Today's Letter is 'S'

We live in strange times, united by a bitch named COVID-19. Remember those times you’d lament about only wanting some time to lie around on your couch and do nothing? Now that a lot of nothing is happening, a lot of crazy is setting in--stir crazy, that is.

Author Kay Hutchison of My Life in 37 Therapies has five therapies that begin with “S” to help with our cabin fever.

SLOW DOWN
You now have a once-in-a-life-time opportunity to slow everything down. The strictures are gone, just let it all go. Take time over the simple things in life. Eating, walking, cooking, and sleeping. Perhaps turn off all the notifications on your devices and just check in with things a few times during the day.

SORT YOUR DAY
Even if you aren’t working and having to look after children it’s worth trying to have a degree of routine, a schedule. Nothing too rigid but it’s worthwhile to set out rough times for Working – Eating – Sleeping – Exercising – Relaxing – and having Fun.

SILENCE
Be willing to welcome silence into your day, and even being completely alone. We’ve become used to incessant noise, music, traffic, phone conversations, but it’s not a natural way of being. If you are self-isolating, try to find joy in being on your own. Many people who live alone are probably at an advantage at this time as they are naturally used to being self-sufficient and enjoying their own company. 

SLEEP
As the pressures of society are changing it’s a great opportunity to make time for a good night’s sleep.  You’ve possibly always thought taking a slow, relaxed approach to going to bed was a good idea but never quite managed it. Now might be the time to try. Put down the digital devices in the early evening, ignore the news headlines, take a bath, go to bed with some light reading, perhaps even listening to a guided meditation or some soothing music. 

SELF-HEALING
There’s one simple, no-cost, practice we can do which will help us and our bodies through this time. Slow and gentle breathing. In for a count of 6, hold it for 2, then breathe out for 6. Notice the cool, clean air as you breathe in, the warmer air as you breathe out.

Crack Wise-dom: These are helpful tips. Because we can’t kick COVID-19 in the crotch like we want to…

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