When I wrote my most recent Kickstarter update I was slightly horrified to realize I… missed blogging? Except blogging doesn’t quite feel like the same thing as whatever that was. Maybe I ought to start a newsletter, Kelly Sue style. In the meantime:
While we’re all stuck indoors and dealing with it variably, here are some of the things I’ve been using to stay (relatively) healthy.
Meditation
As you may already know I am a member of the Open Heart Project. It’s had me meditating regularly for the last 4 years (or more? perhaps 5?). It’s free to join.
More importantly, during the Crisis, Susan Piver has been setting up four daily free meditation sessions, by a variety of teachers. They are at 9, 12, 3 and 6 (EST), and the 3pm one is always in Spanish. You can find more details, including the Zoom link, here.
Writing
Further to the above, I did an all-day writing/meditation workshop with Susan a few months ago. It has genuinely changed my writing practice, possibly forever. I don’t use the full technique every time I write, but I have been doing it at least once a week, and I am now about 5/6ths of the way through a major project that has been in the back of my mind for years.
And there is a sort of delight in that writing that hasn’t really been part of my writing experience till now. It’s fun to write something just for the love of the game, I think; and to get out of my head, particularly, right now.
Additionally to this (or sometimes directly related to it), I’m writing in my journal at least twice a day. A lot of it is just free-writing. I think it is either going to be fascinating (or horrible) to revisit once this is all over. If you aren’t journalling, this could be an all-time-great time to start.
I think my point is: write if you can. It’s not even something I can directly call therapeutic; but it’s working wonders on me. Perhaps it will for you, too.
Cooking
You want recipes? I got recipes.
- I’ve given up on finding Melton Mowbray pies and started fooling around with making my own.
- Wanna try savoury oatmeal? You should, it’s a great way to start the day.
- Come teatime, you’re going to want some lemony turmeric tea cake.
- Spicy sriracha buttermilk biscuits. Can’t go wrong with that.
- And forget sourdough: this is the best bread (machine) recipe of all time. I use regular quinoa for the “ancient grain flour” and the results are freaking delightful.
Yoga
Arguably the best thing about having a well-established home practice, for the last several years, was not needing to make any adjustments at all when the Plague overtook the planet.
- Yoga With Adriene, of course, remains the center of my practice. I’m a member, but there are tons and tons of free videos (as I proved for the first couple of years of doing this).
- My Toronto yoga instructor, Joanne, has also gone online with a few brief videos. They delightfully capture enough of her personality to make me feel like I’m over at the Big Stretch.
Matt’s rules for working from home
- Your hours are your hours. Log in at 9 and off at 5. Don’t start early just cuz there’s nothing to do, and don’t stay late just cuz “it’s there.” This discipline will really matter in the long run.
- Sure, eat lunch at your desk; but go for a walk for half an hour after. Do not approach the people. They have germs.
- Try not to nap but if you DO nap adjust your hours (1/) above. Again: the discipline matters.
- Are you drinking water, hon? Oh yeah? How much?
- If a conference call is audible chaos and you’re just g-chatting everyone you REALLY need to meet with, then guess what: you don’t need to be on the conference call. Hang up. This is extra-funny if your conference bridge is set up to announce departures.
- The pressure to virtually “show face” may feel enormous, but remember that if you become an insta-email responder now, you may have to stay one forever.
- Have a bit more water hon.
- Even more than usually: do not check (work) email after hours. If you can swing it, try unplugging completely for at least the first hour after work. So many books on your “to-read” shelf, amirite?
- Oh, and seriously good tip generally: no smartphones, laptops or tablets in the bedroom. Ever. You’ll sleep better.