Do the Work - Balanced Wellness
by Lin Green - Founder of Issalivestyle - Orlando
Well, aren’t you glad we made it? In a post-pandemic world, there’s so much to be grateful for. The incessant desire to wash one's hands have somehow subsided. The encourageable built in habit of wearing one's mask in public places, has all but disappeared. What was once something we all had in common has now been limited to the few choice immunocompromised individuals and elders. Yet, we respect it. The far in the distance mention of a possible return of contagious disease seems to linger in the air, but, I think we’re over the hump now. Right?
We’ve returned to our lackadaisical existence. One that we very much longed for. It was worrisome to see the effects of isolation in the lives of many. But once given the green light, I think we were all more than pleased to see how the world was now not only opening up for us in the literal sense, but in the figurative as well. Those of us not travelers, became them in this season. Those of us not fitness fanatics, now incorporate it into our daily routines. The cooks became at home kitchen chefs, and the readers started book clubs. We began to crave a social life. Well, some of us did.
Others wanted to be reclusive. Having trained for isolation all our lives we not only welcomed it, we yearned for it. And in this pandemic space we had it all the time. In isolation, us introverts gained more courage. Courage to explore a life beyond that which we’ve been boxed into. We started new businesses, created web pages, started a blog, and yes… even wrote a book. The pandemic caused a surge in book purchasing and writing. And it was clear here, that there had been a lack in our ability to take the time, to read and do the things that brought us joy pre-pandemic.
Trends like these are both a breath of fresh air and troubling. We now wonder when the other shoe is going to fall and have an entirely different appreciation for life, work, joy, and peace. In this we’ve found that we in fact can have it all. With many organizations establishing work-from-home policies, we’ve now seen how possible it is to create discipline within our lives. Vowing to develop more organized lives to cram it all in… the life, the work, the joy, and the peace. Since we’ve seen it manifest within our lives, now we’ve got a visual of what life could be when you have no choice but to push forward.
So what do we do next ? We seek to maintain it. Or we try to at least. We value independence, work, and life balance. We value freedom, responsibility, and try to overcome challenges on our own. We work hard, play hard, and appreciate humor and diversity. Diverse opinions, cultures, values, hopes, and dreams. And because we're often not dependent on others nor need constant direction, we tend to seek that direction within ourselves. In turn, our resourcefulness helps us thrive.
Here are a few tips and tricks to help us stay in line as we navigate these post-pandemic waters:
Develop a morning routine that’s conducive to bringing you joy.
This could include spiritual practices, exercise, reading, meditating, going for a walk, or simply drinking a cup of coffee/tea in silence.
Establish a timeline of events for your day.
Prioritize your timeline according to relative importance. Place the NEED TO DO’s at the top and want to do’s at the bottom.
Plan your meals out days ahead if possible.
The less spur of the moment decisions you have to make, the more likely you are to make smart choices, which will lead to greater enjoyment and reduced anxiety.
Create a mindfulness activity throughout your day.
Take time to step back, breath, and practice stillness even in your busiest of moments (this too can help manage anxiety and stress).
There are plenty of mindfulness applications available for download that can assist and help keep you on track.
Create a Social Media shut down time.
A set timeframe for which you intend to reduce your social media usage will help you stay present to enjoy those serendipitous moments you could very well miss when you’re distracted.
Make time for the people you love.
A simple phone call, text, video chat, or sit down dinner goes a long way to provide what you need to fill that dopamine bubble, both for you and for others.
Develop a bedtime routine.
The “calm-down” is just as important as the “wake-up”. Establishing a bedtime routine to help you wind down from your day is essential to getting a good night's rest.
HAVE FUN!
Life is about enjoying the little things. I challenge you to fit at least one fun activity into your week (and this doesn’t have to cost you anything). Dance, play, draw, paint, sing, LIVE!
All that said, it’s important to note that all these practices can be altered and tweaked, in the way that best fits your lifestyle. Here’s a trick: Developing a 21-day routine of the above exercises will help you live a more well-balanced life. Try it. You’ll thank me later.
There’s no better time than the present to make yourself a priority. Self-care is more than just taking care of your body. Give your mind and soul some love too. And why not help others along the way? Mentor, teach, and impart those skills you've so masterfully developed through continued practice of these daily routines. Each one, reach one. Share the wealth.
As always, I hope this message has encouraged you. To live your life to the best of your ability. To shine brighter each day and be your best self. Yours truly. – Lin Green
About Our Village Contributor
 | Lin Green Issalifestyle by Lin Green Lin Green is an Author, Public Speaker, Advocate, Consultant, and Founder of the inspirational lifestyle platform Issalivestyle by Lin Green. Her mission: "In all that I write and all the words that I speak, I hope to minister the power of mind, body, and spirit healing by encouraging people in all walks of life to live their life to the best of their ability, defying all odds, shine brighter each day, and be their best selves." Lin speaks publicly on advocacy related issues at venues such as Human Trafficking Conferences, the local Sheriff’s Office Community Law Enforcement Academy, periodically at the local University of Central Florida, and as needed in other community forums. As the creator of the inspirational site Issalivestyle by Lin Green, Lin serves to encourage and inspire its readers in real time by sharing advice, lifestyle topic blogs, and audience interaction connected through social media outlets. Her unique experience, both as a child-survivor of domestic violence, daughter of an immigrant, mother, military/law enforcement wife, and community advocate provides me with an expertise in cross-cultural, emotional, developmental, and economic disparities within the middle to lower class. These experiences coupled with my expertise in the field of social service and public service make me an ideal representative in discussing lifestyle issues. |
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The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the contributor and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Village Connect by 3rdArm, Inc.