1 Year of the Pandemic: Disordered Eating Reflections

1 Year of the Pandemic: Disordered Eating Reflections

I have all the reasons to sit around indoors and not move so it takes effort to kick myself out of the excessive comfort and monotony of being primarily inside my house for the past year. Having also been weighed down with thoughts and insecurities related to my body, what I was eating, and lots of disordered eating behaviors for a while, being at home has really helped me face these head on. It has encouraged me to incorporate movement that I want, step away from the self-hate and give myself grace, and that trickled over to other areas of my life. Instead of doing things just to do them, I’ve been able to be more intentional with finding physical activity or hobbies that feel good to me. So here I am in this happy place with movement and worrying so much less about what I eat, and then I saw the number.

The other day, I had a doctor’s appointment, and I was asked to step on the scale. Usually I divert my eyes. I’m not sure why I looked this time but the number shocked me. It was higher than I’ve ever weighed in my life.

I’ll spare you all the mental chatter that occurred, but to put it simply: I panicked. Where did all of the body positivity, intuitive eating, self-loving and self-respecting beliefs of mine go? I then asked myself if this could be any other way.

Is there an area of my life that I have been neglecting?

Could I incorporate more healthful habits for myself?

Do I feel satisfied with the way I have been treating myself?

I know I can tell myself I’ve been doing the best I can given the circumstances and there is no need to be so hard on myself.

The marker of what’s “good and right” should not be numbers on a scale but how well you treat yourself.

I mean, my goodness, if fluctuations in weight come from happily, comfortably, and peacefully living life, then there is no reason to worry.

On the other hand, it can be a signal that you haven’t been taking the best care of yourself. I say this not to perpetuate fat-phobia but, just from my own experience. I tend to hold onto emotions and stressors and that takes a toll. Even that phrase about “carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders” is indicative of how stress can weigh you down.

It’s a fine line and I’m not a doctor. I’m just someone who has been victim to diet culture before and now advocates for self-work and the 360° picture of well-being. It’s not about only tending to the physical side but paying attention what’s going on mentally/emotionally can significantly change the way you see and feel in your body!

Around this time last year my disordered eating came to a head in a way that really forced me to deal with it.

There’s nothing like being alone with yourself and you’re gnarly habits right? The strictness and rules I had around food began to soften and that made me realize how deprived I was.

Deprived of joy

Deprived of peace

Deprived of rest

Deprived of satisfaction

Deprived of experiences

Deprived of self-love

I felt unaccomplished and unfulfilled in LIFE and that manifested on my plate.

Maybe I didn’t have my life together but I could kind of feel like I did by meeting the expectations around being “a healthy person”. And that made me feel accomplished.

Until it didn’t.

Food, health, nutrition, and my obsessions with anything related to my diet and fitness were things to keep my mind occupied. I thought: it is better to be a success in this area then be a failure–or worse, a *beginner* at other things. Not that being a beginner is bad but I just wanted to feel good at something and stick with something! Like I had my life together.

I’ve redefined what healthy means to me. And hot damn, it goes far beyond food. Plus, it’s not that big of a deal if anyone else thinks I have my life together. To those who try extra hard to paint that facade on social media (as I did), I encourage you to look within and notice where you can give yourself more.

Fulfillment doesn’t come from excessively doing or excessively holding on, it comes from sampling little joys in a variety of places because no ONE THING exists to fulfill us. 

So, I choose to not spend my time dwelling on a number on the scale and instead think about the number on my self-love and happiness level which, if I’m being real, is better than it’s ever been.

I share this not because being vulnerable is fun but because I know I’m not the only one who feels that their body has changed along with them during this past year and sometimes that’s uncomfortable to think about.

