Some of my thoughts around the plague, from off the top of my head and other strange places:
Productivity
I’ve noticed something interesting about my productivity levels. When I was still in the corporate world, mid-day (something like 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM) seemed to be my most productive time, as my energy was highest. I didn’t examine it much once I started my business.
During the lockdown, I’ve noticed that my productivity after lunch has plummeted. I do not accomplish much after 1:00. If I had a bad night’s sleep, I might stumble to the couch and take a nap. It’s been darn near impossible to concentrate. That’s probably a sign that I should start and my workday a little earlier. And get more exercise.
Physical Health
Speaking of exercise and health and stuff and whatnot, I’m bucking the trend. I’ve written previously about my journey through weight loss surgery. At my worst, I was 288 pounds (about 130 pounds too high). I got as low as 199 before hitting a wall, then going back up to 224. Today, I’m back down to 216 and losing weight consistently.
The lockdown has had the opposite effect on many people. I’ve read several tweets that said, “When this is over, do I call “My 600-lb Life” or will they just find me?” Perhaps getting a 2-year head start on working from home helped me out. At any rate, I’m somewhat proud of myself.
Emotional Health
I have also written extensively about my battles with depression and anxiety. Things have been going well in that battle recently. I recently wrote about the “Mind Police” who are yelling at people about how criminal it would be to emerge from the plague without increasing marketable skills. People also lecture others about never allowing a single negative thought to exist in their skulls.
National Review writer Kat Timpf recently challenged that narrative. She says, “Yes, gratitude is important, and it can be both healing and humbling to think of how much better you have it compared to others. At the same time, though, I reject the idea that just because I’m not risking my life on a battlefield, or being hunted by Nazis, it means I am somehow a spoiled a**hole for being upset or complaining.”
She further explains, “Throughout my life, I’ve struggled with anxiety, depression, and ADD, and these things have gotten worse during this time because a lot of my coping mechanisms have gone away. I can’t hug a friend or blast Misfits songs and wear myself out on the elliptical machine in the gym. I can’t go to any of the concerts I’ve been excited to attend, and the last time I tried to play my music and dance around my apartment to cope, my neighbors called in a noise complaint after less than three minutes.”
If you are afraid, depressed, or irritated, you can say so. The key is not to stay there.
Cope By Cooking
I have found cooking to be a great coping mechanism. There are zillions of great recipes at allrecipes.com, and I subscribe to a handful of their newsletters. I am the only cooker in our home. My wife can’t help due to her disabilities. I decided to up the game a little. Cooking is quite fun. I can’t relate to the people who are dying to get back to eating in restaurants because they’re so sick of cooking. I’m enjoying myself.
What is going on in your neck of the woods? Feel free to share.
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