by Saajidah Esat
As we enter into the extended period of the lockdown here, some of you may have found a rhythm to your days and established a set of thoughts and processes to help you stay positive and productive. I would like to share a tool that I have been using that has helped me immensely through these challenging times.
The first few days were a blur as I struggled to come to terms with the idea of being at home all day with very little interaction with the outside world. A series of questions began rolling in, most of which I did not have answers to, until I realized that it was a day-to-day and moment to moment approach that would eventually have me feeling more settled and certainly less anxious.
After doing some research online, (my version of scrolling through Instagram), in the hope of finding some help… I strung together a few words that would become the foundation of my lockdown protocol. The acronym S.M.A.R.T used for goal-setting would now look like this:
Self-discipline
Mindfulness
Authenticity
Resilience
Thoughtfulness
So, let’s dig into what each of these words could mean in dealing with the global pandemic, Covid-19.
1. Self-discipline
Without all the external forces we had become accustomed to before the pandemic hit, it is now our duty to turn inwards. Inwards for motivation, strength, joy, and so much more.
Our ability to exercise self-discipline in the face of chaos and confusion, will be the determining factor in how successful we feel post lockdown.
Let that sink in.
Self-discipline will assist you in doing the things you know will allow you to feel in control, feel productive and feel at ease with the current situation. For me, it’s having the discipline to create a schedule for myself, to show up for online workouts, to feed my mind with positive and uplifting material, to eat well, so that I feel healthy and energetic.
2. Mindfulness
This is the spiritual practice of living moment to moment, engaged fully in the present moment. When I think of the word ‘mindfulness’ I think of slowing down, allowing, being, joy and the precious value of each moment. Having a mindfulness practice has been proven to decrease anxiety, improve sleep, and increase levels of joy and optimism Some ways of practicing mindfulness include expressing gratitude and doing meditation/breathwork.
3. Authenticity
Authenticity requires vulnerability, transparency and integrity.
Be authentic enough to show up each day as the truest version of yourself. Having a bad day? Let the people around you know so that they can support you. Authenticity does not mean indulging in any form of negativity and drama. Instead, it means allowing yourself to feel all the feels. Is everyday going to be hard? Certainly not. But are there going to be days where you don’t quite feel yourself? Yes, and that’s okay. Hold space for yourself and most importantly, be kind to yourself.
4. Resilience
We are experiencing something we have never experienced before. So, there are going to be new things that we need to figure out how to do. Having resilience means getting back up when we fall down. It is up to us to show courage even in the face of challenges and hardship. These are uncertain and trying times, but with the will to persevere, to be a source of strength, and a force of optimism, we will definitely win.
“She was unstoppable, not because she did not have failures or doubts, but because she continued on despite them.”
5. Thoughtfulness
It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking only for oneself or one’s family. This is a case of survival, and in order to survive we have to look out for ourselves. But there are other people that need us too: our extended family members, colleagues, domestic workers, the car guards and cleaners at the supermarkets as well as all the medical staff, working so hard for humanity. If you are in a position to help someone else, try not to think twice about it.
Here’s to spreading love, light and kindness.
To your well-being,
Saajidah
Saajidah Esat is passionate about empowering women to take responsibility for their physical and emotional well-being. She has authored a book on The Science of Happiness and has co-authored a book on Clean Eating. Spreading awareness on these 2 topics is what she spends most of her time doing. Her background is in teaching, and while working with young children, she discovered how stress and anxiety in the home deeply affects children. This is when she made it her mission to educate women and families on the importance of well-being, mindfulness, meditation, eating well, practicing self-love, emotional resilience and much more. Her philosophy on women is “You can’t pour from an empty cup, so always take care of yourself first.” Saajidah hopes to use her passion and energy to make an impact globally with her work in advocating happiness, well-being practices as well as encouraging female leadership, in order to balance the scales of inequality that still exist between men and women.
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