Last year I kept repeating to myself: life opens up when you do. So, a year later, I just feel really glad that I’ve done that. That I continue to find ways to do that. If you can relate at all, I wish you the openness that you seek.

xo,

Melanie

Healing TMJ Disorder Naturally

Healing TMJ Disorder Naturally

I have numerous posts here on my blog about different treatments I’ve tried and different approaches I have undertaken in an attempt to heal the constant tension and pain I’ve held in my jaw and neck for the past 2+ years. Pain that has transferred and manifested in several other parts of my body, too. At times the pain subsides and, other times, I wonder how I can keep on living in my body. I’m sure if you deal with TMJ Disorder or have any form of chronic pain you can understand how I feel.

It’s taken a lot of exploration, self-care, and resilience to get me here today. I now bear a fraction of the TMJ pain I once had and my symptoms have nearly gone away. I went from not being able to open my mouth larger than the size of a golf ball to, well, having my face feel more like my face again.

There are some key things that have helped me and I want to share them in case they can be of help to you–wherever you are in your journey to heal TMJD or chronic pain!


Quick definition:

TMJ stands for Temporomandibular joint which is the joint that runs along the side of the face. It begins at the temples and runs down in front of the earlobes and into the jaw. TMJ is not an ailment itself but TMJD (or TMJ Disorder) involves a series of symptoms stemming from that area of the body.


There is a lot that I’ve learned (not only about my TMJ symptoms but) about my overall health and the very interconnectedness of all aches, stressors, symptoms, emotions, and more that I feel needs to be talked about.

Before I dive into how I’ve been able to heal, I want to drop some references to other posts you may want to check out. My process for healing my TMJ disorder and related pains involved me looking into how I could better myself on multiple levels.

Recommended reading:

How to Recognize Dis-Ease

The Process of Healing

Because this is the internet, I will also put the disclaimer that anything I share here is just personal experience and meant to be used for educational purposes and not as a replacement for medical care, professional advice, or otherwise.

My only suggestion would be to try out what stands out to you and know that a combination of the below therapies and tools have work best rather than just one thing alone. Also, be open-minded and be willing to commit to yourself! Healing is on the other side of resistance.


The Mel Makes It Happen Grand List of Tools for TMJ Disorder:

Oral Night Guard

I got a night guard early on when pain in my jaw first started developing. These are easy to obtain at drugstores but I would recommend getting one specially made for you at your dentist/orthodontist because that one will be much more comfortable! 

Essential Oils

I’ve tried a variety of essential oils, including Young Living’s PanAway blend or the Saje Wellness Peppermint Halo roll-on for when my jaw had serious pain. Those are my personal favorites but if you have single oils on hand, you can apply a mix of peppermint, rosemary, clove, wintergreen, and helichrysum can be a good one, too. However, what has been incredibly helpful for me has actually been the H. Gillerman Jaw Clenching Remedy. It works subtly to calm the jaw enough to release the muscles. Once the jaw is less focused on clenching, it is more susceptible to the benefits of physical therapy exercises (see below).

CBD

While CBD doesn’t completely take away pain, it does dull pain enough for you to carry on with your day/night. While essential oils tend to provide an invigorating or calming effect (depending on what oil you use), CBD encourages relaxation which can be especially helpful before bed. Anything you can do to help relax you so you’re not clenching is helpful!

Jade Roller

The facial self-care is definitely up when you have TMJ disorder. A jade roller can feel very nice, not only because of its cooling effects (when stored in the fridge) but because it helps rub out the muscles. Jade rolling can be done morning or night as an accompaniment to your skincare routine. I like to use the roller to focus near the sides of my face on the muscles a little harder to dig into with my hands alone.

Yoga

There are some yoga stretches that may be helpful when TMJD symptoms extend past the jaw and into the neck, shoulders, and back. I like this 10 min video to help squeeze out the knots in the upper body. Definitely explore videos on YouTube because there are lots of yoga and stretching videos for any part of the body that needs some loving. Here’s another good one just in case you like options!

Therapeutic Face Massage

If you don’t have a jade roller, or if you’re just more of a hands-on person, self massage is perfect! I started researching various massages on YouTube and found this one to be really helpful. 

