Lockdown Logs #3: Emo Days

It’s funny to note that at the beginning of lockdown season one, my coworkers would always say that working from home must be so tough for me. And they are absolutely right. I’m someone who never liked remote work because I get energized when I interact with people, and I find my inspiration mostly came from spontaneous interactions. Needless to say, this year, I find myself having more emotional lows. It’s been a constant readjustment to find my center again. I don’t think I’ve cracked the code, and I realize that might not be the point of all of this anyway. Our mental wellbeing might just be a life long journey that develops with time. Regardless of how things shape out, I wanted to document some ways that have helped me in getting out of those “emo days”: 

1. Learn about psychology. I genuinely think that we need to reform our education system and make it mandatory for everyone to know how our brains work. It’s empowering to know that our subconscious mind is magical and how experiences, memories, and evolutionary dispositions affect the way we think and behave. Taking a course with professor Maja Djikic opened my eyes. Check out her YouTube to get some cool enlightenments. 
2. Feel and assess. I am often impatient with my emotions and I don’t quite let them be felt and processed. It was easier when social gatherings can distract me from addressing them but Big Rona is making me sit with them and it has been uncomfortable. I’m trying to get better with letting them be and assessing them to go to the root causes. 
3. Do tiny things. If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that there are many things that are out of our control but we can control how we react. I find doing smaller tasks make it a little easier to pass the days. Laundry, dishes, or maybe just watering plants, those things all help me to feel slightly more in control. 
4. Midday switch-ups. I’m using remote work to my advantage and fully enjoying my lunch hour. Be it making a nicer meal or taking a nap, the break in the middle of the day has allowed me to recharge. 
5. Be selfish. There’s a long list of things that I want to do and promises that I’ve made to myself that I’ve let go of. With nowhere else to go and time on my hands, I am trying to stay true and keep those promises. This daily reflection is one of them. So thank you for being a part of it. 

Hope your days are alright, and even if it’s emo, it’s okay. Let’s find our center, someway. Somehow.