How to Find Normal

It’s been about one month since COVID-19 took over and knocked us all off track. Day by day we were listening to the updates, what’s changing, what bad news is there, what else will be closed.

By now we know we’re in for it. School’s out and businesses are closed. We are home.

How do we settle into the new normal?

Sit down with a piece of paper. Set a timer for 5 minutes, and write freely about what “normal” means to you.

Then take a look at that list and categorize it into

1. What can you still do?

2. What are you better off not doing?

3. How can you modify to add it back in?

For example, I have been sleeping later (which I’m giving myself grace for), but I still get up and write morning pages every day with a cup of green tea (category #1).

Under category #2, I used to drive everywhere, like running to the store for 1 thing. I also grocery shopped several times a week. All of those are things I apparently can live without, and maybe am better off for it.

Finally, for #3, I miss going to the gym and yoga studio. Thankfully, both of those businesses are streaming classes online; I just need to remind myself to get it on the calendar and show up.

Now on to you: what kind of normal can you take back? Start small. Set an intention and hold it gently. Give yourself grace. Things are not normal. But in our small worlds, maybe some things can be.