Now is you time

The world is up in arms with the current situation of 2020. Society has found some trendy new terms. We are learning about social distancing, essential, and the new normal. Humanity has been showing empathy to the frontline of workers fighting for the world. Humans are learning how to be empathetic to one another once again.

It takes about 4–6 weeks to rewire your brain. To accomplish that adjustment, you have to engage your mind in some workouts. Learning new things and having new experiences create new synaptic connections. These new connections get stored in our neocortex part of the brain. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural relationships throughout life. Learning and storing the latest information is only part of the process of rewiring. Applying the knowledge has the mind and body working together, creating an experience.

We use our five senses as inputs for ourselves. Creating patterns and networks in our brain with neurons begin to teach our body these new experiences. What we learn in our mind is applied to our bodies as an experience. Break down rewiring our brain: Think, Do, and Become. Drastic changes in the environment beckon the opportunity to change.

“Many of us are still working from home. Others have lost their jobs and are looking for new ones. We continue to keep our distance from one another, whether it’s in a park, out shopping or in our places of worship.” — CNN

Living in survival mode places us in a fight or flight system. If we have been in a race in our daily lives, that mode is always on. Survival is either we run, fight, or hide. When we are stressed, we try to control and calculate outcomes. You are in survival mode when you are racing to work, or getting angry in a meeting. Now is the chance to step back and evaluate your life.

“In April, the Financial Times, the world’s leading business paper, published an article from the editorial board that showed just how much the times have changed.” — Time

Some life-hacks to get a jump start to your new self:
-Meditate
-Learn
-Do
-Journal

Meditate

Meditation is a superpower to getting a jump on rewiring your brain. One hour of concentration can double the connections in your mind. If you cannot focus, though, you have to work on improving yourself. Ease into learning meditation. Try to meditate 5 minutes a day, then 10 minutes a day, and progress at your speed. Some apps I have enjoyed are Calm and Balance.

Learn

Learning creates those new neural connections. If you are self-quarantined or unable to work due to the pandemic, take this time to learn a new language, sharpen a skill, or improve on your health. Choosing what you want to do is very personal. Find what gives you joy and pursue it.

Do

Once you find the joyous thing you want to do, identify the actionable next steps. Learning is only the first part of rewiring yourself; you have to do it. If drawing is a passion, draw something. Create a routine to draw each day at least one picture. You want to improve dancing, start workouts to strengthen your body. Actionable items are offering your body experiences to start changing yourself.

Journal

Reflection creates accountability. Holding yourself accountable can be a challenge. Having a journal is a reference to keeping yourself on track and also avoid procrastination. There are many different ways of journaling. I find bullet journals, and interstitial journaling the most helpful.

History has proven in crisis, society normals adjust. The time for you to change is when the world changes. Reinvent yourself to the image you desire. You were always stuck before in a cycle that you did not want. With the wrench thrown, the wheel is off its axis, and you are free.