It's now been 100 days since I began journaling while “off work,” “in quarantine,” “self-isolating” or whatever we’ve come to call it...I’m amazed at everything I have accomplished.
Initially going into the pandemic I kept seeing social media posts claiming “if you don’t come out of this a brand new person, learned a new language, completed an online course, learned piano, started a blog or a company...” and these posts were driving me crazy! I’m already too critical of myself and with the added gloom of the unknown upon us, it was just too much for me to handle.
For the first month I really was in a state of shock and denial. I was frozen and defeated. But with the help of several friends and family suggesting books or listening to podcasts, I realized that I had to do something, anything!
My dear friend Ashley Bishop recommended I read Amy Landino’s Good Morning, Good Life. I finished within three weeks and quickly moved on to some of Amy’s recommendations - like Gretchen Rubin’s Better Than Before and The Happiness Project. Now, thanks to Ashley, Amy and Gretchen, I have created a “morning routine!”
JENNI’S MORNING ROUTINE
This ‘routine’ includes journaling, preparing and consuming 16 oz of lemon water (another Landino suggestion), a skin routine, reading, gratefulness reflections, goal setting and working out, but I never would have thought in 100 years that I would feel so good about journaling on Day 100 of COVID-19 and feeling a great sense of gratitude towards my ability to pivot.
Not only have I been able to create a morning routine, I now LOVE to journal and leisurely read, as well as ‘working’ with my very first VIRTUAL aquatic fitness client through Zoom, AND starting a podcast with my friend and business partner, A.J. Meyers. If you would have asked me three months ago if I was getting up early to have my morning routine (without having work to go to), sit out on my patio to read a chapter or two a day, working with aquatic clients from home and trying to create outlines for a podcast, I would have seriously laughed in your face.
I believe the biggest pivot, and the most rewarding, has been working virtually with an AQUATIC client through Zoom. I never thought I’d reference back to Julie See’s hand singles for cueing exercises, but it’s SO helpful! My client comes from a swimming background, thankfully, but really has enjoyed getting familiar with aquatic fitness moves and routines. Plus, she even commented that she’s seeing faster results than expected. This has really brought back a sense of purpose for me, even though I’m not physically up on the pool deck (yet), I enjoy ‘seeing’ my client in the water, cueing her through a routine and seeing her smile through it all.
These past 3 months have been surreal - for all of us - and that’s the best word to give it. I never thought something like this would happen in my lifetime, nor did I think, like so many people, I would have to pivot or reinvent myself in order to make a living at home, but here we are! Basically forced to get tech savvy, learn Zoom or FaceTime or Facebook Video, in order to see family, friends and colleagues. And you know what’s funny? I actually feel more connected to my family and friends now, not just from weekly Zoom meetings, but knowing we’re all in this together and working together to help each other.
I promise to continue to journal as we move forward and I encourage you to do the same if you haven’t tried before. Share your thoughts and experiences with adjusting to this new world we’re "phasing into."
Stay safe, smart and hydrated!