A quick scroll through social media makes it pretty apparent that many people are still trying to figure out what to make of this “new normal” that we’re living in. It can be overwhelming to see people working out 3x a day and learning new skills if you’re struggling just to keep your shit together every day. With that in mind, I came up with three easy things that you can do today to help you stay sane while you’re trying to figure life out right now.
1. Create a budget
Whether you’re employed or not, your financial situation has probably changed a bit over the last couple of months. I bet the last thing you want to do is sit down and stare at those numbers. But times like these are when it’s especially important to know what’s coming in, what’s going out, and where you can save a penny. Trust me, even if it’s stressful at the time, having a better understanding of your financial situation will bring you peace of mind.
Building a budget is a huge pain in the ass and I promised these would be easy things to do, so I built one for you. This format is straight-forward and makes it super easy to plan for large expenses in the future (see step 4b in the spreadsheet). I created it in Google Sheets so that anyone can access it, regardless of what kind of computer you’re on.
Then, go to File > Make A Copy. Save your copy.
Now all you have to do is pour yourself a glass of wine and input the numbers.
2. Move a little more
If you aren’t feeling the urge to be hyper-focused on your fitness right now, join the club. For me, it’s hard to feel motivated when I’m not working towards anything. When am I going to the beach again? I dunno. When will I run a race again? Maybe Fall. When am I even going to see my friends again?? No idea!
But guess what? Sitting all day can increase muscle stiffness and pain. Plus, movement makes you happier.
You don’t have to start biking 10 miles a day or sign up for daily workouts if you don’t feel ready for that. Just move a little each day. Bonus points if you get outside.
Here are some easy options:
- Take a walk.
- Stretch (you can even do it on the couch while you’re binging Netflix).
- Do 5 rounds of sun salutation first thing in the morning, then get on with your day.
- Or – do 5 rounds of sun salutation right before bed to help quiet your mind.
3. Write down how you’re feeling, on paper
There’s something very cathartic about physically writing out how you’re feeling. It enables you to process your emotions more thoroughly than (over)thinking does.
It’s always best to end on a positive note, but if that isn’t where your head’s at right now, that’s okay. Just pull out a piece of paper and a pen and start writing.
Not sure where to start? Here are a few prompts to get you going:
- “I feel…”
- “The thing that’s stressing me the most right now is…”
- “I don’t know what to do about…”
- “Today I’m grateful for…”
- “Today I want to accomplish…”
- “Today I accomplished…”
How are you coping with your new normal? Share in the comments!
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