It’s been six weeks since I last ventured outside the village. It was 17th March and I had a class in Camyoga Shelford, only two students turned up then, pretty much everyone else was already staying away from the public places. That week the school decided to stop public classes upon the government advice. So many things have happened since then and so many people have lost their lives. And we are still adapting to this new normality.
We are still being advised (or being influenced) to do something new or start a new hobby. And yet, up until the lockdown, many of us had been constantly working. Being a mother of three busy children, a wife, a small business owner, I am guilty of this too (Even now, it’s late at night and I am still working). Too often, we feel we have to be achieving. Women are especially guilty of this. Endless deadlines, and endless achieving. And in the lockdown this has been the same. It’s only in my house and yet it feels that everything just HAS to be done. Surely, we should be using this time to learn more, master more, grow more, run more, cook more…. Do we? Really?
We are all different – surely we need to use this time to do less. We are all in this together – but in a different way – some are still working and some are worried about their jobs whilst some are worried about their health or their loved ones etc. We all have individual anxieties, and whilst yes, we are all in lockdown, everyone is different. Adding an extra layer of pressure of (over)achievement isn’t going to help.
And for those of us with history of mental illness the pressures of self-imposed achievement and pressures of being in lockdown is making things more difficult. On top of it, if you are battling with perimenopause or menopause, you may find that your anxiety and hot flushes are getting worse. So this would not be the time to suddenly get that 6 pack that you have been aiming for years, or become a marathon runner (because you need to maximise the daily exercise outing) or discover your inner Agatha Christie with that new novella. I can’t become a master-chef champion baker or Monty Don in my garden over night (although I confess, I have to now take care of all those vegetables that I have been planting over the last few months).
This is the time to slow down – slow down and relax, slow down and spend time with your loved ones. Use this time to look after your health and well being.
Life is full of unexpected turns, and very soon this turn will happen. And we will be ready to adapt and adjust to that again.
Peace, love, light, and health to you all!
Namaste!
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