1. What am I grateful for today?
What are you grateful for today? Take two minutes every day to make a list. Add to it throughout the day.
2. Who am I checking in on, or connecting with, today?
As many have rightly reframed it, it’s not social distance we need, but rather social solidarity while we maintain physical distance. Pick three people each day to check in on.
3. What expectations of “normal” am I letting go of today?
Figure out what is actually important to you in this moment and focus on that. Science fiction novelist Octavia Butler, who wrote about resilience and adaptation in dystopian times, tells us, “The only lasting truth is Change.” The faster we let go of expectations of “normal,” the faster we adapt.
4. How am I getting outside today?
Nature, fresh air, and sunshine are good for our nervous systems. While not all of us may be able to get to the redwoods or the ocean, simply leaving the house is helpful.
5. How am I moving my body today?
Crisis heightens fear and anxiety. The more we can shift out of our heads and into our bodies, the more grounded we’ll feel.
6. What beauty am I creating, cultivating, or inviting in today?
Beauty is a powerful antidote to despair. Recognizing the beauty in the world and bringing it into our lives is an affirmation of the life that still exists and is worth fighting for. Becoming creators, not just consumers, of culture gives us agency and power.
Adapted from “Six Daily Questions to Ask Yourself in Quarantine” by Brooke Anderson, March 24, 2020.
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/six_daily_questions_to_ask_yourself_in_quarantine
