Love what you do, even at home

Updated: Mar 18

The last few weeks have been chaotic, confusing, and for some, downright terrifying. COVID-19 has changed life as we know it in many ways. Here in Washington State, as of this morning, we’re on a near-complete lockdown… bars and restaurants are closed to all but takeout/delivery services… all recreational facilities are closed until further notice… schools are closed through at least the end of April.

Whether you’ve been severely affected by COVID-19 or you’re just beginning to hear about it, I just want to let you know that I’m here for you.

You may be working from home, as many of my clients in the tech industry in WA currently are. You may have uncertainty around the future of your job in general, not having the luxury of being able to work from home and seeing severe negative impacts to your industry overall. If you’re struggling to figure any of this out, please hit the reply button and let me help.

If you’re looking to take your mind off things, I also have your back. Below, I’m sharing a list of ways to continue loving what you do, even in these uncertain and scary times. Let me know what resonates with you and what else you come up with!

Keep moving with a FREE online fitness class. Many studios and gyms are giving free access to their online classes during this period. Keeping up your routine helps not only your body but also your mind, and exercise is a form of stress-relief that we all need now more than ever.

  • Yoga is the type of movement that brings me most joy, and I was beyond proud to see my home studio, Pineapple Life, creating a channel to provide free access to its classes. You can get two of its best directly here: hatha yoga and vinyasa yoga.

  • CorePower Yoga is also giving FREE access to its incredibly vast library of on demand classes!

  • Les Mills is offering FREE on demand classes online. If you’ve ever taken a class at a local gym or Y, you’re probably familiar with Les Mills… think Body Combat, Grit, and more!

  • The Peloton app is now free for your first 90 days! It’s a great app for workouts even if you don’t have a Peloton bike… it’s got great strength training, yoga, HIIT and other classes to choose from.

  • Beachbody On Demand is offering 14 days free (but be sure to cancel if you don’t want to go on to pay for a full subscription thereafter).

  • YouTube is a treasure-trove of options for whatever movement type floats your boat.

Live-stream something that makes your heart soar. The arts industry is also affected significantly by COVID-19, but has been pressing on by sharing its talents and wonders with the world virtually. Here are some options, and this is just a sample of what could be a very long list:

Take an online class/kick-start a certification. What better time to start that new certification/class than now? There are hundreds of learning platforms to check out; start with Udemy, Coursera, EdX and Alison. Not sure what you’d like to learn? Check out this article that lists out 45 FREE online classes that will help in your career.

Update your resume and LinkedIn profile. Whether you’re in the market for a job change or not, it’s critically important to keep your resume up to date! Clients share they sometimes put off updating their resumes for years on end — and when it finally came time to apply for a new role, their resume “update” turned into a major overhaul.

Start a meditation habit. I’ve waxed poetic about how much meditation and mindfulness in general changes your quality of life, your level of happiness, and your ability to be present. Now, it’s time to get into the habit of actually doing it. My favorite FREE app is Insight Timer, which has tens of thousands of meditations for every need, time of day, and emotion.

Make a list of books to read and stock up. Get in a cozy chair, call over your cat, and get to reading. Here are some of the books I read last year that I loved; I have a huge list awaiting me still! Being home is a great chance to catch up on reading; I aim for around 30 minutes a day.

Indulge in at-home hobbies. Balance in “normal” periods means spending time doing all of the things you love, including work, spending time with family, moving your body, and, if you’re lucky, spending time on a hobby you love, too. If you have a hobby that is doable at home, awesome! If not, there are tons of easy ways to try your hand at being a “maker.” This is a great opportunity to get your kids/significant other involved, too. Some of the easiest “maker” hobbies include making bath bombs, making candles, painting (abstract for those of us who are out of practice!), cooking, and even origami! Get googling and just get going. It’s about the doing, not about the end result, and remember – your fear of looking stupid is holding you back.

I’m here for you through it all. Click here to set up a free 20-minute consultation — let me know how I can support you through this period.

Haven Coaching