Photo: Pixabay.com
David Van Reybrouck writes on Facebook:
Be kind to your mind
Friends, staying healthy is the big challenge these days. Of course, stick to what your government tells you to do! Here are some personal experiences for staying fit, based on my fieldwork in Congo and Indonesia, my hikes as a mountaineer, as well as on stressful periods in Europe. They are as much about physical as mental hygiene; the body doesn’t seem to make a big difference between the two. Mental fitness is key to physical fitness.
- Set your alarm. Regardless what time you get up, make sure it is regular.
- As you wash and get ready, feel your body. Be grateful for being alive, for being part of nature. You may want to take half a minute of cold shower to get your blood pumping.
- Get dressed. Dress like it is a normal day. Wear simple clothes that give you joy and strength.
- Do at least 10 minutes of yoga and 10 minutes of meditation per day. Apps like Yoga Studio and Headspace are great.
- Keep yourself busy. Last year I interviewed a Dutch man who survived working on the Burma railway line in WWII. “Others sat down and worried. I was always busy, making something silly out of a can, out of some trash, whatever. That kept me going.”
- Accept that your concentration might be less than normal. It’s okay. This is a weird situation. Be kind to your mind.
- Limit your news intake. It’s tempting to be nonstop on news sites, but it can affect your mood negatively. There is little “new news” now. My news diet: maximum two times 30 minutes per day.
- Keep on moving every day. Go for a brisk walk. Cycle for a while. Work in your garden, if you’re lucky to have one. Go for a run. Breathe in good, fresh air. Physical activity is great to boost your overall health.
- Food is a well-known source of consolation in times of stress. It’s tempting to eat more now, but in fact you need less. Improve quality, not quantity. Eat light. Eat slowly. Taste really. Close your eyes for a second and taste even more.
- Treat yourself to what makes you happy. A movie. A hot bath. A long phone call. Read that book you’ve bought years ago. Go back to poetry. Find joy in simple things. (I baked my own bread earlier this week. The smell was divine!)
- Sleep a lot. You may already have noticed this week how much fatigue there was in your body. Give your body lots of rest.
- Respect your weekends. If your days all look similar, tell them apart by organizing your time differently. Bring structure into the vastness of your lockdown.
- Reach out and connect. Share your fears if you are worried. Search support if you need it. Be there if others need you. Make up for past mistakes. Say thanks.
- Care for others, even if you live on your own. Social distancing is a new form of intimacy. Call a friend. Send a text. Ask how everyone is doing. Support friends and relatives. Listen, listen deeply. Be humble. Be kind.
- Keep on loving.