20 + things to do for your health while we are quarantined at home
This is unprecedented. There is no way around this: it is scary as shit right now. Whether the media is blowing it out of proportion or things are not being taken serious enough: scary stuff is happening all around us and we are being cut off from the things we love and that are important to us.
Our joys (and even coping tools) are being taken away. Yoga studios, gyms and extracurricular activities are closed (or closing). Restaurants are closed (or closing). Bars and coffee shops are closed (or closing). Retail stores are closed (or closing). And for goodness sakes the kids are out of school…and with no real idea of when they are returning (this could be the hardest part…).
While the temptation might be to stay glued to the news or your phone, I want to gently (but firmly) remind you (and myself) that panic and stress suppresses your immune system… So you’ll literally be happier — and healthier — if you do something else with your time.
I know that this is a very intense time, and it’s totally normal to be scared or anxious. I want to encourage you to utilize some self relaxation tools, to breathe, and to take care of yourself (easier said than done?).
Here are a few tools to do this:
4-7-8 breathing technique
- empty the lungs of air
- breathe in quietly through the nose for 4 seconds
- hold the breath for a count of 7 seconds
- exhale forcefully through the mouth, pursing the lips and making a “whoosh” sound, for 8 seconds
- repeat the cycle up to 4 times
Check out this short 2 minute mediation on anxiety. Or this awesome 18 minute anxiety releasing meditation.
We could also spend some time reframing
Some people are panicking, buying every last damn roll of toilet paper in the world while spreading doom and gloom among everyone they know. Panic never helps. In fact, we cannot solve problems when our mind is on crazed, fear driven hyperdrive.
So what if we used this time differently?
Here is a list of 20+ things you can do RIGHT now to improve your mental and physical health:
- Contemplate what you truly want to do with your life
- Learn how to cook something new
- Watch stand-up comedy or any pre-recorded comedy show (laughter boosts your immune system!)
- Start writing a bucket list
- Write love letters to your favorite people
- Deep-clean your home and organize your closets
- Work on that creative project
- Rekindle your love of talking on the phone
- Work your way through your bookshelf
- Take some online courses you have been putting off (I am offering my Retreat Leader Academy Course for only $99 right now…that is over $700 in savings)
- Watch TEDTalks and interviews with geniuses and all those documentaries you have said you wanted to see
- Take a bath (or several)
- Write that book you have been dreaming about
- Journal
- Google hangout, FaceTime or Zoom your friends and have a virtual get together (some friends and I did this last night while I sipped on a hard cider and it was soul refreshing)
- Learn something new (check out these incredible online courses offered from prestigious universities- FOR FREE)
- Start that blog with a free WordPress site
- Learn to have a new kind of orgasm
- Discover new music
- Feng shui your house
- Meditate
- What else…?
Now is the time
We so often complain that we don’t have the time to pour energy into creative projects, or do that one thing we always mean to do. Or to contemplate the who’s what’s and when’s of our lives. Well, guess what? Here is the time.
I am in no way minimizing what is going on. It is defiantly an uncertain time riddled with real health issues as well as false facts and fear based declarations. But looking after our mental health is just as important as looking after our physical health. We can do this. And together, we can thrive through this.
If I can help in any way, I am here.
xoxo
Shannon
Sharing some light
PS- because sharing light is really important right now, Nicole and I announced our One Year Anniversary re-branding of our Activated Faith candle + body product line.
We were going to hold off on sharing our news…but then realized this is the best time to share good news. Thank you for loving us so fiercely this last year. Check out our new site and our video.
And if you want to share love and light with us, take 25% off everything in our store (except our limited edition anniversary candle or subscriptions). Use code 25OFF.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the honor of allowing us to connect, grow and thrive with each of you over the last year. We are so grateful for each of you.
