Staying Active at Home (Follow-Up)

By Wes Annac, Editor, Openhearted Rebellion

This is a follow-up to my previous post, “Coronavirus: Tips for Coping If You’re Stuck at Home”.

I hope everyone at home is doing well. It can be unnerving to be stuck home unsure when you’ll return to work, and with every day that passes, it can get a little easier to go stir-crazy. If you feel anxious, depressed, or generally awful, you’re not alone.

I hope everyone still working is having an easy time, too. If you’re scared to go to the grocery store, imagine how the workers feel showing up every day knowing they could be exposed to this virus. Not to mention all the medical professionals, as well as the truckers traveling across the country to keep our stores stocked with the food and supplies we all need.

Everyone who’s out working right now – from the jobs we consider important to those we think deserve little respect or pay – is taking a huge personal risk in keeping society running while the rest of us stay safe at home.

I don’t know how it feels to be out working during this pandemic, because I have the luxury of working from home. I have, however, had to readjust to being home all the time. I was used to getting out and working, but now, I’m trying to stay active (and sane) here at home.

For good reason, most people don’t like leaving home for work every day. Especially if they’re stuck in some terrible job they can’t wait to leave, it would be a dream come true to stay home for a month. The circumstances surrounding it aren’t so great, but for many, it is a much-needed break.

I’m fortunate to have two jobs, both of which I enjoy. I get to write for this blog, and on the side, I work at a local gym. The work is mundane, but it’s good for me to get out of the house and do something other than stare into a computer.

I wouldn’t have a part-time job if I didn’t need one, but the job helped me to see that I feel better when I get out and do things. It’s also nice to meet new people, hear their stories, and think about how each of our paths led us to this one place.

While not permanent, that job is good for my mental health. This is why, as I wrote before, I was a little worried when the gym shut its doors over the virus. As much as I love it here at home, and as grateful as I am to have more time with my family, it’s been difficult to revisit the old familiar feeling of being stuck here. I was worried I’d fall back into a rut.

Luckily, I have an assortment of activities – mainly writing and playing/listening to music – to help with the isolation.

If I’m home anyway, I might as well make the most of it. It’s best for me to spend this time on something constructive because the alternative is to do nothing and feel awful. Laziness provides comfort at the expense of purpose. It is a short-term pleasure that causes long-term pain when you realize you’ve wasted your time on things that don’t really matter.

I recommend anyone at home who’s prone to depression or anxiety adopt a healthy at-home routine. It can include meditation, yoga, creative work, or anything that wakes up your mind and/or gets you moving. I can’t stress enough how important it is to protect your mental and physical health at a time like this.

No judgment toward those who are relaxing; we’re all getting through this in our own ways. For me, though, it feels better to be in a routine that gives me something difficult to strive for.

If you’re having a hard time, there is a loving community here on the internet you can connect with through countless blogs, YouTube channels, and social media sites. I’m grateful to be a part of a community that shares love and humor in such bleak times. Nobody really knows what’s going on or what will happen in the next few months, but we’re here for each other in love and solidarity.

That’s the best thing to come from this crisis.

To everyone out there sharing cool stuff: keep being awesome and spreading joy. You inspire the rest of us to uplift others in the same way your art, whatever form it may take, uplifts us.

Whatever happens these next few months, keep holding the vision for a better future and remember to take care of yourself if you’re home all the time. If we have patience and the discipline to keep a good routine – one that includes taking time to explore the silence and emptiness we often avoid – we’ll be okay.

Peace!

Wes Annac 🙂

Featured image by Anrita1705 from Pixabay

About Wes Annac:

I’m a twenty-something writer & blogger with an interest in spirituality, love, awareness, activism, and other crazy stuff. I run Openhearted Rebellion – a blog dedicated to sharing wisdom and encouraging a revolution that begins in the heart.

I also run Canna Words – a blog in which I share some of my research and opinions on cannabis. There, I write about everything from legalization to hemp and the various ways people use the cannabis plant.

I’ve contributed to a few awesome websites that include Waking Times, Wake Up World, Golden Age of Gaia, and The Master Shift. I can be found on Facebook (facebook.com/wesannac, facebook.com/cultureofawareness) and Twitter (twitter.com/Wes_Annac, https://twitter.com/love rebellion)

If you enjoyed this post and want to support my work, consider donating via PayPal to wesremal@yahoo.com.

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