I cooked breakfast before 8am this morning. Though small to some, this was a genuine accomplishment for me. Ever since the beginning of quarantine, most of my mornings start 30-45 minutes before my work shift. Twenty of those minutes I spend still sleeping, scrolling through social media and fighting my desire to turn over and go back to sleep.  I usually crawl out of bed minutes before my first meeting, with only enough time to brush my teeth, wash my face, and grab a piece of fruit. Today, however, was different. I woke up at 6:45am, meditated, and hopped right into the shower. My breakfast comprised a bowl of oatmeal, fruit and a warm cup of chamomile tea. I started work with intention. For the first time in almost 6 months, I didn’t feel tired the whole day. I felt inspired to be creative and passionate about the work I was doing. This minor act of self-discipline really drove me to shift my morning routine to something more responsible.

Working remotely is a completely different ball-game that requires a lot of intention and will power. There are things that I thought were okay at the beginning of quarantine that I realized worked more towards my detriment than my advancement. I know now that the more time I dedicate to taking care of my body and mind on a personal level, really affects my work life. I have better integrity when I take better care of myself. Giving my body time to rest helps me move through my workday and give it all that I’ve got. I also realized that taking a few minutes each hour to just stretch or walk around really keeps me pushing too. Staring at the computer screen for too long forces my mind to wander. I have to remind myself that I am human, and to give my body the nature that it craves.

What are you doing to take care of yourself these days? It is imperative with everything going on that we listen to our minds, souls and bodies. Rest when you need to rest, discipline yourself and break bad habits, drink lots and lots of water. Through love, equity and dedication, we can move through this pandemic together. Breakfast was step one towards getting more control back over my time, my life and my peace.