Being the Willow
A few months ago, none of us would have ever guessed we would be where we are today: cooped up at home, alone or in close quarters with the same people every day, missing our friends and family, and longing for our regular life activities. It’s really easy to feel overwhelmed. From an overwhelmed college student to you reading on your device, here are a few ways I keep myself feeling centered and feeling my best.
Keeping Track of My Days
With so much of the same schedule each day, I’ve found myself believing it’s Tuesday instead of Monday, and having to backpedal hard to make it to one of my lectures on time. I use a couple planning methods to avoid this:
I love to use my daily calendar, and I color-code everything by category. Each recurring meeting is given a different color, and non-recurring meetings related to those are denoted by shades of the same color family. For example, if I have a presentation due for my class on philosophy (denoted by light green), I’ll note it in dark green.
I also like to keep a quick schedule on my desktop using the Stickies app on my MacBook. Microsoft has a similar app, Microsoft Sticky Notes. It’s super easy to use. Just create a sticky of your preferred color and write down any scheduling you might need during the week. I have my class schedule as well as Zoom links handy on my desktop at all times.
Meditation
Whether it’s just quiet time by myself, or quiet time with added meditation, some time out of the house or in a quiet room away from others, I’ve found a moment to myself is crucial in an otherwise busy day. If I don’t feel I have time to meditate, I pick a favorite song to play and close my eyes for a bit. If I have more time, I spend a few minutes actively meditating. My favorite meditation is imagining myself as a willow or sitting under one, surrounded by a meadow of my own creation, strong against the forces around me: my own little quiet space. While I’m there, I thank the universe above me and the Earth below me, envisioning the joys in life that keep me going, and imagine breathing the energy they supply to me into my core, spreading it out to every particle of my body before spreading it in waves miles away from me. More on this meditation here, thanks to Amy Alison Taylor.
Exploring the Outside World
If you’re like me, and you live in one of the rainiest parts of the county (hello, PNW), you might be stuck inside a good deal of the time, but when it’s clear outside, it’s wonderful. One of my favorite walks takes me to the Capitol Campus, where there are always flowers in bloom. Only a week ago, the Yoshino cherry trees shed their blossoms and appeared like snow. Right now, the Kwanzan cherries are in full bloom, with their pink lacy petals hanging in perfect clusters up and down the branches of the tree. If I don’t have the time or energy to take a walk, a stroll around our garden or a quick sit on the porch does the trick. Even a few moments of fresh air helps me re-center.
Writing
I’ve recently started writing letters to my friends. For the first time in years, I’ve picked up a pen and paper, stuck a stamp on an envelope, and addressed mail to somebody across the country. Additionally, I’ve started keeping a journal of things I enjoy during the day, or to quote fun interactions I’ve had with members of my household. The process of writing is helpful, and looking back at my notes brings me happiness, too.
We’re living in strange times. It feels like there’s so much happening in the outside world, yet our lives at home can feel like they’re on a playback loop. There’s a lot to process, and sometimes it can be stressful or just plain overwhelming. I’ve found it’s helpful to focus less on what I can’t do and instead concentrate on what I can do to manage with everything happening around me.
What helps you feel more centered right now? I’d love to hear from you!
Writer: Claire White
Claire White is a senior at Western Washington University primed to graduate with a BA in English Literature. She enjoys cooking new recipes, playing her violin, and cuddling her hamster, Finn, who in return will try to chew up her SHINee collection. She loves him anyway.