Chiropractic Care

I started seeing a chiropractor in January 2020 and you can read all about my experience in my 6 month recap post. It took me trying out three different chiropractors to find one with a structured treatment plan aimed at helping my jaw improve. In a situation like this, I was also given physical therapy exercises I could do at home, which I feel are very necessary if you have TMJ issues. It’s worthwhile to get clear on what the professional can help with and constantly reassess treatment as your symptoms change. You want someone who is willing to work with you and not solely lead you down a path they feel is best.

MY TIP: When first looking for a chiropractor, or any professional healthcare assistance, it’s best to call or visit their website to see if they have a specific treatment plan for how to tend to TMJ disorder. 

Acupuncture

I’ve also written about my acupuncture experience and this was one of my favorite treatments. The same rules from above apply (ask questions!). My acupuncturist is more consultation-based so I was able to ask questions and express concerns at the initial and every subsequent visit. I had cupping done, to help draw out the tension, and needles inserted, to target the root of my pain spots. The perk of acupuncture is how relatively quick results are. So, a couple of weeks of treatment will definitely move the needle in the healing direction (pun intended).

Facial Massage

A friend of mine introduced me to qi gong which is a gentle form of movement that helps to maximize your body’s natural energy. One day I curiously searched for qi gong for the face on YouTube and came across some qi gong facial massages! I’d consider these to be different than physical therapy or other types of facial massage. While they aren’t targeted at TMJ pain, I think they help get the energy flowing when my face feels a little stiff or swollen (especially in the mornings). 

Dr. Adam Fields TMJ videos

I recommend these more than anything! The exercises outlined in Dr. Field’s first and second video really help to stretch the jaw in unique ways I hadn’t seen anywhere else. Obviously I’ve sought out many resources and that’s why I’ve put together this list! If you are like me and deal with neck issues also, his series of videos for neck exercises are also outstanding.

Lymphatic Drainage Massage

I want to do a whole post about lymphatic drainage because this whole system is so fascinating! With all of the muscle tension, swelling, and pain happening in the face, jaw, and neck, lymphatic drainage helps to aid in detoxification. This specific style of massage works with the lymphatic system to decrease inflammation and puffiness, which are (in my opinion) frustrating and uncomfortable side effects to TMJ issues. This video is specifically for the jaw, cheek, and neck.

the process of healing l melmakesithappen

You may also want to read: The Process of Healing

Singing

You may be wondering if you read that right or if I made a mistake with the title and the answer is no. I fully meant singing. I started to think about the jaw/neck pain that I had on a multi level way, besides physical. I resonate with the chakra system and in that methodology, dysfunction in the neck and jaw equates with not speaking your truth or underutilizing your communication sector. Singing is a rather fun way of opening up the vocal chords and loosening up the jaw. I began dedicating time to vocal warm ups and singing along to my favorite songs on a regular basis.

Enforcing boundaries

In the same spirit of tapping into the throat chakra, enforcing boundaries is a very important thing to communicate. In the past, I have tended to shy away from saying no and have looked for others to set the pace. This is not only a very passive way to live but it encourages others to walk all over you! I’ve gained more understanding of my values and have thus been practicing laying out my needs with others as clearly as possible. Take what you want from this but exercising this muscle has been so helpful for me.

Speaking my truth, unapologetically

What hurts me the most is not standing up for myself. Not being honest about what matters to me and, instead, morphing to fit what others desire. It is incredibly unsustainable, for one. Secondly, I’ve come into the mindset that each one of us deserves happiness. So dimming our light or belittling ourselves so as not to take up space (literally or figuratively) is only keeping us from blossoming into the most healed and authentic version of ourselves. Do not be afraid to share what is really in your heart!

Stress reduction

Have you heard that stress is the cause of all ails? It is linked to many chronic illnesses and that is largely because it keeps your body in a heightened state of panic, utilizing all of its valuable resources! Think: fight or flight. When your body is stressed out, it isn’t able to spend time allocating resources to engage in bodily processes or heal. Think: rest and digest. Instead of zooming places, rushing through your day, or holding your breath (something I’m guilty of), consider how you can make this very moment a little more peaceful? If you can incorporate relaxation into this moment, and then the next moment, and then the next, you’re better setting your body up to heal itself.

