Creating protected offline time and space for ourselves in times of uncertainty and physical isolation might not be your first thoughT right now.
But if you're like me, the endless scrolling, streaming, clicking-through wears away at you mentally and emotionally, and a general feeling of untethered-ness and overwhelm dissolves what calm and self-connection you might have been managing to hold.
It’s likely that instinct will kick in during crisis, and I know I can often default to ‘fix-it' mode where my body goes into auto-pilot. This is when the idea of 'wellbeing' seems to slip away - nothing more than a distant memory as I work fast to satisfy the demands of my whirring mind.
This frenzy of do-ing and busy-ing is a coping mechanism. I’m trying trick myself into feeling a sense of control. It works for a little while, but in reality, all this does is add frenzied fuel to the raging fire of spiralling responsibilities, relationships, and professional commitments.
What I now know to be the best, and most sustainable course of 'action' in crisis times, is to get out of my head and resist my ego's (insatiable) hunger for control.
Control in times of challenge and change is nothing more than an illusion.
Fear, stress, panic, numbing are among the many classic responses to overwhelm, and so if (or when) they show up, practising acceptance is a powerful antidote ( I talk more about that here).
Coming into acceptance and observance of 'what is' goes a long way to dissolving our levels of stress and anxiety.
So let emotions flow and play out without judgement or attachment so we can then establish compassionate ways to re-connect to ourselves and our inner calm.
Put another way, let yourself off the hook and let things fall and crumble as they need. A comforting perspective I remember when time are tough is a saying from a Buddhist monk,'relax, nothing is in your control'.
So for me, the answer is to prioritise activities and practices that descend the mental energy, both literally, and metaphorically. To soothe the over-thinking, survivalist mind, I need to balance the online world and with the offline world.
Connecting much more intentionally with my physical being, and create pathways for consciously cultivating awareness of my body is key. Grounding into our bodies and our beings is a life-line when crisis strikes.
Challenges can, in fact, be a helpful invitation to remember the strength and possibilities of our inner resources.
Working sensitively and compassionately with, and not against, our body builds the evidence bank for our minds that proves our ability to self-support. Practicing care towards ourselves builds resilience and nurtures safety, which in times build an inner confidence about our capacity to care and nourish ourselves in when we experience the storms of life (I talk more about finding safety in our bodies here).
It is the same caregiving dynamic as when a distressed newborn is soothed with a warm, soft embrace. This is the quality of self-support we need and can eventually come to trust and rely on during hard times.
Starting to grow our connection within through going slow and returning to analogue living is very helpful and healthful at this time.
Look towards accessible and practical actions that refocus our attention through our senses, often through physical motion. It’s entirely up to you what will feel appropriate, but it can cost as little as the will-power to try.
You plan might be as simple as decompressing the mind through a stream of consciousness journalling transmission (have you tried Morning Pages?).
Or it might be the invigorating power of oxygenation through an outdoor walk.
The parasympathetic nervous system will soften through moving mediation or gentle breath practice.
This week I've been soothed by simple, home-based, offline activities that have provide respite for mind, body and spirit in that face of all the online noise:
Paperback fiction. After years of kindle and ebooks, I'm remembering my love of reading real books and being immersed in worlds so unlike my own and devoid of Covid-19 reminders. Plus the tangible, feeling of a book in my hands and no tabs or notifications to derail my attention is the BEST.
A sensory deprivation sound bath/ meditation practice is giving me a sense of privacy while living in close quarters and a nervous system reset. Here are the ingredients:
Eye mask / scarf
Headphones
Sounds: listen to my 'Sounds for inspiration and solace' Spotify Playlist OR sign up to my Love Letters and download my free meditation ‘Connecting to the Calm Within’
Comfortable surface (bed is perfect, seated works a treat too!)
No interruptions
Give yourself a single song seated, or try a 10 or 20 minute lay down.
Let nothing else in, except your soundtrack of choice.
Sky Gazing. Nothing else but watching the clouds move, occasional bird fly by and leave flutter in the breeze. I can see the sky from my bed and my living room, so either is an options, but I have also taken to going to outdoor spaces for slow walks or contemplative sits.
Tending to my indoor plants. After three years travelling, this is becoming a gratitude and love practice. It offers me time to get observant and detail-oriented on something manageable and 'low stakes'. Gently and slowly dusting the leaves, checking the moisture and roots and monitoring the light positioning allows me to be in my body and focus my attention on something external. Between you and me, I may even chat to my new friends…
Illustration with a pen and paper. With a nice soundtrack I’ve let Mandala inspired meditations give me an outlet and my mind a rest, whilst letting the possibilities of expression beyond language fell they way onto the page.
Experience has told me that deprivation from digital devices (dedicated, discipline blocks of offline time) during high-pressure periods is what keeps me sane and protect my wellbeing.
If we are confined to our homes or bedrooms and also work from these spaces, creating a clear distinction between the personal and professional is both difficult, but necessary. If you would like some more inspiration on rituals for making that mental switch, you can read more on creating a sanctuary at home here.
