One of the subscribers to our daily motivational emails shared an article today that talks specifically to academics facing the reality of self-isolation and lockdown. I want to share it with you.
At the end of this post I’ll share the link with you, but in case you don’t have time to read it now, I wanted to share with you a few quotes from it that stood out to me as being not just beautifully written, but also poignant and important to hear.
So if you’re struggling with self-isolation, read on:
‘It is perfectly normal and appropriate to feel bad and lost during this initial transition’
‘No sane person feels good during a global disaster, so be grateful for the discomfort of your sanity’.
‘Know that you are not failing. Let go of all of the profoundly daft ideas you have about what you should be doing right now. Instead, focus intensely on your physical and psychological security’
‘Do not rush or prejudge your mental shift, especially if you have never experienced a disaster before. One of the most relevant posts I saw on Twitter was: “Day 1 of Quarantine: ‘I’m going to meditate and do body-weight training.’ Day 4: *just pours the ice cream into the pasta*” — it’s funny but it also speaks directly to the issue’
‘When your foundations are strong, build a weekly schedule that prioritizes the security of your home team, and then carve out time blocks for different categories of your work: teaching, administration, and research. Do the easy tasks first and work your way into the heavy lifting. Wake up early. The online yoga and crossfit will be easier at this stage’
‘Understand that this is a marathon. If you sprint at the beginning, you will vomit on your shoes by the end of the month. Emotionally prepare for this crisis to continue for 12 to 18 months, followed by a slow recovery. If it ends sooner, be pleasantly surprised’
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I strongly encourage you to read the article in full. It’ll help you through these difficult times. Read it here.
Good luck and have a good week.
