What a long strange trip it’s been! Do you know that reference? It’s “Dead” on when it comes to describing the situation with S.I.P (COVID 19) any better. I don’t know about you but I feel like this quarantine continually takes me by surprise – even after I feel like I’ve settled in. How do you get used to distance from the people you love? It’s like we have the pause button pushed but instead of the TV being on hold, it’s our lives. What is constant now in our lives is change. What if I told you about 5 tips to keep positive changes that you have made during this time.
Even in the throes of this long strange trip called Coronavirus, I have found myself grateful for new opportunities. My family is scattered throughout the states yet until now we had never held a family zoom happy hour. I’d never experienced the joy of chatting with my friends who live all over the country, all at the same time! I love these positive changes!
Also, who knew that shopping for a full 2 weeks, while time-consuming that day would free up so many hours? Typically I’d pop into the store almost daily? What a waste of time!
I have found new cooking techniques that are delicious and flexible (braised chicken – a million uses)! New ways of giving back to others have presented themselves, and, my personal self-love practices have never been more regular (meditating, walking, exercising, cooking, gratitude practice). Who knew positive changes could be so much fun?
Enough about me, what about YOU!
What are the opportunities YOU have found during this long strange trip? Are there new self-love habits that you have found helpful? Have there been changes around feeding your body or soul that you would like to hang on to after things start getting back to “normal”? Have you found new routines for your family or new ways of enjoying yourselves together? How has having to be mindful in new ways made things easier or more precious?
Wouldn’t it be AMAZING to HOLD ON TO THAT GOOD that has emerged? Here’s the thing… we are creatures of HABIT. So, when the kids go back to school, and you pick up where you left off, then falling back into the same habits you had before will feel like second nature. Don’t you want to keep these new positive changes moving forward?
By bringing awareness and intention to holding on to the good things that you discovered during this crazy time you give yourself the opportunity to continue to grow and keep whatever good you have created.
5 Tips to Keep Positive Changes
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Breathe and Reflect
Set some time aside to sit quietly and reflect on this time out that has been thrust upon us. Start with just noticing your breath. Listen to the sounds around you. Be present in this moment. Allow your mind to consider – what has changed for the better? Is it an attitude? Have you adopted a new routine that just feels right? Are there new healthy habits for which you’ve made space? Make a list.
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Notice: What Rises to the Top?
What are the most significant 2-3 new practices that have arisen? Bringing your attention to the things that you want to hold on to will help to create awareness and intention. Awareness allows us to see something that we might not have fully recognized. Setting an intention is a way to hold something in our hearts, recognize the importance, and provides motivation for taking action. It helps to move forward with positive changes.
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Create a “Reminder”
Create and place in a prominent location a “reminder” of what you would like to hold on to going forward. Find a picture from a magazine or a meaningful object, draw a quick pictorial representation, or create a complete painting or drawing. Take whatever will serve to remind you of your intention to carry this newness into your post-pandemic life and place it somewhere you will see every day.
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Journal and reflection
Answer the following questions
- If you could embrace your biggest most beautiful life, what role would these new changes play?
- How will adopting these new attitudes or habits make your life better?
- What important personal values would be honored by you maintaining these changes?
- If they are truly important, are you ready to make the effort required to make space for them as your life changes pace?
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Make New Habits
Be very intentional about how and when you will incorporate these changes into your new routine. Be specific. If it’s a new habit consider frequency and duration. For example, “I will do yoga on Tuesdays and Saturdays at 10 am for 1 hour”.
If it is an attitude consider any habits that might be associated with that change. For example, “I will have more fun with my children” might involve setting aside time to play together or making chores more game-like.
Create a way to track and celebrate all of your success and be compassionate with yourself if you stumble. Like learning any new skill, creating new habits takes time and practice.
Holding on to the good that has arisen during this pause does take awareness, intention, and effort, but it is well worth it! What does your biggest most beautiful life hold for you?
If you need more information on creating new habits connect with me here and write Holding On To Good in the message line. I will send you my complimentary 2-page download. And, you can request a free 20-minute session where we will walk through the process together and create a plan for incorporating a new habit into your routine.
Lauren Yellin Weinberg, MS, NBC-HWC
As The Becoming Coach, Lauren empowers her clients to become more confident, calm, and connected and to architect the wildly wonderful life they have always imagined. A National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, and a Certified Happiness Coach, with a background as a psychologist and family therapist, she is committed to a whole-person, empirically-based process that creates lasting mindset and wellbeing changes. Her transformational coaching is designed to accelerate and support personal and professional success while inspiring her clients to fall in love with who they are becoming.
Lauren is also a thought partner for solopreneurs and she is an expert for Living Healthy List.
Find out more at lastingchangewellness.com or email directly at lastingchangecoach@gmail.com Follow on FB @lastingchangewellness; on IG @lastingchangecoach and on LinkedIn @LaurenYellinWeinberg