The Lockdown Survival Guide
The Pura Vida Your Life ‘Lockdown’ Survival Guide
None of us wanted to hear the latest news that we are heading into another lockdown. But this situation doesn’t have to lead you into despair. My survival guide will help you to get through the next few weeks and beyond, and it might even change the way you live your life forever!
Acceptance is powerful
Whatever the lockdown means for you, your family and friends, let’s start by accepting it; there’s a huge amount of power in acceptance. Stop resisting ‘it’ and by it, I mean the ‘lockdown’, but this could apply to anything in your life. Develop the habit of looking at life events through a positive mindset, instead of a negative and defeatist one.
Life brings many challenges and it’s not easy to embrace them when we’re suffering and wishing those things had never happened. But if we start cultivating acceptance in our lives right now, we’ll cope with lockdown and future crises in a different way, viewing them from a different perspective. Instead of resisting or constantly fighting to change things when this is out of your control, you will learn to accept situations.
Yes, acceptance is a choice and a hard one most definitely, but a choice, nonetheless. And the choice lies with you. There are two ways out of a problem: accept what’s happening, see the positive, and choose a peaceful state of mind; or fight against it, be miserable, and struggle against the universe. I am 100 percent positive that learning to accept things as they present themselves is a helpful tool in all aspects of life.
Whether it’s the impacts of lockdown, a family loss, a missed opportunity, or a sudden change in your plans, being able to accept things that are out of your control will help you maintain inner peace and happiness.
Acceptance, in my opinion, is the key to converting momentary happiness to enduring happiness. It helps you move from feeling happy to actually being happy. Practising acceptance prepares you to live in this changing world, where you never know what’s going to happen next. Acceptance is like protecting yourself with your own shield.
Take a different perspective
Shifting your perspective can allow you to focus on the good, elevate your mood, and bring you to new creative solutions. You shift your perspective by thinking or doing something differently to change yourself, your situation, or others.
As you take a different route, you are going to see different things; and you will see the same things from a different perspective, a different angle. When that happens, you see more dimensions, and you will begin to understand how something actually is on a much deeper level.
Changing your perspective is a very valuable tool for understanding a situation better and avoiding false views. The simplest example of this is the literal one. If you look at a room from a different angle, you will see different things.
Let’s do this exercise now looking at 2020:
You might say: Instead you could say:
| 2020 is the worst, hardest year ever | 2020 is giving me an opportunity to evolve | |
| These challenges are just too hard | I am learning how strong and brave I really am | |
| Everything is out of my control | I never did have control over the world. I choose to focus on what I can control | |
| I just want things to go back to normal | Normal wasn’t working. This is a moment to rebuild our world for the better | |
| I should be better at coping with this | I’m doing my best in a very hard time |
The ability to reframe a situation is an important skill that can transform your life and our world. Today, take time to clear your lenses so you can view life from a higher perspective.
Living a Pura Vida Life – It’s a way of life
Pura Vida Your Life is based on a Costa Rican way of life and a philosophy based on health and wellbeing. I have taken this philosophy and developed 8 principles aligned to the forgotten navigation tool for the modern world – the Pura Vida Your Life Compass. Essentially, this approach will help you to survive lockdown.
8 Principles and Top Tips to Survive Lockdown
1.Spend time with family
How often do you openly embrace loved ones? Family is very important, and I include friends when I consider family groups too. More than ever, we need the love, support and a sense of belonging, and this will help bring you happiness right now.
Top Tip
Embrace the important people in your life; make time to be together, in person if you can, and if not then on a walk, a call or video chat. Make the extra effort to feel connected to those you love.
2. Be friendly
How often do you connect with people? It takes no effort at all to say hello to someone; why not wave and smile at a stranger next time someone walks by? The smallest and simplest interactions can produce the sweetest warmth in our hearts and in the hearts of others.
Top Tip
Let’s start saying hello to each other and start connecting with people in real life. Offer assistance to someone in need, or just ask someone how their day is going – you might be the only person they see in their day.
3. Learn why less is more
Pura Vida is about simplicity. Does ‘stuff’ really make you happy? Life doesn’t revolve around having the biggest television, the most expensive, newest car model, a celebrity-worthy designer wardrobe, and a collection of stuff that just sits in the house as a trophy of our success. We work to afford stuff, and because we have and want so much stuff, we have to work even harder. Do you ever wonder why you are caught in this trap and if it is really making you happy?