Self-connection

I believe our bodies hold answers to many things about us that we may not even be consciously aware of. A practice I like to do involves sitting in a quiet room alone and taking note of how I feel. Asking myself what the spots I hold pain are saying and what they are asking me to notice. Our bodies really do talk to us but we have to be open to listening. Take what you may from this but connecting to myself in this way has helped me feel more involved in my healing and not just a passenger in the process. 

Having a healing mindset

I share this one last because I have struggled to maintain this myself. I feel that my own healing fluctuates a lot and that has made me doubt whether I’m getting better or not. I’ve been working to shift my perspective to not see obstacles as “not healing” but rather a step in the life-long process of healing. 

Healing is on the other side of resistance.

 


There we are! I’ve tried many remedies and techniques to help heal my TMJ disorder symptoms naturally and I’ve covered just about all of them. My jaw has felt better in recent time but I wouldn’t say any one thing alone has taken my jaw pain away. I will say that dedication to healing and being willing to try out a combination of the aforementioned tools has helped me become happier and more able to function in a way that feels “like myself”. 

I hope you may give some of these a try and let me know how it goes.  Plus, feel free to share any treatments or techniques that have worked for you in the comments. I’d love to make this as large of a resource page as possible! 

Lastly, if you know anyone who could use the information on this post, please send it their way!


Like this post? Pin it!

tools to heal tmj disorder mind body and soul

 

The Process of Healing

The Process of Healing

Years ago, healing is not a word I would have associated with myself in a long-term state. To me, healing was the 1 to 2 weeks it takes to get over a cold or the 6 months someone might require of physical therapy post-injury. I’ve even shared about my childhood arthritis and how remission seemed almost immediate. I’ve never had concerns linger around long enough for me to see how layered healing can really be.

Healing is a process.

It was a naïve way of thinking to believe that healing was a one-and-done situation. It was only through a variety of trials as an adult that I have explored different ways of being and different practices. Each one has taught me a lot about myself but some really led me astray in ways that I’m still unpacking today.

Just to name a few: when I got my first full-time job, I was exposed to working with others, learning what I value in work, falling in love, and stress like I’ve never experienced before all-in-one place. I over exercised my body into a state of amenorrhea and hormonal imbalance. There’s also the interesting facet of disordered eating and body image issues that I can’t remember establishing but nonetheless affected me in major ways.

So, when I realized how much any one of these events, or aspects of them, was affecting me, I had to seek out healing. 

Check out my post on How to Recognize Dis-Ease for more explanation on what it means when something is affecting you. For me, often the desire for healing came from insomniatic thoughts keeping me up and crying at 12 am. Or spending too many evenings with a belly ache and a disgust for the way I would treat myself. A lot of the time, it came from me seeing someone I admire living FREELY and me really wanting to no longer be tied down to my burdens.

However, just because I made a decision in ONE moment, it didn’t mean I was relieved.

There is the initial stage of learning what’s wrong. I use the word “wrong” loosely here, only as a means to signify what is out of alignment for you. What happens after this has no pattern, guidebook, or timeline because it’s different for everyone. It is inevitable that I learned more about my relationship to my symptoms and why they existed in the time (days, months, and years) following the ah-ha moment when I realized what was out of alignment.

Sometimes it seemed obvious like, maybe I ate food that just doesn’t sit well with me. Yet, as my unique process of healing moved along, I realized there is a lot that I was doing to myself. It wasn’t necessarily some outside thing affecting me, in several cases I began to flip the script and see how I was affecting me.

the process of healing l melmakesithappen

The role of the self in healing:

They say that the first step in recovering is recognizing that you have a problem. Well, I knew very well that I had a problem but that didn’t always inspire action. I simultaneously held in my mind the desire to change my ways and the desire to cling to what was comfortable. The fear of “what if I’m unfixable?” or “what if I try something different and it doesn’t actually make me feel better?” plagued me and kept me oscillating between getting better and just being in a rut. 

