Lately, I’ve noticed myself gradually making changes to some habits. Habits that I’ve built up many years ago when I was procrastinating my life (which I still do unfortunately). Now that I spend much more time with myself (besides my kids and partner) at home and having more time to self motivate, theres so many new habits and routines I’ve created and old habits that no longer serve me. And I felt the difference in the environment I am and see things from what I was before this pandemic situation. I adapted so effortlessly from office life to home life. It felt nice at the beginning. Being able to get all the personal time to spend on myself and my family. Even after going through the drastic change of a home fire, we’ve been more open to change and faith.
But I still catch myself being stuck in old habits too. Mostly, mental roadblocks or routines that exist just for comfort but do not help me grow. Time really is short and I can’t believe it’s already close to the end of the year. I feel like my old habits had cost me so much valuable time to go to waste. Don’t know why I didn’t catch this change within me until several months later. Always felt like I was last in the game to become aware of growth within me.
And that’s how I feel about changes in habits and routines. Now it seems like I have another couple months to enjoy this work from home life. Honestly, I don’t ever want to return to what was before. Not that it was worst, but it could had been better. The Now feels better.
So there are some things I’ve learned these last 5-6 months:
- Become aware of the change.
Whether you’ve lost a job, moved, changed jobs, or transitioned to work from home, honor the change. Experience it and let it sink in but not drown you. It’s a pivot. A turning point. See it like a sign in a trail, different arrows going different directions and you get to decide which route to take.
2. Konmari your habits and routines.
Just like the Konmari method of cleaning your place to spark joy, the same should be done with habits and routines. Sometimes we forget how to enjoy the 5 senses so simply. Taste, smell, hear, see and touch are so simple and yet we forget to honor them. Simplifying our lives is the ultimate goal but not always attained. Thank the old habits and routines for helping you thus far. Welcome the new habits and routines that have been helping you right now and let them spark joy.
3. Enjoy the now.
Over the years with technology become more accessible and mobile, we have built our lives around those products. Our smartphones and devices became realiable household distractions to help us avoid our present. We forget how to live in the present with no distractions. We are always looking outward instead of inward. Take several minutes or hours (or even a day or several) to enjoy the moment of now. Observe the present and welcome it home.
4. Honor your inner child and help it heal.
One of my favorite things to see out of these pandemic situation is seeing people I know (offline and online) being creative with their lives. Its like a sense of wonder and curiosity has returned to many during these times where we have to rely on ourselves to be entertained. Seeing so many people have this inner child experience unfold is so beautiful. Yet, not everyone is doing it in this creative way. Some other people have shared their stories of loneliness and either heal their inner child or they don’t. I always believe we are children mentally inside adult bodies. We all carry our history with us and do not see it for what it is: a temporary moment of time in our lives. Enjoy the you of now because you’ve made it thus far. Don’t think healing is a one-stop solution, it is always a continued routine.
So far this is all I could think of right now. I am learning as I go through this situation. There’s been moments of easieness and then moments where I feel overwhelmed with the current life/work balance situaiton. The fun always outweights the sad. It truly does. We have to block out some distractions and outside noises to be able to enjoy the life we have. I am still in the progress of trying to keep myself and family off social media and online media. I will buying two small alarms to have in the bedrooms so that we can enjoy the quietness of our minds.
Our minds are always with us. Let’s keep it evolving. 🙂