Happy end of April! The
temperature is getting warmer and the days are getting brighter. Despite the
whole world being told to stay inside, I hope you’re enjoying that a little
bit. Open the windows! Read in a patch of sun!
This monthly post is . . . unprecedented
(does anyone else hate that word though?). This isn’t about what I’ve done to
make this month exciting because what I’ve done that is pretty much the same
thing every day. Two years ago, I
was talking about my last placement and the fact that I was almost done
PGCE. Three years ago, I
was celebrating all kinds of wonderful because it was the end of
university. Four years ago, I
had taken so many trips that I was excited to share. I won’t go back
further because the formatting of my blog posts was different (and embarrassing, quite frankly),
but that was a nice little trip back in time from my sofa.
Anyway, these are the things in
my life right now that are favourites because they’re helping me do something
or be something or feel something on a regular basis. Enjoy!
1.
Puzzles
I get that this is a bit of a
cliché at the moment, but I truly love puzzles. My dad and I had a full
conversation a couple weeks ago about things like the best lighting for
puzzles, the best and worst types of patterns, and the best height of tables so
it won’t hurt your back. This is a passion that definitely comes from my family.
I’ve also realised I’m a
complete puzzle snob. I’ve completed two Ravensburgers puzzles and I’ve been
stuck on the third because I don’t like the quality of the puzzle. I won’t bore
you with the details, but I’m definitely a Ravensburger girl!
2.
Tala Active Wear
I spoke last year
about pulling fitness posts from here, but I’m still trying to incorporate
daily movement into my life. I take walks and do videos online and do yoga. My
main goal is to help my mind since that’s not going very well.
As a result, I am living in Tala clothes. They are a sustainable
company from the UK that is relatively new. A friend told me about them last
year, and I’ve been hooked ever since. They’re not entirely size inclusive, and
I think their Instagram reshares more skinny model-type users over other types
of users, but I like the clothes themselves. They’re comfortable and good
quality and they have different types of clothes for whatever you like to do. Check
them out!
3.
Headspace
If you listen to any podcast at all, you’ll probably have heard an ad for Headspace. As it turns out, teachers get free yearly memberships for Headspace (you need to prove you actually work as a teacher), so I downloaded it. The reason I downloaded it is because I was becoming a not-sleeping, anxious mess. I needed to calm my mind.
I cannot stress enough how much
it has helped me. After I do my daily movement and get showered and dressed, I sit
down to go through a meditation exercise. It really helps me clear my mind and get
rid of distracting, niggling thoughts that are racing around in my head. It sets me up for the day.
I also listen to the Sleepcasts
to help me settle down for the evening. I’ve realised more than ever that I’m
not a great sleeper, so these don’t make me fall asleep. However, it gives me
something to focus on other than my mind. Matt, on the other hand, falls asleep
before the exercise ends and the story starts. Last night, I listened to two full Sleepcasts before I could actually settle to sleep, but it works.
4.
Journaling
Similar to above, this is a
self-care routine that I’ve been trying to
embed in 2020. I’ve truly loved
journaling for a long time. This is a time where journaling has become even
more important to me. It’s helping me sort through my feelings and nightmares (because these are frequent). Through
journaling during lockdown, I’ve learned about a couple emotional triggers and I’ve
reflected on what I need to do to make myself function a little better during
the day. I added meditation and walking to my
daily checklists as a result of my journaling.
Not only will these entries be
something to look forward to reading in the distant future when Covid-19 is in
history books and I lived it, but it’s truly the self-care that I’ve needed to
have.
5.
Baking
Not to be another Corona cliché,
but I am actually loving how much I’m baking right now. I’ve made a lemon loaf,
cupcakes, and a zucchini loaf. I’m planning to make a flan and cinnamon buns in
the near future. I think it’s just a bit of distraction because you need to
focus on what you’re doing. I also like having it as a little treat in the evening
with a cup of (decaf) tea.
Overall, I think the reason
these items are my favourites is that these are all forms of self-care in one
way or another. They’re about encouraging me to get up and moving instead of
wallowing (something I don’t feel good about after doing it for a while) or keeping
my mind focused on other tasks. I wouldn’t be surprised if these are the same
favourites as next month.
What has been keeping you going
in lockdown? Let me know in the comments below and reach out to chat if you
need one!
-Daniella
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