Self-isolation hasn't been easy (for anyone). If you read my post "Coping with Self-Isolation", you know that stress, anxiety and boredom are a few of the emotions I've been feeling lately. I've been pretty much riding a roller coaster of emotions. Some days are good, some days are bad. Some days I'm super productive and others I don't feel like doing anything at all. In other words, it's been a rough ride. But don't worry - there's a few mind tricks that I'm going to share with you that helped me feel better and keep my cool. 

RULE #1 

START YOUR DAY BY DOING THE EXACT SAME THING YOU USE TO DO EVERY MORNING BEFORE SELF-ISOLATION BEGAN.

THIS TRICK WILL START YOU OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT AND GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A PUSH IF YOU'RE FEELING DOWN. PERSONALLY, I START OFF MY DAY WITH A HOT WATER LEMON. I'VE BEEN DOING THIS EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR OVER A YEAR AND IT GIVES ME THE BOOST I NEED IN THE MORNING. IT ALSO MAKES MY MIND BELIEVE THAT EVERYTHING IS STILL THE SAME AS IT WAS. EVERY PERSON DOES SOMETHING DIFFERENT.. FIND YOUR THING AND DO IT.

RULE #2

IF YOU WAKE UP FEELING DOWN AND YOU DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING AT ALL, DON'T.

PUTTING EXTRA STRESS ON YOURSELF AND FEELING GUILTY ABOUT NOT BEING IN THE MOOD TO BE PRODUCTIVE WILL ONLY WORSEN YOUR NEGATIVE FEELINGS. DON'T DO THAT TO YOURSELF. IT'S TOTALLY OK TO DO NOTHING AND JUST RELAX. WHEN YOUR MIND IS READY AGAIN, YOU'LL KNOW. LAST WEEK I SPENT 2 DAYS IN BED WANTING TO DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING EXCEPT WATCH NETFLIX. I DIDN'T EVEN CHANGE FROM MY PJ'S ALL DAY! ON THE THIRD DAY I WOKE UP WITH MUCH BETTER ENERGY AND A POSITIVE MINDSET. DON'T STRESS YOURSELF, IT'S NOT WORTH IT.

RULE #3

IF YOU WANT TO STAY PHYSICALLY HEALTHY AND WORK OUT BUT DON'T HAVE THE MOTIVATION, START SMALL.

RULE #4

IF YOU FEEL LIKE SNACKING ALL THE TIME AND EATING JUNK FOOD, DON'T STRESS OVER IT. ENJOY IT - BUT HAVE RULES. 

SPENDING SO MUCH TIME AT HOME WILL INEVITABLY PULL YOU INTO THE KITCHEN. THAT'S WHAT BEING BORED AND STUCK IN A HOUSE WILL DO TO YOU. UNLESS YOU ARE A SUPER HUMAN WITH EXTRAORDINARY SELF CONTROL, YOU'RE IN FOR A TREAT. SO, DON'T GUILT TRIP YOURSELF IF YOU HAD THE EXTRA BAG OF CHIPS OR THAT EXTRA BOWL OF ICE CREAM. WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IS SET YOURSELF SOME RULES. FOR EXAMPLE, I'M A PESCATARIAN THAT DOESN'T EAT DAIRY OR EGGS SO I FIND MYSELF HAVING A HARD TIME NOT EATING CARBS BECAUSSE I'M STILL NOT ABLE TO SUBSTITUTE MY PROTEIN TOO WELL. SO I TELL MYSELF THAT I WON'T EAT ANY BREAD 4 TIMES A WEEK AND THEN THE OTHER 3 DAYS I LET MYSELF INDULGE IN SOME. THESE RULES KEEP ME IN CHECK SO THAT I FEEL PROUD OF MYSELF AT THE END OF THE WEEK WITHOUT PUTTING TOO MUCH STRESS AND JUDGMENT ON MYSELF WHEN I EAT SOME JUNKFOOD.