Dealing with major Lifestyle changes
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It’s easy to take your lifestyle for granted. You become embedded in a certain routine and it’s hard to imagine your life any other way. Then that lifestyle suddenly changes, leaving you in the dark without a clue as to what to do next. You stumble around searching for something that will make you happy again, something that can replace your old way of life. It’s not an easy search, and you bump into several unpleasant things along the way, but you have to keep going. Your new lifestyle will be worth the journey, once you find it. Just keep searching.
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©PreciousPeachPhotos
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I was a competitive swimmer for 13 years. The pool was my home, chlorine my perfume, and teammates my family. I never thought about what I would do when that all ended, I took it for granted and was completely lost when my collegiate career came to a close. Yoga was my light in the darkness, and now I want to help people find their own light. So if you are struggling with change, or would like to be prepared for the inevitable, you’re in the right place.
First, I want you to physically make a list of all the things you enjoy or are interested in. It can be on paper, it can be on your phone or computer, but actually create a list that you can go back and look at. Maybe there are 3 things on your list, maybe there are 18. It doesn’t matter, as long as you have something written down.
Now, I want you to take a few minutes and try to think of a way to create each of your interests into a hobby. For example, my list has ocean sustainability on it. Kind of difficult since I live in Wisconsin (which is nowhere near an ocean if you don’t know), but I could create a hobby out of that interest by doing research and coming up with ways to reduce the amount of plastic that goes into our oceans, such as buying reusable grocery bags. Another interest of mine is hiking. Easy enough, I could write down specific locations where I enjoy hiking, or I could write down places that I would like to hike someday. Maybe you like animals, your hobby could be walking dogs (there’s an app for that!). Do you enjoy jewelry? Cool, start making your own.
Now you have a list of things that you enjoy and ways to implement those things into your routine. You can now go even further and write down how and when you are going to add these interests to your daily life. Pencil that walk around your favorite park into your calendar once a week, set aside 15 minutes every night before bed to learn a new instrument, text that old friend you’ve been meaning to grab coffee with. Create goals, don’t wait for the perfect time because there is no such thing, and start to find happiness again.
After swimming, I didn’t even know what my other interests were, which made creating new hobbies seemingly impossible. I found that I was interested in yoga, so I made that into my new hobby. My first yoga goal was to be able to do a headstand, so I started watching youtube tutorials and practicing yoga in my living room. I added new poses to my list of goals, and as I kept checking them off I realized that my at-home practice wasn’t going to be enough anymore. I joined a yoga studio, and I am currently trying to make it to 3-4 classes each week, which has had a life-changing impact on my mental and physical health. Yoga makes me happy. I haven’t had a breakout since I joined my studio and really started challenging myself. I have more energy, I sleep better, my emotions are much more in check, and I’m starting to feel my old self finally coming back.
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Your mental health is not something put to on the backburner. If your list of interests was smaller than you would like, or even nonexistent, go find the things you enjoy. Look up different hobbies on Google, go buy some yarn and try knitting or cross-stitching. Listen to podcasts, make your own candles, cook a new meal, the world is your oyster! Go and find your passions, create your own paradise, be in charge of your life, and be happy.
Namaste. |
Autumn Mulgrew
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