Dear Type A, Stop Trying to Do TOO Much During Lockdown

Are you someone who constantly needs to do, achieve, and accomplish something? Obsessed with working, being productive, and using every single minute of the day to DO something that gives RESULTS?

If that sounds like you, well then, like me, you are probably a type A person. And that probably means you are spending a lot of mental energy trying to figure out what the F*** to do during Covid-19 at home.

Hobbies Can Lead to Panic Attacks. I Promise.

I need to always be productive. It is hard for me to just sit around, or even do what I think I like (for e.g. painting or writing or reading) if it does not have a tangible result. If it isn’t going to be exhibited or sold or help me somehow in the future then what’s the point of doing it? So, let’s say I decide to paint so that I can sell my art. And write to start a blog – lol. Suddenly these “fun” things become “work” and I stress. I need to stress the stress. I usually have a panic attack, so I end up vegetating on my couch, like a potato.

Sound familiar?

The Universal Weakness for Type A People: Tangible Returns

For a while, I have had a long list of things I wanted to do, for my personal growth. But, because there was no tangible ROI, I would push these things to the back-burner. For the past few years I have wanted to perfect my Spanish. I have been going to the gym on and off. I have tried to meditate, do yoga, have a consistent morning routine, and grow mentally. I even wanted to learn to play the guitar. 

Now of course, I just can’t do some things, like learning the guitar, because I don’t have one at home. 

But I see that as a blessing in disguise. If I had access to a guitar, it would be one more thing to try, to do, and to fit into my day. And that would result in anxiety and stress and just giving up on everything. 

Gift of Extra Time During the Quarantine

During this lockdown, you can use the extra time to work on your mental health and balance your dimensions of wellness. Make a list of things you have always wanted to do or learn but never had the “time” to. For the record, we always had time. But we silly type A people ignore doing things that are good for us because we have meetings, deadlines, people to network with, blah blah blah blah. Yeah, I am allowed to mock you because I am that person too.

Non-Cliche Things for Mental Health During Lockdown

If you don’t know where to start, I made a list of my top 10 things I am doing to do during the lockdown to grow as a person, so that I come out of this as a much calmer, balanced person. Just like a butterfly after time in the cocoon. 

Update: 

I wrote this post a few weeks back. And then, I launched this blog. And OH MY, I am OVERWHELMED. From figuring out what hosting service to use, to branding, designing, SEO, writing, promoting, networking, blah, blah, blah, I have been completely swamped with tasks. Not to mention all the MENTAL energy this new venture is using, even when I am not working. 

Last night, I reached a new point. You know that feeling when your brain just doesn’t switch off, even though you are too tired to work anymore? And you desperately want to tell your brain one thing: SHUT UP. 

Yeah. Well, this morning I realized I really need to chill out and stop being a typical Type A person. I need to drastically reduce my working hours in a day, and be okay with doing things for FUN, even if my never-ending To-Do list haunts me. Even if I don’t see enough progress. Even if I have 10000 things more to do. I am going to switch off after 4-5 hours of work per day, because I know mentally I can not take more than that (yeah, I guess I am pretty weak). 

So here I am, listening to my own advice from this article. Just a little personal tidbit to show that these are true, real suggestions for all you Type A people out there.