Oh yeah, the rut. There’s also the time I spent not actively trying to get better. When I thought I’d reached a good place with myself, I’d succumb to my old ways, thinking I could handle a swim. Instead of holding my head above water, I quickly sunk into the habits, discomfort, and thought processes that I thought were gone.

I didn’t know I was backpedaling until I was in the thick of the muck again. I do not admonish myself because this needed to happen once, twice, 38,420,950 times until I finally learned I don’t want this to keep happening! We are human beings that learn through patterns and establishing new ways of being requires commitment to try again. Healing isn’t about “getting it right”, it’s about being willing to learn your ways, anticipate possibilities, call yourself out on your BS, and be willing to start over many, many times.

To put it simply: healing is a process.

Healing may start out as a way to get rid of toxins, negative thoughts, bad habits, and pain. The healing that endures takes a more holistic approach of not just looking at the symptom but how that symptom arrived in the first place. The process of healing involves an ongoing journey of learning, connecting all aspects of health, and being open to adapting.

xo,

Melanie

Like this post? Pin it!

the process of healing l melmakesithappen

Disclaimer: any material shared on Mel Makes It Happen is based on personal experience of the author and meant to be used for educational purposes only. The information is not a replacement for medical care, therapy, or professional advice/treatment.

 

Finding Happiness During the Pandemic

Finding Happiness During the Pandemic

I hope this summer has found you well. I hope you have opened up to discovering the possibilities present. I hope you’ve opened up to ways that you can be a creator of whatever it is you want. If none of that resonates, I simply hope you have been happy.

That’s what I’ve been trying to find, trying to be.

I’ve never been the kind of person who uses the word happy as a state-of-being. Partially because I’m naturally a little manic and fluctuate between feeling over the moon excited, pit of despair depressed, and the most common feeling: nothing. There’s a lot of nothing, dull, boring types of moments in my life. Happy seems elevated beyond ordinary in a way I’ve never felt I could meet.

You know those scales with smiley faces at the hospital that say “rate your pain”? There are usually 10 levels, with 1 being the least and 10 being the worst pain. Somehow, I invented my own scale for my state-of-being with 10 being happy. So if 10 is the best, can you really feel like a 10 all the time? No. Or, at least I don’t think so.

Basically I’ve withheld my feelings of being a 10 and being happy for a while. 

You might be thinking: why would you do such a thing? It sounds like you’re making life harder on yourself.

Damn right, I am. Primarily, this is because being a ball of stress and anxiety has been my resting state. That is the way I’ve felt for months and that comes from me forcing myself to do a lot of activities and be in situations that I were just not working for me. I was working in a job I hated, which younger me promised this would never happen again, but here I was. Then, even the enjoyable things I did in addition were filled with a rushed and strained energy. Having majority of my days spent on things I hated made me put a lot of pressure on the things I liked to fulfill my every need. Everything was out of balance.

Another factor to not feeling like a 10 has more to do with long-term planning. I might feel good one day but what if I happen to feel even better on a future day? Saving my 10s, essentially. If I rate my happiness today as a 10 then can that future happiness be a 10? As a human being, or maybe simply as me, novelty of experiences impacts the way I feel. I have largely formulated ratings for how I feel based on the experiences I’m having. If novel experiences are rarely repeatable then perhaps my happiness cannot be either. It’s worth noting that I’m not purposefully doing any of this.

Through lots of self-reflection, I’ve realized I have been withholding feeling happy because it’s something I can control.

Just to unpack this a little more, it’s not a bad thing to be influenced by experiences as a marker for how you feel. Things like: taking a trip, meeting up for lunch at a new restaurant, talking to a friend you haven’t spoken to in years, trying a new activity are just a few examples of first-time or special events that can really make you feel a little something extra on that day. I can even ride the high for a couple of days!

What happens when novel experiences cannot happen, though? During the coronavirus pandemic, my novel experiences have diminished significantly. There are only so many different teas to make and Netflix specials I can sit through before it all starts to feel the same. Life was feeling comparatively worse than when I was more socially active and got to meet face-to-face with people other than my immediate family on a regular basis. I know I’m not the only one going through this but that thought did not bring me much comfort.

