Pandemic Self-Care

Me, in the California Redwoods. Photo Credit: Erin Chaparro 2019

In my professional AND in my personal life I am a lifelong learner. For example, before the pandemic I took hot yoga classes several times a week and I just starting surfing a couple of years ago. Every year my new year’s resolution is to learn something new. One year I took singing lessons for a full year (some might declare money wasted when they hear me sing but it was a blast!). Another year I learned all about football, watching regularly, and even joined multiple fantasy football leagues (never winning of course! lol). Last year I challenged myself to learn about meditation and how to incorporate it into my daily routine. I started small, just once a day for a few minutes. I started using an app called Insight Timer. I found a few guided meditations that helped me to increase my time up to 20 minutes. The mediations, both guided ones as well as silent ones, have surprised me. First, I was surprise that it was so difficult to quiet my mind. I like to think of myself as a productive person who can focus - meditation humbled me in this category. Second, I was surprised by my craving to do it more often, even a couple times a day because it felt good! It was like a candy that my brain and body craved. Instead of change my new year’s resolution for 2020 I’ve decided to stick with meditation because I see the benefits but also how much I still have to learn. Now during the pandemic, meditation is helping me to regulate my emotions and stay out of a spiral of negative emotions. Do I still feel anxious and sad? Of course, I do. But the time spent meditating has allowed me to stay focused on the now, what I can control, and remain thankful for the beauty and love around me and the privilege I have. Check out a free meditation app if you’re looking for a little mental calm candy I like to call mediation! Sending wellness wishes.