Let's Finish Strong (or 5 Ways to Get Through Six More Months of "This")

Yay! It’s a new year, finally! Hey 2020, don’t let the door hit you in the a**! If you’re anything like me, you’re itchin’ to get back to “normal” — and although I don’t think we’ll ever return to things quite like they were before, I’m ready to see the restrictions get lifted and for people to be well once again. The good news is that with the vaccination rolling out, we now see light at the end of this dark, dark tunnel. The bad news is that we still have some time before we can remove the masks, dine at 100% capacity, and travel to our heart’s content once again. So, how can you survive these next six months or so? I asked a few of my friends on Facebook, and got some really heartfelt responses.

Here are five things you can do to stay sane, healthy and happy during these times.

Choose your words with intention. Remove “I can’t wait for this to be over” from your speaking. Instead, focus on gratitude. Sure, a lot of things are frustrating right now, but you get to choose where you put your focus. Change your thinking from “I can’t” or “I have to” to — “I GET to.” What is the gift here? Shift into the positive.
Find the fun online. Yep, I get it. You’re sick of Zoom meetings. But here we are, still restricted, so make the best of what you’ve got. There’s so much to be experienced online to help us keep our sanity, and you can find yourself in “community” once again, albeit a virtual one. Choose one new thing you’d like to explore… Options include comedy events, yoga and fitness classes, music / instruction, art classes for beginners, and even recovery communities if you find that these days, your drinking habits more closely resemble your 20s.
Exercise. I know, you might be rolling your eyes at this one, as you’ve heard it a million times, including above in #2. But just like meditation, which pops up over and over as a “cure” for so many pains, so does exercise…because it works. It was Barack Obama who said: “You have to exercise, or at some point you’ll just break down.” Why not start today? My favorite gym right now is Fitwall. A small, locally owned gym on Speer Boulevard. Fitwall has all the safety protocols in place so you can attend in person if you prefer, though they also have virtual and outdoor park options.
Have dance parties in the kitchen, living room or elsewhere, it doesn’t matter. Put on a favorite song from your favorite decade and dance like no one’s watching. (They probably aren’t.) Dancing increases your “feel good” hormone, serotonin. It reduces stress, it’s sure to make you smile, and is actually a form of exercise! (Shh, don’t tell anyone!) I’ve found TikTok to be a fun place for inspiration for family dance parties. Hey, you’re probably not as “cooky” as them, but who’s having more fun right now?!
Plan your next trip! Trust that we are coming to the end of this, eventually. Why not start planning for the next time you can take a trip? Where would you love to go next? There are great deals to be found, and many are offering fully refundable vacations. Consider chatting with a travel agent (you don’t know what you don’t know) and trust that this next trip will be worth the wait.

Most importantly, keep on living, one day at a time. Make plans. Stick to a schedule. Make commitments to yourself so that you are still growing during this time. Commit to feeling good and being grateful. There is light at the end of the tunnel… stay well until we get there, together.

Katie resides in Sunnyside with her sidekick, Annie. When she’s not reminding herself how to get through the next six months or so, she’s usually cooking up some yumminess in her beloved crockpot or spending time in her home office, teaching coaches and online experts how to sell their services in the online space. Find out more at http://www.coachkatiecollins.com.