Taking care of yourself is an occupation, too

Piazza San Domenico, Palermo

It is difficult to do all of the things we are supposed to do. In fact, it is not possible.

We have to work. We have to take care of our homes. We have to make some food to eat. We need to be in touch with loved ones, to hear their voices. We have to get exercise. We have to sleep.

We also would like to be able to do things we enjoy, to relax, and sometimes, to do nothing at all.

Although the world has slowed down, we are still very busy. And while in theory, we have so much time, I think in fact, we have less. Unless we consciously choose to unplug. To disconnect. Just for a little bit.

We might not be able to workout everyday, or read a book each week. For me, trying to build a schedule only dooms me to be less motivated, when I see how behind I am. Instead, I am choosing to act from intuition. That way, if I only manage to, for example, workout for one hour a week, then that’s fine. As long as during that one hour I devote myself to the workout. Don’t look back and think about what you could have done. We can only start from this moment.

I highly suggest, now especially, to try to unplug as much as possible. There is so much noise about what you “should be doing, could be doing.” Instead, stop and really think about what it is you want to be doing. Devote a small amount of time to working on that. Even if it is just one hour a week.

I believe many of us have been going so fast in life, that we have not really been taking care of ourselves. Because taking care of ourselves, our minds, bodies, and our souls, is not easy. It requires effort and dedication. But just like with anything, if we get so caught up in all the things we “should” be doing, than it is all too easy to become overwhelmed, and instead to not do anything at all.

Instead, practice common sense, and listen to your body. Keeping a tally of how many glasses of water you drink, for example, will only stress you out and distract you from more important things. You can simply make sure to always have a glass of water by you, so that you reach for it when you are thirsty. Get up and move your body when it feels stagnant. Get ready for bed early so that when you feel tired, you can just go to sleep. Get done what you have to do so that if you have a moment of free time, you can relax comfortably. And if there is something really important that you want to do in this time, such as read a book, or begin to learn a language, or do yoga, set aside that time to devote to it. Call your friends and family, but set appropriate boundaries of frequency and duration. They deserve to have their alone time, too.

Please don’t say, “but we have all the time in the world.” If this crisis has brought about any realization, it is precisely that our time here is limited. And therefore, all the more precious. Spend it wisely.

love,

greer