These are a few things I’m doing to cope during the lockdown in South Africa while we fight COVID-19
Photographer: courtesy Glamour magazine
It’s Day 23 of social distancing since COVID-19 became a real and serious threat in South Africa and the president declared a national state of disaster. It’s Day 11 of lockdown in the country. I shared the post below on Instagram before the president announced that he was going to enforce staying at home with the exception of those who helped provide essential services and though the decision was necessary, its gravity and impact has left many of us reeling in very different and similar ways.
For most of us, the enormity of what we are currently experiencing has settled and sunken in. But it’s also continued to expose the glaring inequalities and dangers in what it means to stay at home.
I thought it may be important to keep updating the information below because even though I’ve edited it a few times since posting, so many things have changed - and will keep changing. And I keep trying new things to quiet my mind or help me stay focused on the work I do have. These personal ‘coping mechanisms’ are what I’m sharing as a fellow human and in no ways as a practitioner of any kind. More at the end of this particular post…
it’s been a week since i started social distancing. have left home once to pick up prescription glasses and drop off a thank you gift.
it’s been hard to cut through the noise and fear, make sure to keep updated, be still and be productive as well. here are a few things that are getting me through.
1. short stories and podcasts:
#zadiesmith has a beautiful collection of short fiction called #grandunion
the @newyorkermag podcast #writersvoice (authors read their own writing) and @nytimes #wbur podcast #modernlove (essays on human relationships) are a joy to fall asleep to
2. music:
is a healer, we know
follow @zodwa on spotify. she has some lovely playlists
@tinydesk has a library of intimate concerts by your favourite artists
3. plants:
there’s a whole bunch you can propagate either in water or soil. any excuse to stick my fingers in some soil. watch @tulahouse for great green tips and videos.
i usually pop into @gardenshopsa in rosebank for my gardening goodies - they deliver (in ‘normal’ times), so happiness
4. cooking:
took advantage of one of their promos recently and ordered a box from @ucooksa so i can try out different recipes without wasting ingredients. super impressed with the service
@fxxd_xx, @johannesburginyourpocket and @sarahbuiten for @wanted have compiled lists of small local businesses that deliver so you can support them
5. sleep
before i go to bed i rub @foragoodleaf’s relief roller on my temples. it has cbd and namibian myrrh to help with tension
right now... “unclench your jaw and/or remove your tongue from the roof of your mouth and/or drop your shoulders” - taken from twitter
6. Meditation
I still find meditating hard but even getting it ‘wrong’ really makes a difference. I used headspace in the past and it helped me a lot to get in to the practice but I found the subscription too pricey. Now I only use the free exercises as a reminder every now and again. Oprah and Deepak Chopra’s 21-day meditation experience is now free - sign up. These all help me be gentler on myself, especially in moments where I cannot find the motivation or focus to do anything but eat, sleep and check on others.
7. Exercise
I am a huge fan of yoga. As much as I love a high intensity workout, I haven’t yet found the energy for it. As long as I keep stretching, I tell myself. Down Dog, is a yoga app where you can choose how many minutes to work out, what area of your body is in most need, what music or soundtrack helps motivate you, what you would like your instructor to sound like and many more ways to personalise the experience. When my mind and heart start racing, I pull out my mat and since I’m always in sweats now, I don’t even have to change.
8. Water
Just a few days ago I started to feel sluggish even though I was eating well and taking all of my supplements. I realised that I hadn’t filled the jug on my desk for a while and wasn’t drinking enough water. I make at least four glasses a day a habit.
9. Supplements
Ashwagandha has helped me reduce my anxiety. It also has helped with breakouts related to hormones and stress. I use GNC Herbal Plus’s Ashwagandha which has 600mg of the root extract if you take two capsules - I take one tablet a day. Read more here.