Hello! It’s been a while 😇
I’d describe these as a combination of habits and systems that I’ve been using to help me stay calm and generally well. And they have changed so much lately. Especially over the past year, with adjusting to the new normal of pandemic life, relocating, starting a new job from home, starting a new life in Sweden…it’s just been a lot of newness.
I used to feel guilty for not being consistent or keeping a stable routine, and I eventually learned to be okay with it. It’s fine that my routines have changed so much because I’m just adapting them to what works best for me, and that’s okay.
I’ve noticed that when I have a combination of these in my life, I feel less anxious, stronger, more clear, less stressed, and more present.
Getting enough sleep: Sleep, sleep! I don’t know if my sleep cycle has ever been stable. It’s definitely all over the place, and I always feel like I’m fighting against time & my body (because…revenge bedtime procrastination). But the key thing I’ve learned is that if I don’t get enough sleep, I’ll feel it. Getting enough sleep affects my mood, energy levels, productivity, clarity, and more..so it’s super important.
Meditating or practising mindfulness: I’ve been using Headspace again and yep! It’s been doing its work for my general mental clarity and well-being. As part of the benefits of my job, I’m able to get full access to the app’s content. I’m really glad that it’s available, and it’s something that employers should offer along with other mental health benefits. Meditation is also very possible through other means that are free like self-guided meditation, but this is just a medium that’s been working for me.
Taking breaks throughout the day: There are days when I could easily be at my desk for hours without realizing how much time had passed, get up feeling groggy, screen fatigued e.t.c So I had to start using different ways to prompt myself to take breaks, to work more healthily. I now use digital prompts to help me be more aware of how time is passing through the day and this prompts me to get up from my desk and just go do something else — staying hydrated, stretching, going outside, listening to music, playing with my cat, lay down — anything away from a screen is ideal.
Exercising: How many people have tried Chloe Ting’s workouts since the pandemic started? 👀👋🏾. I was always more of a Yoga with Adriene gal. After over a year of less movement in general, I now find myself wanting to prioritize my fitness, try new types of exercises, and start exercising regularly.
Making focus time: Finding focus and getting in a flow state can be a struggle sometimes. So, I got way more into putting my devices on DND mode lately, also because the notification fatigue and anxiety is real! I’ve been using apps like Forest to help with focus and being mindful of my attention throughout the day.
Planning time off work: Since the pandemic started, I’ve found myself unsure of what to do with my vacation days, since I mostly planned time off work around travelling elsewhere. I’m having to redefine how to spend my days off and still find ways to fully switch off from work. I know many of us are struggling with feeling like we can’t take a real vacation right now, but it feels even more crucial now to still take those days off. Over time, I’ve also realized that I need to be more proactive with planning time off and rest days, otherwise, I’m prone to burnout.
Checking in: Saving some time to check in with myself weekly has been a good way to plan my days, reflect on how things are going, and also make changes where necessary.
I feel like most of these have been core to helping me combat this feeling of being mentally drained through the week — that thread had some helpful tips, especially on handling personal tasks…yep that’s usually me.
✌🏾
~ Cool things ~
🎧 Podcasts: Ten Percent Happier, The Cipher, The Scaredy Cats Horror Show.
🎵 Obsessed with this Blonded Currents: A Frank Ocean & Tame Impala Album.
https://4dayweek.io/ Feels like this will be a norm in the near future, same as remote/flexible working.
A subscription to curated Japanese snacks!! I need this for Nigerian snacks though…shipped to Sweden 🥺
This was an interesting series on third spaces, and now it’s a whole newsletter!.
It’s Okay to Outgrow the Life You Thought You Wanted — “How do we untether ourselves from the people we imagined we’d become?”.
GitLab has some good content on remote work and mental health.