Obviously, my plan of posting weekly fell through smh . . . never thought working remotely would be so hectic. The entire month of April & May I worked an average of 12 hours a day, eating fast food because by the time I finished working, it was 8 pm and I was hungry. As a result, I’ve gained at least 10 pounds, severe bloating no matter what I eat, and of course still paranoid that I might get the rona virus. Stressed to the max . . . Exhausting.
As a person with a compromised immune system and a person of color, this year just keeps getting worst. For the month of June, I’ve decided to start living a healthier lifestyle. Since we’ve been told we will be working remotely until labor day, I have the following plan to enhance my life physically and mentally.
Enjoy the outdoors – I live in a highrise small 1-bedroom apartment with no balcony, just a big window. When I was working those crazy hours I was literally in my apartment for days, like 4-5 days that I had not left my apartment! It was insanity. My daily routine was work, work, eat, watch tv, fall asleep on the couch, move to bed around 3am, and then do it all over it again. I was miserable. Moving forward my goal is to go for a 1-hour walk at least three days a week at the bare minimum. Me exercising in any other way will not happen until gyms reopen, so I’ve given up on that goal. Currently looking into hiking trails.
Have a social life outside of Zoom work meetings
I am in no hurry to see my coworkers again, I see them almost daily via the unnecessary amount of zoom meetings. It’s gotten to a point I cannot stand to look at my face. As a result, I’ve been breaking social distancing rules like staying at my mom’s for a week at a time, inviting one friend over. To social distance safe socializing such as virtual happy hours, facetime family members, etc. Currently looking into virtual networking events so whenever quarantine is over, I can hopefully look into new opportunities.
Therapy – I recently signed up again for betterhelp.com, an online therapy service. Speaking to my counselor for the past 2 months has been a lifesaver. Plan to increase my communications with her and join a friend’s weekly “sister circle”. It is an online group of black women talking about everyday topics, having those discussions and being a part of a community would be helpful. Also, I want to buy plants lol I need to create a zen environment within my small apartment, looking into a mini waterfall too.
Eating healthier – Decided to start a pescatarian diet that will hopefully help me lose this gut and reduce the amount of fast food I was eating. Since seafood is expensive, I’ll have a cheat day or two, but consciously eating the right food that is healthy and good for my gut I should hopefully get the results I desire.
Stop online shopping – It’s insane how many products I have purchased since quarantine started, just bought some more hair products today! It’s a problem. As a deterrence, I have purposedly randomized my amazon account password to something I have forgotten already. Trying to hold off ordering anything else for the rest of this month.
Lastly, with the pandemic and George Floyd, we are truly living through dark times and for the first time, I can say everyone is suffering in some way. It’s scary and very sad times. To my fellow Americans of color, I see you and feel your pain, and always we live and take each day at a time. To my non-people of color allies, thank you for the support in all the peaceful protests and I ask that you stick around after the cops’ conviction. Things can only change if we’re all in this together. #blacklivesmatter
Tummywoes 