As we approach a year of lockdown, the boundaries between work and home life continue to be blurred for many. Circumstances prevent us from engaging in routines that once served us.
Without a separate place to teach and grade, I spend more time working than I used to. Without my commute to the university campus, I’ve stopped listening to nourishing podcasts. Without attending regular exercise classes, I haven’t been moving my body as much as I need to. Without my Saturday-morning coffee dates with my long-time yoga friends, I feel less connected.
For several months during the past year, replacement behaviors served me: doing online yoga classes at home, arranging Zoom chats with friends, setting up phone notifications to remind me to stop working, listening to podcasts while I took a bath.
But lately my replacement plans have fallen by the wayside. The cold winter and the continuing lockdown dampened my motivation. As someone who benefits from structure, however, I know that I can stick to my decisions.
For me, Lent helps. Yes, we’ve suffered enough this year. No, it doesn’t feel as if we should be asked to give up anything else. But just as my New Year’s resolution motivated me to avoid sugar during the past two months, Lent serves as a reset button to help me stick to my decisions and be a healthier, happier version of myself.
Sunday Journal Prompt
What’s your reset button to stick to your decisions, even when circumstances challenge your resolve?
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