These strange times are starting to feel normal. Anyone else feeling like that? Are you wondering how to feel more in control during the pandemic? I AM!
It is amazing how something that once felt so uncomfortable can surprisingly start feeling so routine. As I write this, we are still in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic. We are still under stay-at-home orders. I am hearing from my readers and even my own family that the lack of control over what is going on is a big stressor and we all could rest a little easier if we could feel a slight sense of control right now.
Here at MVF we worry, we plan, we read, we try to stay ahead of the ever-changing information being thrown at us. We eat all of our meals at home, have our groceries delivered. Wash + clean + sanitize are on constant repeat. Prioritizing counting our blessings + feeling grateful is an essential part of every (corona) day.
As some things feel SO out of control, sometimes it is good to control the things you can control. Above all, knowing what those are is a good place to start.
My Tips To Feel More In
Control During The Pandemic:
- Get the essential news updates but don’t fixate on constant news/social media cycles. Too much media can do more harm than good! Stick to reliable, trustworthy sources (The CDC or DOH).
- Stay connected to your people. Just because you can’t see them doesn’t mean they shouldn’t know you are thinking of them or miss them.
- Be present. For me, in the beginning of this, I wanted to stay idle and just wait for it to end. Then I realized how long this could go on. So, I started living the new normal without cycling into a “what-if” panic. We only know what we know today. Be here now. Acknowledge your fears but focus on the facts.
- Stay active! Walk, run, bike, download a yoga video, start meditating, anything that moves you!
- Infection Control: wash your hands, don’t touch your face, stay home, stay 6 feet away from others.
- Rest … this is a tricky one. I know there is a lot of insomnia going on out there right now, but a good night’s sleep helps to improve your mood, improves your immune system and recharges you for the days ahead. As much as schedules are turned upside down, try to make a (new but temporary) schedule and stick to it. Even better – stick to the old schedule – it will be back!
- It’s a pandemic, be kind to yourself. You don’t need to start giving up entire food groups, working endlessly on home projects, or taking actions that you end up being so hard on yourself that you create more problems than solutions.
- Eating + Cooking! My favorite one! Now this you CAN control + it is fun!
What Are We Cooking In The MVF Kitchen?
We are whole food, plant-based eaters + avid believers in Intermittent Fasting so we eat in an 8 hour window which typically is lunch and dinner + healthy(ish) snacks within the 8 hours. As always, we are trying to keep our immunity up + our waistlines down while still fueling our runs. Here’s what’s cookin’:
I start my day (every day, I know, boring!) with steel cut oats + fruit.
Dinners on regular rotation these days include Vegan Pad Thai with brown rice noodles, Chana Masala, Thai Salad with Peanut Sauce Dressing, ANYTHING Chipotle Copycat including Black Beans, Sofritas, Guacamole, Corn Salsa, Jalapeno Queso. 3-Ingredient Sauce with Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash, Giant + Hearty Salads with Air Fried Tofu and Oil-Free Salad Dressing. As many times as I can get away with making Cauliflower Gnocchi or Sweet Potato Fries for dinner before someone else in MVF has had enough … I will keep on doing that!
My favorite snacks are Edible Cookie Dough (TOP of the list), Peanut Butter Banana Bread, Air Fryer Green Beans, Buffalo Chick Peas, Chipotle Hummus, and of course Sweet Potato Cookies, honeycrisp apples, bananas, homemade coconut lattes, green tea, grapefruit, Hu Chocolate + Crackers, pretzels, any and all nuts + nut butters ☺.
Hope you are all surviving + finding something to be grateful for.
All the best,
Tara💚
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