It's been over 5 months of the Covid-19 pandemic. This past year has been challenging, but I have learned a lot about keeping a positive mindset through uncertain times.
maya, how do you stay so positive??
This year we have endured a global pandemic, natural disasters, protested police brutality, and we face a huge election ahead. It's ok to be bummed out if quarantine postponed or ruined your plans. It's ok if you have felt heavy and weighed down. It is totally normal to feel a whirlwind of emotions and anxiety. You might be sitting here reading this and feeling something similar. Feeling like you are not doing enough, or stuck at home from the pandemic with no end in sight. I have found comfort in changing my perspective and keeping my cup full. Here are my tips for keeping a positive mindset during these tough times.
1. Acknowledge what's going on
What works best for me is feeling what I need to feel and using this time to reflect. I am a very sensitive person to begin with. I am constantly trying to make sense of the world around me. Trying to find ways to be better, help others, and solve worldly problems. I am hopeful that we will get through this and come out stronger if we reflect on the changes we need to make on an individual & collective effort. If you haven't done so already, find out how to register to VOTE to help make a positive impact in our future.
2. Practice your non attachment
These past few months I have had opportunity to practice my “non attachment”. (As my Dad... or anyone who knows Buddhist philosophy would say.) When you practice your non attachment, you overcome your attachment for things, people, or concepts. I am not in control of the external factors affecting our lives right now. I learned from Buddhist philosophy that most of human suffering is caused by (somewhat selfish) human desires. I am guilty of getting hung up on these desires all the time. By choosing to not fixate on matters beyond my control I can maintain a calmer mindset and better navigate what I can control right here in the present moment.
3. Perspective
Once I acknowledged what was going on and the role I play, I was able to switch my perspective and take the view from above. This wasn’t at all part of my life plan, but it happened. We have the choice to remain the same or to pivot. Circumstances out of my control suddenly flipped my world upside down. Being present, slowing down from my busy schedule, and really catching up with friends and family has been one of the positives through all of this. I have made some incredible memories from home this year. Although we might be separated by distance, my community is never separated by heart.
4. Take care of yourself
It has and always will be about taking care of your mental and physical health. Schedule some stillness in your life. Do not underestimate the power of a good night's sleep and eating well. Nothing boosts my mood like a FaceTime with my fam! My grandparents have gotten so good at Google hangouts, Zoom, and using their phones now! Know that you are never alone.
5. Organize your life
Halfway through quarantine, I realized I wanted to practice my independence and get my own place. Having my own space has been the biggest transformation for me. I love to bring joy to my apartment by adding flowers, plants, candles, crystals, and picture frames. It is important for me to implement routines that keep my house and my mind organized. I make my bed everyday, brush my teeth first thing in the morning, enjoy a cup of coffee on my balcony, and journal to focus my mind. Staying organized and being in a place with an aesthetic I enjoy makes me a happier person.
6. Stop comparing yourself
The fitness industry had no other choice but to adapt. Zoom workouts, IG live sessions, and online coaching programs were suddenly overwhelming my feed. I felt like everyone was doing so much. I was frustrated that I wasn't posting as much inspirational content - at a time when I didn’t feel very inspired myself. I never really had a backup plan! I never imagined what life would like like if I couldn't go to work. I was comparing the troubles of my life to the filtered lens of my peers social media. Surely, I was not alone in these types feelings.
7. Get creative
It is important to exercise your creative muscle! Be conscious of what you are consuming and find ways to express your own creativity. Use the extra time you have at home to make something. Make it with your hands, move it with your body, use it with your words, make it in a playlist, or learn it in a recipe. Après Sweat is a creative outlet for me to express myself while planning the direction I want to go with my brand + my business.
We need to be ok with slowing down for a second. Take a moment, follow these steps, and get back in a positive headspace. It is going to take each of us recognizing the role we play in helping make this world a little brighter. I am confident that Après Sweat is going to help create positive change for our people, our planet, and our individual mindsets.
