Lindsay Dupuis, M.A. C.C.C.

Lindsay Dupuis, M.A. C.C.C.

Mindfulness-Based Counsellor & Meditation Trainer

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Category: Self-Help

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Self-Help

The Ongoing Battle of the Two Selves

by LindsayDupuisupdated on January 20, 2020July 19, 2019Leave a Comment on The Ongoing Battle of the Two Selves

We all have different faces that we wear depending on the people we’re around and the situation we’re in. For example, the person we are at work is different than the person we are at home, with friends, around our romantic partner, and so on. But, when it comes to our mental health, it can …

Self-Help

The Importance of Reconnecting With Your Values

by LindsayDupuisupdated on January 9, 2020July 19, 2019Leave a Comment on The Importance of Reconnecting With Your Values

We all get lost from time to time. That’s part of being human. Sometimes life throws you unexpected curveballs, but sometimes you make a series of conscious decisions that, without realizing it at the time, end up throwing you so far off course that you wake up with the sudden realization, one day, that you …

Self-Help

How Meditation Can Improve Your Life

by LindsayDupuisupdated on January 9, 2020July 18, 2019Leave a Comment on How Meditation Can Improve Your Life

I’m an avid meditator. I’ve been meditating since my undergraduate years in university. To this day, I do my best to commit 15 minutes each morning to the practice as well as attend a 1-3 hour group meditation on weekends.  Up to 3 hours… First, sitting for 25 minutes. Self-supported, dignified, upright posture. Eyes resting …

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  • In Vietnam, there are many people, called boat people, who leave the country in small boats. Often, the boats are caught in rough seas or storms, the people may panic, and boats can sink. But if even one person aboard can remain calm, lucid, knowing what to do and what not to do, he or she can help the boat survive. His or her expression – face, voice – communicates clarity and calmness, and people have trust in that person. They will listen to what he or she says. One such person can save the lives of many. Thich Nhat Hanh, Being Peace
  • Switching to a work-from-home lifestyle can be tricky. While, on the surface, it might seem like a luxury, one quickly realizes that it’s harder than it seems. Self-motivation and discipline take a lot of work. Given the right approach, however, working from home can be both productive and enjoyable. Here are a few tips that I utilize to structure my days and ensure work/life balance: 1 | Wake up at the same time everyday. Shower, get dressed, eat breakfast. Walk around the block before work to mimic the feeling of a “commute,” so when you come in the house, it triggers a working mindset. 2 | Set up a designated workspace, with a designated start time. Keep work-related tasks within, and your personal life outside of this space. Turn off your personal phone and leave it in another room. Do not check personal messages/social media during working hours. 3 | Get up for regular stretches, washroom breaks, or snacks. Keep them short and return to work after a few minutes. 4 | Set a routine lunch time and eat in the kitchen. Don’t eat at your desk. If you’re on the computer during working hours, avoid using technology at lunch. Try to read a book or simply be present while eating. 5 | Do something physical after eating. I wash my dishes and listen to music or a podcast for 20 minutes. This gives my working brain a rest and allows me to come back to work refreshed. 6 | If possible, switch to a secondary working location for part of your day. After sessions, I sometimes like a change of scenery by sitting at my kitchen table for admin, but I only sit where I never otherwise would - keeping in line with separate work and personal spaces. 7 | Set a designated finish time, and wrap up even if you’re not done. Make a note of anything you need to come back to later. Shut down all work-related apps and documents. Turn off the lights. Your office is now closed. 8 | After work, fresh air can mark the transition between work and personal life again. Go outdoors for exercise or walk to the grocery store. Once home, don't touch your work until your start time the next day! It's time to enjoy the rest of your life :)
  • As COVID-19 sweeps the globe and forces us into a state of isolation, many of us are experiencing feelings of loss of control, which spikes fear, anxiety and the unhelpful emotions-driven state of self. It’s important to remember that this state of fear drives irrational and unhelpful behaviours on a societal level, which is contagious. Just because everyone around you is buying masses of toilet paper, for example, doesn’t mean you need to do the same. It’s important to recognize extreme/irrational behaviours and see them as just this - we don’t need to allow the anxiety of others determine our own behaviour. We can step into the driver’s seat, think for ourselves, and take healthy precautions without falling into extreme reactivity. A healthy, balanced approach might look like the following: Isolate, avoid public places, especially if you have symptoms of illness. Keep up with personal hygiene (wash hands, keep surfaces clean, cough into your arm, etc.). Pick up a few extra canned goods upon trips to the grocery store. Check trusted news sources a few times per day to get information/facts but turn it off the rest of the time. Minimize time on social media where emotion-driven opinions/paranoia might be dominant. Keep in contact with supportive friends and family. Get out for walks, fresh air, and exercise. Otherwise, rest, watch a movie, read a book, distract yourself with a hobby, learn something new - e.g. take an online course, watch a YouTube video. Keeping this balance will allow us to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is the state of rest and relaxation important for countering the sympathetic fight or flight mode. Living in this state of balance will ultimately help boost our immunity and help us stay healthy and protected.
  • Slow and steady wins the race. We can’t do everything at once, and that’s okay. If it’s not our priority now, we can come back to it later. There will be time when we make room for it. What are your priorities at this moment? What would you like to do but don’t have room for? What will you prioritize coming back to later? Aim for less rather than more. You can always build your schedule up again if you find there’s not enough filling your days. It’s harder to go the other way around – taking things away that we’re already committed to. Start making simplicity one of your values, and life’s pressures will be greatly reduced.
  • This coping mechanism - living a life of “ease” – doesn’t feel rewarding once we realize that we’ve missed out on opportunities for growth. If we want a lifestyle that we’ll feel proud of, we must face challenges head-on, as guided by our internal value system. Breaking the problem into smaller pieces, scheduling time for both work/problem-solving and resting/relaxing, as well as asking for help from like-minded individuals can go a long way towards making overwhelming tasks feel less uncomfortable and more approachable.
  • We will get much further together than we ever will alone. If you’re feeling lost, scared, or overwhelmed, reach out. Don’t try to face it on your own. This will only breed more fear, anxiety, and ultimately, paralysis. Who can you turn to? Who is your support system? If you don’t have a support system, where can you go to meet like-minded people who might become your allies? There is someone out there who is willing and able to help. Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
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