Well, surely, if I was to hear everyone is cured and the world is “back to normal” tomorrow that would make me feel better, right??

For a while I thought so…but there’s no amount of time that the pandemic will last that can make me better. That brings me back to my point about placing my happiness in things happening outside of me.

In days of isolation and monotony, I’ve had to not only create moments of happiness but redefine the purpose of my existence. I say this not to be dramatic (I mean, it kind of is!) but because one cannot happen without the other. Naturally, if I seek to allow myself to say I am happy just because, then I am in control of my sense of happiness.

I am happy to be alive today. I am happy to be able to breathe. I am happy to open my eyes in the morning and begin another day.

A year ago, these words would have sounded so meaningless to me. In a materialistic society, like the one I live in, getting things (whether tangible or intangible) is happiness and success. That’s why I’ve had to take a step back and think of how I could make my happiness less dependent on circumstances or the ebbs and flows of life.

As I shed the work and projects that I was doing before that caused me stress, I feel more whole. It’s easier to find balance because I can spend my days the way I want. Of course, still within financial and circumstantial means but it has given me an appreciation for the simple things and a change in perspective that I was very much in need of. 

There’s a book I once read for a college English class called Man’s Search for Meaning. Putting aside the sex segregated title, it is a magnificent book written by Viktor E. Frankl about his time at Nazi concentration camps. Frankl was a Jew, a psychotherapist, a father, and somewhat of an important person in his community. As he chronicles the experiences he has in the concentration camps, his pride, his family, his clothing, and everything that he ever thought that defined him were taken away. Basically, he was forced to redefine his meaning of life.

I am, of course, in much more privileged circumstances at the moment than Frankl was in the Nazi concentration camps, but that is why the book still holds lessons of value. It shows how, in the most dire of circumstances, we all have the choice of how we want to define ourselves, what we believe our purpose is, and what determines our happiness.

All this to say, I now see happiness as something I can allow myself.

I’ve been pushing aside feeling good for a while but each day is a gift. It’s a humbling thing to recognize how magical it is to simply exist right now on Earth. So anything else that happens is just extra stuff outside of me but it is not me. This may sound super hippie-dippie but it just feels true to me. If I had everything taken away from me like Viktor E. Frankl, which hopefully it doesn’t have to come to that but, you know, I would like to be able to remember who I am. Instead of being a girl with many selves and different versions of herself navigating the world, I’d like to be a soul that is whole and one with myself.

While I have a conscious understanding of the mindset shift I’m making for myself, that’s not to say it is easy or that I’m now in some blissed out state! I do believe life should have more ease (this is actually a value of mine) so when things feel forced, I know I am not in balance. At this point I’m not above getting upset about things that are outside of my control and I am sensitive to the way others act toward me or each other. So, it’s a practice to find ease. It’s a practice to not make these outside-of-myself-things mine and not internalizing beliefs of others. For my own sanity and happiness.

There are certainly other layers to this but those will have to wait until another day. I’ve just described one aspect in the giant puzzle of understanding myself and my own humanity. I’ve talked about my experience with people-pleasing and removing all of these things outside of myself to help me get closer to my core. I can’t say that the way I view happiness, or purpose, is for certain but I do know I feel more and more authentic to myself as the days go on.

If you’re open to sharing, I’d love to hear how you create happiness and what your definition of that is. Thank you for reading. Consider sharing this on social media, if you like it. 

 

10 Ways to Tend to Your Body, Mind, & Spirit During Self-Quarantine #Self-Care

10 Ways to Tend to Your Body, Mind, & Spirit During Self-Quarantine #Self-Care

I hope you all are well and staying safe.  I’ve been laying low myself and have come to a comfortable place with the whole stay-at-home situation.  For a while I was going stir-crazy but that was before I realized the potential for self-work and growth that this time offers.

