How have you changed? How have you stayed the same?
As we all know we are in the middle of something that has significantly impacted nearly everyone across the globe. Before we move on, I want to pause and honor those people that may have lost a loved one. It is never easy to lose someone you are close with, and I am deeply sorry for your loss.
We have all been through this COVID-19 experience, together yet socially distant. All of us have altered the course of our daily lives. Many of us have lost jobs and/or had to pivot our businesses. Others of us have had babies and even celebrated birthdays, new jobs, and engagements all throughout this experience. It’s been a wild ride for sure.
For now, I’ll spare you my opinion on my thoughts of the virus origin (the bat story doesn’t do it for me) and treatment methods (vaccines don’t do it for me either). What I do want to bring to your attention is your LIFESTYLE.
Our lifestyle significantly influences our health and the optimization of our human body. One hour of fitness compared to the other 23 hours a day of sitting or lying down will not enhance your health. That daily multivitamin will not do anything to lower overall inflammation if you’re eating inflammatory foods like conventional, store-bought dairy and highly processed foods for each meal of your day. The relationship you have with food and movement and your connection with your community and environment every damn day will have much more of an influence on your overall health and wellbeing.
How you live your life today will determine the quality of your tomorrow.
As many of you, my lifestyle has been altered (March was a shit show). Yet, I feel as though it’s been a major reset for me. I’ve slowed down and prioritized. I’ve been waking up with the sunlight and winding down as the sun sets. I’ve been walking to the market to buy local meats and produce and supporting a local delivery service once a week for my regular items like bacon, eggs, butter, and seasonal produce. My meditation and prayer practices have become a lot more consistent and deeper. And my fitness has evolved into as much low intensity, continuous movement throughout the day as I possibly can fit in.
Currently, a typical work day may look like (but not always guaranteed)…
7am Wake up- Meditate, Prayer, Coffee, Read, Journal
8:30am Twenty Minutes of Movement ( I’ve been doing Mindset & Movement with BIRTHFIT)
9:30am Breakfast and then Emails
10:15am Short Walk (1-2 miles)
11:00am Work, Meetings, Writing
2:00pm Strength Training or Sprints
3:30pm Work, Meetings, Writing
6:00pm Longer Walk (3-4 miles)
7:30pm Cook Dinner
8:30pm Mobilize, Meditate, Get Ready for Bed
As I mentioned this is my general work day structure. However, I’m much more open to the unknown of each day during this time and welcoming the magic of the day as it unfolds. And there is definitely more rest and/or down regulation in my days as compared to before. My body needed this reset. My professional, work life needed this reset. I believe the earth needed this reset. And I think we as a collective group of humans needed this reset. In March, I started reading The 4 Season Solution by Dallas Hartwig. I think it was divine timing as much of the book I felt like I intuitively knew deep inside but needed validation and/or permission to structure my life in this way. I’d encourage everyone to read the book. I’ve cut away the fluff and bullshit. I’m literally filling my thoughts and actions with things that serve me and/or others. I do not have time for shitty tv or movies, especially fake ass news. I do not waste my thoughts on fear or judgement or shame or guilt. If a negative thought creeps in, I’m gaining more and more awareness to stop in sooner and replace it with an affirmation and/or positive visualization.
As I reflect over the past two months, I ask myself:
How have you changed?
How have you stayed the same?
Values and priorities have not changed drastically for me. My belief in God and my faith have not altered. Yet, this crisis made those things a lot more clear in my opinion. I feel like I’ve actually strengthened my connection with God, my family and friends, and the earth and community around me. I’ve changed in that there are less commitments and obligations. I’m not overdoing myself and being extremely mindful of my energy, sleep, and self care routines. I have said goodbye to a daily alarm. I have avoided Amazon for local stores. And, I feel as though I am refocusing and recommitting to my values and priorities.
I’d encourage you to spend some time reflecting and asking yourself those two questions from above. As Paul Romer, Stanford Economist, has said, “A crisis is a terrible thing to waste.”
