Corona Virus Life


What a few weeks it’s been. Corona Virus is everywhere. It has started taking over our lives so quickly. Many people are concerned and rightly so. Our livelihoods are at stake. With the announcement today, of schools closing on Friday, I won’t be teaching dance for a while. My other jobs have also been cancelled which I won’t be paid for. I know of many other people in the same position as me, if not worse.

 It’s very easy to get caught up on the negatives and the worries, but I’m doing this post to try and lift some spirits and help in times of need. Sometimes things get overwhelming and this is an overwhelming situation for society. I have put this together for anyone and everyone to use. It has tips and ideas which you can all expand on to suit your own situation and needs. These are things I use myself from the lessons of many wise and wonderful people in my life.

Set out a plan for your day

Get a note book or sketch book and write down or draw 5 things you want to achieve in the day. Make sure you leave space at the side so you can tick it once you’ve done it. I also recommend ticking it, rather than crossing it out because then you can see all you have achieved and look back and be proud of yourself. One goal for each category every day. These are just some examples.

 Learning and Development- e.g. Reading a chapter of a text book, writing a paragraph of an essay, learning a new skill, do some choreography

 Nutrition- set out what your going to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Try not to binge eat because that can make you feel worse. Maybe try a new recipe, with food shortages this a great time to explore our usual meal plans and see what other foods there are. 

 Exercise- go for a walk, even if its just round the garden, or round your living room. Every hour set an alarm, make yourself aware that you need to move, stretch, even jogging on the spot with some star jumps to get your heart rate up. Or you could do some yoga and Pilates. 

 Entertainment- do something you love, e.g. read a book, watch a T.V show, bake, paint, draw, colour, create. Contact friends through skype, social media, texts, calls etc 

 Relaxation- e.g. meditate, have a bath, take a nap, spend time with a pet. Listen to your body, what does it need?
Breath
There is lots of different advice for breathing techniques to sooth and calm yourself. One I use is breathing in through the nose for 5 seconds, holding for a few seconds at the top of the breath and then breathing out through the mouth for 5 seconds. Do this 5 times. It can help to regulate your breathing if you’re feeling anxious.

 Social Media
Social media is a great way to stay in contact with people if we’re self-isolating. It can be really helpful and positive but I think its important not to get swept up in the all the drama. It can be an escape but it can also be a hinderance. It’s important to know if being online is making you more worried and anxious because of the constant talk of everything that is changing. A good thing could be to limit your time on it each day. Write down how you feel after being on it and then see if it’s actually helping to calm you e.g. giving you answers and reassurance or if it’s making you feel worse.

 Emotions
This is a stressful time for many people. Whatever you are feeling, it is ok. You are allowed to feel exactly as you are. Don’t feel guilty and beat yourself up for not feeling great. Also, don’t beat yourself up if you’re feeling fine! It’s ok to take some time out for yourself and do what you need to do. Acknowledge how your feeling, don’t ignore it otherwise it can become even more overwhelming. 

 Be creative
Being creative can help calm your mind and help express yourself when you don’t have the words to explain how you feel. The beautiful thing about art is that it can’t be wrong. Whether you can draw a self-portrait in perfect proportion or splash colours of emotion on a page, it is all valuable for our mental health.

Below I have put some pictures of things that make me happy, and I hope they make you happy too, or at least give you some inspiration.



When I went to Thailand, March 2019

Tigy, my last cat

The planets wishing the earth better

I am sending everyone positive vibes and positive energy. Stay safe and look after yourselves.

Comments

  1. anushkaconway20 March 2020 at 04:30

    agreed alys, i am using my new found time to learn spanish, and take advantage of the online fitness and dance classes being streamed from around the world, as i would not normally be able to take class with an amazing studio based in australia! of course it is all worrying and scary but its out of our control so best try and make the most of the time off that we may never really see again in our lifetimes!
    Anushka x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alys May-James26 March 2020 at 10:47

      exactly, let's see how we can grow from this and become stronger. Making the best out of a strange and unusual situation :)
      Alys x

      Delete
  2. Scarlett Holloway30 March 2020 at 05:09

    Hi Alys, A lovely post to shed some light on the awful situation. Thank you for the advice- some really good ideas to keep our minds occupied with other activities. I hope you stay well and safe.
    Scarlett x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alys May-James31 March 2020 at 11:57

      Thank you Scarlett, I'm glad it helped. Stay safe :) x

      Delete

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