There are a ton of lists and videos floating around for things you can do during self-quarantine to help the time pass.  I’ve seen them and you’ve probably seen them. However, I don’t want to ask you to go watch Netflix shows for the next few weeks just because you’re staying home.  I love Netflix as much as the next person but I hope to enlighten you with some different ways you can make the most of your time in self-quarantine.

This is a list of some of my favorite things to do during self-quarantine to tend to my body, mind, and spirit.

 

Learn a new skill

Everyone on the interweb is telling you to take up knitting and painting but pick up a skill you like.  I’m personally drawn toward creative projects but skills can also be more educational. You can find TONS of tutorials on YouTube for how to fix broken appliances, construction projects using extra plywood you have laying around, or how to use QuickBooks!  Yes, you can learn skills to improve your financial organization (do your own taxes!), start an online business, even how to code or do data entry. There is a lot of FREE information available, which is what I’d encourage you to utilize first before buying anything; it just requires a little digging–but, hey, you have time, remember?

Dive into self-work

I know I’m not the only one who had a minor (or major) freak out when businesses started shutting down, news reports of people contracting the virus showered TV and online media sites, or when the government released mandates to stay home.  It’s important to be informed but what helped me, and what has helped me for a while now, is turning my fears inside out. After a moment of panic, I try to regain my footing and ask myself why something is freaking me out. Why am I afraid?  

One fear is usually attached to another fear.  So, if you can take yourself down that rabbit hole, you can get to the bottom of things and create new belief systems.  When you engage in self-work, you can use fears as an opportunity to see where you’re unintentionally keeping yourself small or where you’re repeating patterns not serving you.  This is honestly a topic that needs more than one tiny paragraph to do it justice but, if your interest is piqued, I’ll direct you to some of my favorite resources to get your feet wet.

My very accessible 30 Days of Self Discovery Journal Prompts

The Holistic Psychologist YouTube 

To Be Magnetic Shadow

melmakesithappen

Movement

Oh, movement, how I adore you.  In my earliest days of dabbling with self-care, movement was my way to feel good.  Move your body and, naturally, you will flush out stagnant energy and find a new flow.  Contrary to what anyone might tell you, there is no “better” or “worse” form of exercise.  The best kind of exercise is the one you’re going to enjoy doing.  If you don’t have any movement routine at the moment, or if your current one ever feels like a chore, then change it up.  You don’t have to be married to ONE form of movement.

In fact, every form of exercise has its own health and mood-boosting powers.  The reason for that is because when you get movement in, you take your mind off of stressors or anything else going on.  You’re focusing on the activity you’re engaged in, balance, strategy, and potential (i.e. that’s why it’s important to rotate exercises or attempt more advanced movements when they no longer challenge you).  So, I think you’ll follow when I say movement challenges your body and your mind. And that post-workout high you get? I’d say that’s your spirit being lifted.  

Deepen your faith

Do you have a spiritual practice?  Spirituality is our way as humans to explain the happenings of the world and give us purpose.  It is once I developed my sense of spirituality that I was able to see myself as more than just a hamster on a wheel (going nowhere).  If you’ve ever been told, “things just happen” or “that’s just the way it is”, you’ll know that is not at all comforting.  An effective spiritual practice piques thought, proposes reasons for why we go through things in life, and offers possibilities for how to navigate them. 

My sense of spirituality isn’t just tied to religion, churches, and prayer but if that resonates with you then keep at it.  Deepen your practice, read the scriptures, and have discussions. Additionally, I think talking about our beliefs with a community that is open and receptive is one very important component to spirituality.  I have found my like-minded community through podcasts I listen to and online groups on Facebook. Don’t ever feel like you’re an oddball in terms of beliefs–there is a community for everything, you just need to go out there and find it.

Seek out expanding media

This is still bouncing off the topic of spirituality but hear me out.  I think a big influence on our belief system is the media we choose to consume.  The shows you watch and the things you hear are reinforcing certain ideas.  Are those ideas benefiting you?  Many times, we don’t realize how ingrained our belief systems are until something comes forward to question it.

