What does your GPS have to do with knitting in the era of COVID-19? Author and designer, Ingrid Fetell Lee, suggested that joy can be found in the world around us. But what about when the world is unsettled, feels unsafe, and upside down? In a recent post on Ideas.TED.com, she recalled the work of Sylvia Boorstein who described neurological “glitches” and how to manage them. A glitch can be understand as a default way of thinking, such as “When in doubt, worry.” While we typically think of a glitch as a mistake, many artists and musicians exploit glitches for their unique, aesthetic qualities. Similarly, a neurological glitch isn’t a problem if you are aware of it and have strategies to work with, rather than against it. Accepting the glitch for what it is allows us to be compassionate with ourselves rather than punitive. She described how our GPS provides a model for gently working with these glitches.
“I was thinking about the GPS in my car. It never gets annoyed at me. If I make a mistake, it says, “Recalculating.” And then it tells me to make the soonest left turn and go back.”
Many of us use a GPS to help navigate when we’re in the car or walking to a new place. The device gives directions based on your current position and what an algorithm suggests is the best route based on the data it has on hand. Almost inevitably, we make a mistake by missing a turn. When this happens, the GPS eventually notes the difference between where it anticipated we would be, and where we actually are now, and we hear the phrase “recalculating.” The GPS gently redirects you back to the path it has suggested. While a live navigator might get annoyed or judge us for our mistakes, the GPS’ only job is to guide you back on track.
The losses, life disruptions, and new realities prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic have meant that, according to Lee “we are all being forced to recalculate.” She added that it is natural and expected to feel “lost in a time like this.” Recalculating in this context means being gentle by avoiding unnecessary, harsh self-criticism, addressing our physical needs, and speaking to ourselves with kind words. Consider how you might speak to a child who needs to be comforted and turn this inward. Accept that things are different, that you feel lost, and make adjustments.
Lee cited research by King and Janiszewki to underscore the importance of nurturing our sense of touch during times of emotional distress. The research suggested that during positive emotional states, we are more attuned to visual stimulation, whereas, during negative emotional states, we are more attuned to tactile stimulation. Warm, fuzzy sweaters, plush slippers, a cozy blanket, or even soft art materials like yarn, fabric, and other fibers provide comforting tactile stimulation. Touch is the first language of attunement and may facilitate access to memories encoded in the body through touch and movement (Sholt & Gavron, 2006).
Finally, Lee suggested that recalculating also means creating a sense of control, regaining equilibrium, and stopping cyclical worrying or rumination. She cites studies by der Vennet and Serice (2012), Yager et al (2018), and Bratman et al (2015) which describe how activities such as coloring in a mandala, playing Tetris, and spending time in nature reduce anxiety, increase a sense of control, and reduce ruminative thoughts. Corkill (2014) has similarly described how knitting is such a complex physical and neurological activity that it leaves little room in the mind for negative, intrusive, and worrisome thoughts. Keeping your hands busy and having moments of control can help to quiet the mind.
How to Recalculate
1. Be gentle with yourself.
2. Reach out and touch something soft, cozy, and soothing
3. Accept that you are lost instead of beating yourself up or protesting against what you cannot change
4. Firm up your foundation by engaging in activities where you have control such as knitting or tidying up your space.
5. Break your worry loops by playing, going outdoors, or making art.