Hi, friends.

This morning, I struggled getting out of bed. Not the “I’m tired” or “I’m lazy” sort of way, but the feeling that I physically can’t get up. My emotions are shut down, toxic thoughts are swirling around in my brain, and the enemy is constantly telling me that I’m not good enough.

I almost decided to stay in bed and shed all responsibilities. I could have. That would’ve been the easy way out. But aha, life wasn’t meant to be 100 percent easy. Remember: it’s OK to be not OK. You’re not going to be the best person every day, 24/7.

But back to this morning. I wasn’t going to stay in bed. I do have stuff to do. I do have things to do, things that make me happy and content. But it’s hard to remain positive. But if you just remember things in your life that matter to you and that you would do anything for, you can remain positive in weird times such as isolation and staying at home.

So what can you do to remain positive? What can you remember to remain positive, especially during quarantine? What do I do to remain positive?

Go on a walk.

I’ve talked about this a ton in the past. But you don’t need to put on your best workout gear to do this. You can put on your old flip flops or your ratty tennis shoes and walk to the end of the block. You can even walk to the Dunkin’ down the street. (That’s what I did this morning!) You would not believe what a little fresh air would do.

Take a breather.

If this is your reminder to take a breath, do it. You can’t do all the things in one day. You know that expression, “Rome wasn’t built in a day”? Well, it’s true. You can’t accomplish your to-do list in one day, you’re not Superwoman or Captain Marvel. Your life isn’t a comic book. Take a breath, and just come back to it later. Sometimes a break and coming back to the task later will benefit you in the long run—that task will come out better and stronger because you took a break.

Get in your coziest pajamas (freshly washed) and read.

Honestly, what more can I say? Reading is one of the best medicines that God gave us.

Sit still in a quiet location.

When it feels like everything’s happening at once, your mind can get overwhelming. That sounds weird, right? It sounded weird to type. But it is true, and I hope it’s relatable to you. One way to combat anxious thoughts is to just sit still in a quiet location. I remember that Bible verse, “Be still, and know that I am with you” (Psalm 46:10). For me, sitting still with God helps me. At first, I didn’t do that because I felt uncomfortable. But instead of running away from that uncomfortableness, revel in it. Sit uncomfortably in silence with God. Overtime, you’ll find that you crave that time every day. This time that I have with God is in the morning, sipping my coffee. Sometimes, I turn on worship music and shut my eyes and really embrace God’s presence.

Look at old photos and motivational quotes on Pinterest.

Photos are like windows to old memories. Ok, I actually made that up. If you think it’s cheesy, I’m sorry. If you’ve heard that before, please tell me.

Write down 5 things that you’re grateful and thankful for.

I used to cringe a little whenever I read people writing about this. But I promise you, it works. Even if you’re just rattling off while talking to yourself things that you’re grateful for, it helps. For example, I am thankful for my Netflix subscription, my faith and relationship with God, my Keurig. Some of these change from day to day—but just writing down what you’re grateful for just reminds you what you have and the blessings that God granted to you.

Stop comparing yourself and just do what you want to do.

Something I heard recently is that we’re all on different paths and we move at different paces. And sometimes, you just need to hear from someone else the advice you’ve been giving yourself for years. A fresh perspective can really do a lot to your mental health! Stop comparing yourself to others’ lives—including their to-do list. You have your own special skills. You are great and amazing for a reason. You know who you are. You know your life. Even if you’re still finding your way, you know who you are today. And just go with that.

Some days, you’ll mess up.

NOBODY’S PERFECT. Ok Siri, pause Hannah Montana. If you need to turn on this song while you read this post, do it. Nobody’s perfect. Everybody messes up. Even world leaders mess up (I mean, their mistakes could lead to war, but ok). Acknowledging your mistake and moving on and not reflecting on your mistake is key. You’ll never move past your mistake if you don’t pause and acknowledge it. Trust me.

Love and appreciate yourself for the way you are.

I know, I know. I’m laughing at myself. But those four words I just wrote, “I’m laughing at myself” firmly reiterates this last point. You gotta learn to laugh at yourself in order to love yourself. If all these points before this one total up to one thing, it’s love yourself. You’ll mess up, but just love yourself for who you are. Don’t compare yourself, and you will love the person you are and you’ll become. Write down 5 things that you’re grateful for, and you’ll love yourself for having those things surround you. Look at old photos and appreciate the person you were and how you can grow as that person. Sit still in a quiet location with God and love the person that God created. Get in your freshly washed pajamas and read, and you’ll love yourself for escaping into a new world. Take a breather, go for a walk, and you’ll love yourself for putting yourself first. All of these things have one thing in common: yourself. When I and the rest of the world say, “love yourself,” it’s easier said than done. But if you start to incorporate these daily practices in your life, you’ll remember to remain positive in any situation.