Now is a great time to reach out to those in your community that need support. Who in your neighborhood is sick, elderly or immune-compromised that you could shop for or bring items to? Is there a local food pantry near you that you could provide some groceries to? Or visit someone who is isolated at home using 6 feet away measures of course.

6)     Get physical. I am lucky in the fact that my dojo took their classes online directly after the stay-in-place order came out. We are working out together and learning a new curriculum just as if we were there in person. There are also many fitness experts providing free classes on social media as well as offering webinars and videos to work out at home. Get your sweat on. Increasing blood flow is super helpful for your mind and body.

7)     Mental Health is as important as physical health. I am honored to be working for Amen by creating webinars, Facebook and Instagram live classes, and articles that support immunity and mental wellness. If you have knowledge that can help others, share. There are also many available breathing and meditation options online. Download and notice your fears and anxiety melting away.

8)     News or no news. Control negative thoughts. Don’t watch the news 24/7 which is filled with all things negative. Take it in chunks; just enough to keep you informed but not too much to fill you with fear. Find reputable sources that will give you the information you need without the sensationalism.

9)     Pump up your faith.  My church has moved all their services online like many others and went one step further by providing daily meetups to pray for others and to breathe in the word of God mid-day. We now have time for deep meaningful prayers. No need to rush. You can spend quality time with God without too many distractions. I used to work through all my breaks and lunches before the pandemic. Now I take a 30-min break at noon every day to eat a healthy lunch and listen to our mid-day church meetups. I am feeding my body and soul at the same time and am more productive than ever.

10)  Furry friends. Animals are fur-filled bundles of unconditional love. Hold them, love them, pet them, walk them, and play with them. It’s the best therapy I know for feeling blue. If you don’t own one, you can help the local shelters right now by fostering one or two or three.

11)  Music is magic for your psyche. Lighten your mood with music. Many famous musicians are providing mini free concerts from their homes or home studios or going live on Facebook and Instagram. It’s like getting a free intimate concert delivered to your home and it’s a behind the scenes experience. So cool! If you can play an instrument, play for others, or write a new song.

12)  Tea party anyone? Find your long-lost teacups or use your coffee mugs and brew up a tasty blend of elderberry and chamomile tea to support your immune system and calm your nerves. I bet you have some lonely teapots and tea essentials somewhere in your home.

13)  You are what you eat. It’s time to get your diet right. Load up on veggies and fruits from all the colors in the rainbow. Make smart food choices to set your body up to fight infection and work at its highest level.

14)  Have an attitude of gratitude. Before you go to bed each night or during dinner, ask yourself and your family members what they are grateful for and what they appreciated about the day. Now is a great time to start this habit and make it part of your end of day routine going forward.

15)  Be a teacher. Ever wonder what your kids do in school all day and how they get handle their studies? Help them get their assignments from their teachers or instructors and dig in and help them with their learning. You will gain a new level of respect by being a teacher. You’ll be surprised by what you remember or what comes back to you.

16)  Teach the teacher. Now is the time for new learning. Did you know that many conferences webinars and courses are going online? It’s a great time to further your knowledge and build up your arsenal of new learnings all from the comfort of your couch.

17)  Grab a good read. When was the last time you read a good book? There is no time like the present. You can read something empowering that will help you in your role at work, or you can indulge in a fictional book of your choice. Either way, it allows you to direct your consciousness to a different place that can lighten your mood or adds to your intellect.

18)  Home is where the heart is.  How do you make your home, homey? I find that it can be as simple as lighting candles, stringing up fairy lights, using diffusers filled with lavender, frankincense or lemon, or turning on your Himalayan salt rock. Scents and lights can be powerful tools in setting your mood. Indulge.

19)  What’s for dinner? There is no time like the present to sharpen your culinary skills. Cooking can be a family ordeal. Get everyone in the kitchen. This will allow for new learnings possibly for your family or it can just be a reason to work collectively as a team. Provide everyone a necessary function and bust out a culinary delight. Most importantly, enjoy the time at the table together. Unfortunately, with our busy schedules, that has gotten away from many of us, so let’s get family dinner time back.

20)  You have skills, use them. Home projects are an ongoing task in any household. What project can you and your family work on together that will help the family unit or just be a project of love? Get to the things around that house that you have wanted to get to or create a new look in one of your rooms.

21)  Gardening is good for the stomach and the soul. Don’t have a garden? Start one. It is as easy as using available pots or even the large foil trays, getting soil and planting seeds. You can also use older vegetables like potatoes when they are sprouting roots to start it out.  Watering and watching things grow can be something to look forward to. When you get to harvest, ensure it's a family event. There is nothing like picking and eating something you’ve grown at home. It all just seems to taste better.

22)  What is the meaning of life? What better time than now to consider your life’s purpose. I know, this is a daunting one. But you don’t have to figure it out all at once. Take a few minutes a day to ponder where you are in your life and what you can do to make a difference in the world. The first step is just providing yourself with time for provoking thought.

Get outside and be at one with nature. Breathe in the fresh air and absorb some vitamin D. Doing so will build up your immunity, provide a jolt to your happiness meter, and put you in a healthier mindset to discover yourself.

All and all, this situation is forcing us to slow down and take time to focus on the things that are the most important. Worry less and focus on the positive more. There is so much out of our control but so much still in our control. Make this time count, as it will be over soon and when it ends, you’ll be grateful for the beautiful, positive memories that you’ve produced and for getting through it all with a cheerful and grateful heart.