Hello everyone, I hope you all are healthy and doing well amid the COVID-19 crisis! I believe most of us have started getting used to the restrictions our respective government officials have recently introduced, BUT it is still somewhat hard to believe how fast everything can change. E.g. just about a month ago I was on a mini vacation in Barcelona, Spain, and then boom, a week or two later we were suddenly not allowed to leave our houses for anything else than essential activities. Even though it is super easy to ditch our daily routine in this new normal, I think it is super important to stick to it as much as possible (and yes, that includes your goals you set for this year). I know it may be hard to do, but it could offer you some structure and balance amid these confusing times. And remember: the crisis won’t last forever and transitioning back to our busy lives after weeks or months at home, can get challenging.
Last year when I broke my knee, a series of unexpected experiences taught me that as much as I like to work with goal lists, I know that it is impossible to plan everything ahead. I guess this was a life lesson I needed to experience on my own skin at one point. I am a planner by nature and enjoying a moment or letting myself loose can be really challenging for me at times. Do I like losing control? Absolutely not, but for my own mental health’s sake, I HAD to learn how to cope with the new normal (just as all of us are being forced to do too.)
Basically, I just needed to understand that sometimes life has its own plans and the only thing we can do is to accept the situation and become flexible about it. That being said, I still think it is crucial not to give up on our dreams, but if necessary, we need to be able adjust e.g. a deadline or rephrase the goal – just make the best out of it. Remember, we cannot run a marathon with a broken leg. We cannot plan a trip to another continent when there are no flights. In these times, some of us can’t even plan what to eat, because we might have lost our jobs or have already taken major pay cuts. But there is still so much we CAN do! We can exercise with a broken leg (yes, I have done this). Maybe we cannot fly for vacation this year, but we can still go for walks and enjoy our local nature. If we lose our job, we can still file for unemployment and even though it is tough these days, keep applying for jobs. If the money is tight, we can find out what other government assistance programs are out there. Also, when the worst comes to worse, it is OK to ask for help from friends and family. I know my suggestions might sound like common sense, but it is so important to think positive, to keep our minds and bodies active. Don’t let this tough situation make you lethargic or bring you down – remember, it is temporary. We will get through this together.
If I could make one suggestion for people whose lives have been turned upside down due to COVID-19 pandemic, I would say just try to stick to your normal routine as much as possible. If you cannot plan your entire day ahead, that is fine, but start your day healthy, active and productive. The first hours of our days set the tone for the rest of the day, and you will automatically feel better about yourself if you’ve done either some exercise or work or whatever you need to do. Believe me, it makes a HUGE difference!
I am ending this post with this golden rule that I love to repeat over and over again: our goals MUST be something that we can control, and we need to accept that some of the most desirable things in our lives are (unfortunately) NOT under our control. Major life moments such as falling in love, starting a family, having great relationships with family and friends, our health, our career to a certain extent, and needless to say, a global pandemic – all of these things are beyond our control. But what we can do is cultivate the soil, plant the seeds, and nurture them, but what exactly comes out of it is not always in our hands.
Here are some samples of my personal goals I am still working on and also some that I have put on hold for the time being:
“Active”
- Reading books/listening to audiobooks
- Yoga and exercising at home
- Learning a new skill. There are so many options out there (Coursera, Udacity, YouTube videos, etc.) that there is really no excuse why not to learn something new
- Continuing practicing piano (my hobby)
“On Hold”
- All travels (including domestic for the time being)
- Volunteering
- Doing something cultural every month
- Hiking for the time being (after reading that even local roads to the close by mountains are closed)
Unexpected events don’t mean your goal list can’t be achieved – just adjust, make most out of it, and don’t drift away from your vision!
Light and love,
Liis