Start by finding a resource that speaks to you in an area that interests you.  This can be a book, a blog, a podcast, a movie, or anything that piques your interest.  Maybe you’re a singer and you’d like to start playing shows live; so, watch some documentaries on singers you admire.  If you’re a woman who wants to travel alone but isn’t sure how, try reading the accounts of other women who have done the same.  Consuming media in this way is a safe method to explore a subject you’re interested in without any commitments.  

sausage potato kale soup

Cook something new

Ohhh yesss.  If you’re typically an eat-out-at-restaurants kind of person then staying home presents an added challenge–but a fun one!  For anyone completely new to cooking at home, my biggest tip is to try recreating a dish that you like ordering out.  Cooking, like movement, is a lot more fun when you’re eating/doing something you like.  

Those who know their way around a mixing bowl (my first kitchen experimentation was through baking before moving into cooking) but don’t often use a grill might want to try cooking something new.  I know cooking can simply be a form of fuel for some and they’re pleased enough with a sandwich but, if we’re talking about learning new skills, it feels really empowering when you can make whatever it is you’re craving with confidence.

Some easy recipes on my blog:

Sweet Potato Cucumber Salad with Curried Tahini Dressing

Fresh Shakshuka for One

Sausage, Potato, & Kale Soup/

Pumpkin Cookies (GF & V) 

Bond with your family / housemates

It might seem really obvious but staying at home provides a great time to bond with your family or housemates.  You all are forced to see each other a little more than usual now and perhaps that has caused some head-butting.  I know it has been a little tense in my house! However, talk it out and reconnect with them.  Express your intentions and open up the channels for communication.  That will make spending isolated time with each other much easier.

Tend to your yard and garden

Those of us who live in a traditional house can use this time to cultivate a visually attractive yard or patio.  Trim any askew tree branches, dedicate a spot of land to create a compost, or re-purpose some fresh branches to grow another plant–a no-cost way to get more plants without buying more.  If you have packets of seeds, then now is the perfect moment to plant flowers, veggies, or other plants to liven up your yard.  

If you’re in an apartment, you can also liven up your space by sweeping the steps, clearing your patio of clutter, and creating a potted plant arrangement.  

diy mustard bath soak recipe melmakesithappen

Relax & Release

Ironically, those of us who have a little more time on our hands might be the most stressed of all!  It’s understandable to feel confused and even scared but holding onto such strong emotions can really weigh on you.  Movement is one way to ease negative emotions out but also including practices that remind you that you are safe. I like taking a walk, drinking some warm tea while sitting outdoors, or singing aloud to my favorite songs.  Let’s also give a special mention to baths because they are so helpful to warm up our muscles and release stored tension in our bodies.

I’ll link to a mustard bath soak that I like to use here: Easy DIY Mustard Bath Soak

Clean-out &clear-out

If you’re staying home, this is the perfect time to sort through any closets, under the bed, or any places of storage.  Years and years will pass where we just keep holding onto clothes that don’t fit us, obsolete paperwork, or knick-knacks that a friend brought back from their Cancun vacation.  I’m not saying you have to get rid of anything but, going through all the corners of your home might reveal some stuff you haven’t looked at in years.  When you create space, you make room for new energy, new products, and new opportunities that better align with who you are today (not the you from 10 years ago that saved that stuff).

Let’s also take a moment to give special mention to clearing out social media, email, and online storage.  I know you’ve probably got tons of accounts you don’t even know you’re following on social media.  Weed them out and you’ll get a feed more customized to what you want.  And, instead of paying for additional storage, make use of free services like Dropbox and Google Drive–just stop clouding them up with assignments from college and photos from high school.  You know who you are.

~~~~~~~~~~

To be honest, many of the items on this list aren’t too different from things I enjoy doing on a regular basis.  The only difference now for myself, and probably for many of you, is the amount of time you have on your hands.  Some of these things might not directly seem like they impact your mind, body, and spirit but it’s little actions that add to your overall peace and sense of well-being.