By: Ronna Corlin, CHHC, AADP, Plant-based Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach
Having recently entered the fifth month of sheltering-in-place during this global COVID-19 pandemic in New York State, I have learned things which have helped me to fight the feeling of powerlessness over the extreme and uncontrollable circumstances experienced around the world.
Setting a goal to thrive under these conditions has at times felt like a bit of an overreach. But I have committed to reclaiming my power when feeling powerless is just an impulsive option away.
Let’s face it this has been a frightening time which on a daily basis threatens to steal even an eternal optimist’s sense of hope. The pandemic is apt to deliver exhaustion, a lack of focus and anxiety to our doorstep free of charge. I prefer an Amazon delivery.
This unprecedented time has re-affirmed for me the musings of Glinda, the Good Witch from the Wizard of Oz, “YOU HAD THE POWER ALL ALONG, MY DEAR.”
Here are 5 learnings, habits, tools or just a means of pulling the ripcord in this worldwide jam we are in. Each one has served to buoy me, shining a light in these dark times in order to see the entry to the harbor of normalcy.
1. EAT MORE YIN FOODS – The Yin-Yang theory is based in Chinese philosophy. It is a carefully thought out system to depict and simplify a life in balance. Yin foods are considered expansive, cool thermally, they make you light and happy. The Yin foods give you more bang for your nutrient buck. These include: leafy greens which grow towards the sun, grounding root vegetables and winter squash which ‘root’ you in your day, whole grains, beans/legumes, raw fruits and other rainbow-colored veggies, seaweed, nuts and seeds. Sugary candy, soda and ice cream along with alcohol are also considered Yin, but they tend to make one’s energy spacey and scattered. Consider them a treat. You may want to check out delicious plant-based, dairy-free and refined sugar-free alternatives.
2. DOING THINGS DAILY THAT IGNITE JOY – Do things in ways that make you feel most alive. During this quarantine time I’ve enjoyed going for walks in the outdoors. When I return home, I pop my mask off, wash my hands and enjoy filling my ears with the deeply relaxing sound created by a tuning fork, also called a Chakra Tuning Energy Fork. I strike the tuning fork gently against a quartz crystal or tap the tuning fork with a small silicone hammer. The sound helps me to restore a sense of balance and any weariness which comes from passing mask-less strangers.
3. HAVING A HYGGE PRACTICE – Hygge (pronounced “hoo-gah”) is a lifestyle with roots in Denmark. It is the Scandinavian interpretation of good living which includes cozying up to simple pleasures and habits. At home, I use dimmers on my light fixtures when the sun goes down. As the sun comes up for Jennifer’s Limitless Soul Vinyasa practice on Zoom – major hygge, I use them again to ease onto my mat. Just like the mindful practice of yoga, hygge really puts self-kindness, presence, and space for yourself at its heart.
At the office, the sweet spot for experiencing hyggeligt (hygge-like) touches may differ. Whether working from home or remotely tethered to a computer, try an aroma diffuser which plugs directly into the USB port on your laptop. You might start working with peppermint oil to boost energy and alleviate tension or stress, and wind down later in the day with a calming scent like lavender.
4. CORE ENVY: THE STRUGGLE IS REAL – Taking the power back in our mid-section underpins almost everything we do. When I work on strengthening my core the rest of my body feels more balanced. During this time when gyms are closed I have gone online and committed to classes which include core body movement. Maurice’s Soul Core class has helped me immensely. Core stability eludes me. This class gives my center more confidence and its’ strength makes other parts of my body ache a bit less.
5. HAVE A PLAN – During this pandemic, when focused attention is a challenge and the day can escape you with distracted thoughts, having a plan is psychic currency. It feels good to feel accomplished at the end of the day. I have seized the opportunity to do certain things I had not made time for pre-pandemic.
· CLEAN SOMETHING – Am I the only one who is late to the Wet Swiffer ® party? That thing can clean. I’ve organized closets and drawers and found things I forgot I owned. I have clipped articles in magazines which I previously refused to toss. I’ve scaled down my stuff and it’s power.
· READ SOMETHING – I have bookshelves full of self-help books (my favorite) on wellness and the plant-based life, many of which I lend to clients. I have taken time these past months to dig into them, keeping a small stack on my nightstand and another on a chair by a window with a view.
· BATCH COOK SOMETHING – This method of prepping food for more than a meal at a time has multiple definitions. For some it means preparing and refrigerating or freezing whole meals every week. Fitness and bodybuilding enthusiasts proudly post their chicken, broccoli, rice and sweet potato combo meals in storage containers on social media. For them, routine trumps constant creative meal planning. Whatever works right? For others, like me, batch cooking is more about making pots of ingredients at the beginning of the week and using them as a base for re-purposed healthy fast food meals the rest of the week.
We can make this difficult time work for us if we accomplish some of the things that we never had time to do before. In addition, retaining some of the good habits of self-care which we have had time to cultivate over these past months will serve us well into the future. Get enough sleep - it’s like a time machine to breakfast, eat more whole foods - plenty of plants, take deep breathes, schedule workouts and plenty of downtime to relax and reboot. Put yourself first. We got this.
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