This piece was written for Paro, the wellness brand by Good Earth, on their request. They are proactively bringing out posts on enhancing well being while we are in the lockdown due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Find my write-up on instagram on their page @parogoodearth.
With this lockdown many of us are reflecting on the kind of people we are: are we patient, compassionate, empathetic, effective communicators, people who get bored easily, or have an insight into our energy levels? High energy individuals may be those who are unusually more restless, unable to sit in one place, fidgety, have difficulty focusing on one thing at a time, are irritable, angry, aggressive, impatient, excitable, animated, or simply “bored.” But on the other end of the spectrum, we also see high energy individuals as being creative, task- and action-oriented, social, enthusiastic, filled with vitality. They don’t procrastinate their happiness and joy to a later date or dwell in the past, they want to make the most of the present moment, they are adept at decision making, they don’t like being “stuck” in situations that drain them, and they continuously work on curating their passions and living a life with purpose and a definitive meaning.
Right now many of us are struggling to adjust to a new norm of living. For high energy individuals this lockdown manifests as: easily bored with the same activity (how much Netflix can I watch?), irritable at the lack of purpose and direction (“Work is disrupted”), sad or irritable being cooped up at home (“I need to go out with friends”), heightened anger towards family and loved ones resulting in increased communication breakdowns and conflicts, physical complaints such as aches and pains, restless and fidgety at not finding suitable outlets for their creative energy, anxious and worried at the uncertainty of the future which conflicts with their focus of making the present moment productive.
So, how can high energy individuals cope with the restrictions imposed by the lockdown at home? Here are 10 ways to manage and cope:
Maintain a structured routine: It helps to manage anxiety and gives a sense of control on how we can take charge of ourselves. A structured day also helps us to better adapt to the current situation and enables a bit of predictability to the day which our minds like. Focus on all aspects of well-being: physical, emotional, spiritual, vocational, social, intellectual, and environmental.
Create variety: Ensure your day has different activities that keep your interest going. It could be a mix of work, recreation, time with self and family at home, creative pursuits, and staying connected with family and friends virtually.
Identify the sources of stress: What about the lockdown is bothering you? Are there unrealistic expectations of enhanced productivity/self-fulfilment in these challenging times? It helps to have realistic goals and pathways to attain those goals and also to embrace the fact that the lockdown has brought about unprecedented changes to our schedules such as increased domestic and parenting responsibilities. Go easy on yourselves and cut yourself some slack.
Mindfulness: Bringing your attention to the present awareness, the thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations in a calm, gentle, non-judgmental way often helps channelize the restless energy individuals may feel. This is obtained through guided meditations (there are apps such as Headspace, Calm, Mindspace), or focusing one’s complete attention to any activity they are engaging in at the present moment.
Physical activity: High energy individuals will benefit from engaging in any form of physical activity of their choice. There is a whole range to choose from: Zumba, Pilates, dance, strength training, yoga, on the spot running or skipping, jumping jacks, kickboxing and the likes. Be creative and go with the physical activity that suits your personality and interests.
Virtual social connections: Use social media to your advantage and connect with your friends online to stay in touch. Be creative and have BYOB parties online, find book clubs, fitness challenges, writing challenges, develop new creative projects, share recipes, etc. The list can be endless, and you can be innovative. Please limit the use of the virus outbreak conversations.
Put the bouncing brain to use: If your mind is brimming with creative ideas, be it about work or otherwise, capture that rapid stream of thoughts either using a video or voice recorder. Once you transcribe, use that information to transition to creating/ producing something that is purposeful, goal oriented and unique.
Serve the community: Use your action-oriented nature to serve people around you: your loved ones, colleagues, your larger community. We all could use a bit of respite, support, and care during these challenging times. Could you use your expertise and skills to develop an initiative to support the neighborhood, the larger community? For e.g., developing podcasts, online competitions, creating groups of like-minded individuals to share and promote activities (Sudoku challenges anyone?).
Good sleep hygiene: Ensuring one gets adequate sleep is essential. Maintain regular sleeping and waking up times, restrict the use of electronic gadgets before bedtime since that interferes with sleep.
Eat and drink sensibly: Increased use of alcohol or other substances may make us agitated and fidgety. Eating well-balanced, nutritious meals and not giving in to emotional eating (remember “junk food?”) must be ensured.