Top Tip
What we own doesn’t define us; life isn’t material. We’ve heard the saying ‘you can’t take it with you’. Reflect on your relationship with material things. Does ‘stuff’ really make you happy? Maybe now’s the time to change those habits and stop driving yourself into the ground to buy more stuff?
4. Let the sun kiss your skin
How often do you enjoy the sunshine? A little sun exposure is healthy and can make you happier. We have been led to believe the sun’s rays are harmful to us – for example, causing skin cancer and premature ageing. But some sun exposure has been linked to a stronger immune system, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, better sleep quality and vitamin D absorption, as well as increased happiness. Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) not only affects people during the cold, dark winter months, it can also affect people who spend long hours inside.
Top Tip
Get outside at least once a day, whether it’s just a walk to your local shop or a longer nature walk. A little sun kissing each day can help you to become healthier and happier. It may be worth consulting a health professional to find out if a vitamin D supplement would help you.
5. Be active
Are you leading an active and happy life? Being inactive increases your obesity risk, as well as depression and a long list of other poor-health conditions. There are many ways busy people just like you can build physical activity into their lives. Being physically active is easier than you think, especially if you make activity a part of your daily routine. Adults benefit from some sort of physical activity every day. Endorphins (feel-good hormones) are released when we are active, which makes us happy. Happy people tend to live happy lives. You could start leading a happier and active life.
Top Tip
Now’s a great opportunity to try something new or pick up on something you used to love doing – jogging or walking, riding a bike, yoga, Pilates, tai chi or HIIT. Make the commitment to yourself, write it in your calendar, stop the excuses and just do it. There are plenty of free online videos; you could get running with the Couch to 5K. Accountability helps so make a promise to yourself, share it with your family or friends, and even get one of them to do it virtually with you.
6. Appreciate the beauty of your surroundings
How often do you spend time in nature? Being surrounded by nature is good for your mind, body and soul. We are all connected to Mother Earth (Pachamama). It can be easy to forget how special and awe-inspiring the natural world is when so many of us live in mainly concrete buildings. Take a little time out to discover your space in nature. Nature reminds us how beautiful life can be. Are you spending enough time in nature?
Top Tip
Enjoy your lunch in a park or plan a hike or a bike excursion on your day off. Get out into nature as much as you can, take deep breaths in and out, lean into the present moment. See, hear and feel all the beauty that surrounds you from the sky above to the ground beneath your feet. Ground yourself and feel your connection to nature; this will create balance and help you to live your daily life with ease.
7. You are what you eat
Are you fuelling your body with the right food? The best way for us to eat would be have breakfast, lunch and dinner, which is homemade and locally sourced. A balanced diet is important, so avoid overly processed and fast food. When we’re eating the right type of food, it’s easier to be active and healthy, as well as being more productive. Hydration is also very important and is often neglected.
Top Tip
Start a food diary so you can reflect on what you are eating and drinking. You can then start to make some changes to improve the foods you are eating and the amount of water you are drinking. Cutting down on saturated fat and sugar is key. I’m not a fan of diets; for me it’s a lifestyle choice and a re-education, it’s more important to eat three balanced meals a day. If you are struggling, then reach out to a nutritional expert for help and guidance.
8. Make time
Do you lead a happy and fulfilled life? Making time to live a life well lived is so very important or life will simply pass you by. Work hard and play hard is my motto! Life is about decisions and priorities; you get to make and choose those. Make time for happiness and wellbeing, so you can enjoy a fulfilled life.
Top Tip
Make time to go watch the sunset or sunrise. Have a cup of coffee in the afternoon with a friend, neighbour, or family member. Take your dog for a walk, prepare a home-cooked meal, or drink a beer and watch a football game. When your life comes to an end, it’s unlikely you will wish that you had worked more. Most of us wish on a regular basis that we had more time to do the things that we love to do and be with the people we love. Book that holiday! Take that trip!
So, let’s summarise those 8 principles again:
- Spend time with family
- Be friendly
- Learn why less is more
- Let the sun kiss your skin
- Be active
- Appreciate the beauty of your surroundings
- You are what you eat
- Make time
Pura Vida Your Life Lockdown Survival Guide is a way of life! It’s that simple. If you have found this useful, then please share this with anyone you know who would also benefit to help them along their journey in life.
Thank you for joining me and I look forward to seeing you again next week for Pura Vida Your Life Happenings for insight, inspiration and more golden nuggets to help you live a happier and fulfilled life.
I invite you to come on a journey of empowerment with me – sign up to Discoveries to start taking steps to improve your life!
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Pura Vida Your Life – it all starts with you 🧡💙💛