Kevin O'Donoghue, LMHC
Niseema Dyan Diemer LMT, SEP, BCPP
The middle of March hit many of us like a freight train. Having to shift our work/school lives to our homes threw many of us out of our internal and external rhythms. Activities that used to be dictated by our calendars and clocks are now jumbled.
After 8+ weeks in PAUSE, we may have discovered a new pace, a new beat or rhythm. Maybe it's one that feels more natural, or it could feel totally unnatural or even depressive.
Are you go-go-go or go with the flow? How do you feel about discovering your new pace? Does it take you back to a time of childhood when you were relaxed or were you told what to do and when to do it? Are you experiencing freedom from constraints or do you miss scheduling your daily life into manageable segments?
Here are some ways we've used to recognize and remember our rhythm:
1. Listen to your heartbeat. The most primal rhythm is in our own bodies: feel your pulse, your blood flowing, meld with your heart and let it direct your mind and body. Native American music often has a heartbeat drum in the background, listening to this music can help you feel your own heartbeat.
2. Move with music. A slow tempo invites you to move fluidly. Notice what you feel as you move and when you stop. Now try a mid-tempo: are you feeling more excited, does your heart pick up the pace, are your feet moving differently? Then jump onto a fast track: is your mind racing with exhileration or do you get almost into overwhelm? Is it fun or too much? Try them all and see how music, moods and movement play together in you. (See section below for some unique rhythm and blues tunes form Connie Shannon R&B DJ Extraordinaire)
3. Keep track of your schedule. Are you up with the lark, a night owl, somewhere in between? Do you feel like you accomplish more in the wee hours or do you tackle your biggest tasks midday? How does exercise fit in? What is your energy level at various times of the day? Bring some awareness to how and when YOU function best.
We know it's hard sometimes to remember your rhythm and now is a great time to practice following your newly discovered ebb and flow. Find a pattern and maximize it and see if you can re-imagine how you could bring it forward into the "re-start."
LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST, THE POSITIVE MIND, LINKED BELOW, ABOUT THIS TOPIC AND MORE.
"Everything in the Universe has a rhythm. Everything dances" Maya Angelou