How I Managed To Practice Wellness During Lockdown
It’s been almost two months since I’ve been in lockdown, and already I’ve felt my body and mind have been going through some positive changes. Having had the courage to go on a course of antidepressants to give myself the edge over a difficult time has definitely proven to be a positive move. I’ve also made sure to exercise properly, get enough sleep, hydrate, nourish myself with healthy and wholesome foods, watch how much I eat, and practice better mental health habits.
One of the things I was a little bummed out about was not having access to my local gym. I was also doing other things in the mix, over and above power-lifting. I was also doing barre, mixed martial arts, and sambo/judo. At present, I miss lifting heavy weights at a gym badly, specifically in both power-lifting and Olympic weightlifting. More importantly, I also miss seeing some of my lifting buddies and the coaches there. Apart from dogs, if there is anything else that tops my list, it has to be a barbell. It’s just such a satisfying feeling one gets from lifting a heavy barbell. Whenever I do it, it makes me feel incredibly strong, powerful, confident, fearless, even ruthless — as if I can do anything in the world. It literally causes me to visualize, and believe in myself that I can do one heck of a powerful suplex when wrestling.
It was at the beginning of April that things took a sudden and dramatic turn. Not only did I have to confront the implications of a worldwide crisis, and along with millions, was placed on a stay-at-home order, but I lost my job, went back on antidepressants, started my career as a full-time freelance writer, and returned to prayer.
My Life Changed Forever
Lockdown, the coronavirus, losing my job, and a recent romantic break-up changed my life forever. Don’t get me wrong. On April Fools’ Day, after being told I wasn’t going to be a confirmed employee, my thoughts began to spiral out of control, and I wept tears like crazy that day. I didn’t care about living anymore. I was so scared about my future. Luckily, I was still enrolled in a Master’s Program, and I had been doing so well in it! However, the last thing I wanted to happen was to see myself lose income. Although I was told I was going to be taken on as a freelancer instead, I still found myself feeling irritable, scared, nervous, agitated, and just…sad. I was so scared I wasn’t going to make enough money — and scared that I wasn’t going to succeed in any career. The surmounting negativity in my mind caused me to believe that my life was over, and that I didn’t deserve to live anymore — until, I realized, that this was all complete and utter nonsense, that, on this particular day, it was totally normal for me to feel confused, angry, and anxious. Fortunately, an online therapist helped me to turn my thoughts around, and so did my family. The therapist, Danielle, assured me that all this was happening because God had something better coming my way. Eventually, things began to change for the better. Why? Because I began to have more faith.
I Realized Taking Care Of My Health Was The Most Important
If there’s one thing I learned, throughout all of this, is that covid-19 has definitely taught us a few lessons. In particular, it’s taught us that our health is so important, and that all the little things we worry about in life are, in actuality, nothing to worry about at all, and are, in fact, downright silly.
Since that time, I’ve practiced an attitude of tremendous gratitude. If there are things I’m enormously grateful for, they are being healthy, having a strong immune system, and being free of the threatening virus. Prioritizing mental health has also been a good feat. I totally get it, though. The antidepressants are not necessarily meant to be a “savior.” However, during this time, they really have been helping me stay balanced. In fact, after taking a therapy assessment, results showed that I had a twenty-five percent drop in anxiety. Ever since I got back on them, I’ve moved on from the break-up, have begun to feel more optimistic about career opportunities, and have gotten closer to God. Most importantly, I stopped having suicidal thoughts.
I’ve also made great strides with physical wellbeing. Just because I don’t have access to a local gym, that doesn’t mean I can’t get creative. Since I am what I call myself a “barre nut,” I went on YouTube, and gained access to some of the most effective barre workouts, and I suddenly began to notice changes in my physique. This was also combined with watching what I was eating (and how much), because that in turn contributed to better results. Taking additional supplements has also been beneficial. In particular, the biotin I’ve been taking has helped me to reduce hair loss and develop stronger nails, and have better skin. Combined with antidepressants, I’ve also taken magnesium and gaba, which have definitely helped to calm me down, and feel more at ease. So, I have not only taken the time to not only look better, but to also, and most importantly, feel better.
How I Start The Day
In lockdown, how I’ve started the day has definitely been different from how it used to be before the world faced a pandemic. For instance, before lockdown, when I would wake up, it was immediately “go, go, go.” Presently, it’s a bit more like, “take it easy.” Now, when I awake, I actually give myself time to rest a little bit more. Once I get out of bed, I open up some of the curtains, fold up the bedding, prepare my workout gear, make myself a cup of coffee, freshen myself up, and then begin to jot down notes for what I plan to accomplish throughout the day. I’ve made it a habit to start my day with a barre workout, because it gets me going for the rest of the day. Oh, and I make sure to have plenty of water by my desk. Hydration is very crucial, too.
What I Do Throughout The Day
The beauty of being in lockdown is having the privilege to get so much done at home. Before I begin my workout, I usually sip a fragrant, warm mug of coffee and watch some wrestling — not just for entertainment, but to also learn and get fresh ideas. Oh, and yes, I am actually planning on — and training towards — becoming a professional wrestler, that’s one of my intermediate goals.
In the midst of things, I enjoy getting a bit of housework done, such as laundry. After my workout, I immediately get to work. I start by gaining some inspiration and I proceed to write. I also search for platforms that pay writers, seek out freelance writing gigs, and send out emails .
Besides writing, I enjoy reading, as well. In fact, reading helps me to become a better writer. I usually get the bulk of the day’s work done between 10am and 5pm. Once 5pm hits, I take a shower. After freshening up and getting into my PJs, I get dinner ready and possibly watch a show on either Netflix or Amazon Prime — not to mention a bit more wrestling on YouTube. After dinner, I perform my final prayers for the day, do a bit more reading, recite my affirmations, and normally fall soundly asleep somewhere between 9 and 10pm.
Prayer
Although I was brought up in a Muslim household, I was not raised to be strictly religious. Instead, I was encouraged to follow my own beliefs. However, I strongly believe in God, and I do what He tells me to do — which, right now, is to pray the Islamic way, fast during Ramadan, and give to charity. Before Ramadan started, I had gotten myself back into praying — and it was one of the best things I’ve ever done. If there’s one thing that’s really given me peace during lockdown, it’s been prayer.
I’ve Avoided Catastrophic Thinking
I’ve simply had to let go of negative thinking (and over-thinking) altogether. Since covid-19 has forced the world to STOP, then it’s a hint that it’s time I stop worrying about my future. Why is that? Well, believe it or not, obsessively worrying about things I can’t control is just going to worsen things and put me on a downward spiral again. I’ve been there before a few years back and I never want to go back there again. I may not be able to control this situation, but I can control my thoughts. What I can do for now, is to take care of myself, be kind to myself, and keep doing what I am doing — so I can get to where I want to in wrestling, writing, and business.
