Try A Little Tenderness (Lockdown Musings)

It’s feeling like Groundhog Day in these 2021 streets right? But just because we have been in lockdown a few times now it doesn’t necessarily make it any easier to navigate. So here’s a few thangs I have been thinking about and also embracing in my day to day traversing of lockdown version three hundred and fifty million.

Allow yourself WTF space - what I mean is, it’s ok to be frustrated and angry and have no idea of how to deal. You definitely don’t need to have a handle on any of this. Because truly — WTF?

Breathe baby - deep breaths as often as possible. There are so many benefits to breathing deeply (not in a phone stalker type of way) that perhaps I should do a separate post? but until such time, know that deep breathing will immediately bring a sense of calm by slowing down your heart rate and increasing your endorphins (those feel good chemicals).

If you have the time, listen to this super informative episode of Wellness Practitioner Koya Webbs podcast to dive into the impact and goodness of deep intentional breathing.

Movement - listen, the fact that I feel so much more centered and present after a good dance session is no coincidence. It’s science. Movement for at least 15 - 20 mins a day will again increase the feel good hormones and shift your energy. Choose something which you enjoy though! I mean — jogging is not me. Yoga, dancing and swimming (when I can) is me. If I enjoy it, then it’s more than likely that I am going to be much more consistent with it.

Hydrate and mind your business! Drink your water loves. We are experiencing high levels of trauma and it’s easy to forget to fortify our bodies the way we should. But guess what? We add to our stress levels by not drinking enough water (fatigue, headaches,low blood pressure etc). Be good to yourself and drink up. I would recommend 1.5 to 2 liters a day, but I have people in my life who drink much more (why are these people in my life?)

Figure out what works for your body. Basically, when your pee looks more like water and less like pineapple Fanta then you are on the right hydrating trajectory.

Sometimes social media can uplift, inspire and inform. Other times it can overwhelm, add to trauma and basically make us feel like crap. If you are experiencing the latter - unplug. Unplug your phone and devices for a day or more and live outside the algorithms.

Acceptance is empowering and brings that all important ease. Yes, things are still turbulent and probably will be for some time. It’s natural to want to resist change and yearn to return to what feels familiar. Who wants to feel uncomfortable? Not me for sure. However, the more I find myself resisting, the more treacle like things feel for me. I feel stuck.

Accepting that we are all in uncharted territory and allowing myself to go with the flow of this new (and temporary) normal has brought so much more ease into my life.

Tenderness - When was the last time you ‘tried a little tenderness’ (yes, I was definitely singing).

It’s been almost one full year since the start of the apocalypse/armageddon and more than likely you have been in fight mode this entire time. That’s a lot.

You have been through so much and weathered this hurricane like moment in time like a true warrior. Honestly you have. Time to turn up the tending to self. Time to show yourself some compassion.

Be gentle with yourself on the days when you just can’t give more than 0.05%

Show yourself grace when you feel like you have let someone down because you couldn’t show up for them in the way that they needed you to.

Take long baths fortified with Epsom salts and essential oils

Try to sleep more

Rest often

Practice letting go of self judgement

Cry

Be tender with yourself my friend x