Stress of Flux and Unknowns: Update on Chinese Visa Application and Managing Stress

I am finding the constant relocations to be ungrounding. I cannot get back into a regular routine for healthy nutrition and exercise consistency. This adds to the already currently-high stress level due to the unknowns and flux of China departure and habitat situation. I've accepted a dog-sit in Round Rock for 2.5 weeks, which will give me at least that duration of stability. I cannot plan for nor accept a longer sit of one month, which would be ideal, because I have to be ready to fly out, even though I'm projecting 6 weeks at minimum. With a page-long list of To-Dos, it may seem like a lot, but it's mainly minutiae. The big tasks include buying a few items and having a box or two shipped over--the biggest task is selling the car I bought in February! I'm also going to look into getting my boxes and boxes and boxes of journals and writing digitized into editable documents, so I can begin the work of publishing those in whatever format. I also have a boxful of curriculum books to get digitized. It's not going to be cheap!

I'm still playing The Visa Waiting game (and stuck on Square #1!!):
1. Waiting on authentication stamps on two documents that have not yet been returned from Ch. Embassy in DC to my visa agent-- though I am supposed to receive them this week (damnit!) [July 16]
2. Then 2-3 weeks for HR Dept to apply for and receive my initial work permit. [Jul 30-Aug 6]
3. Then 2-8 weeks for PU Letter, which is special permission to enter Ch. for work, even though borders are still closed. [Aug 13- Sept 10]
4. Then 1 week for visa agent to apply and receive back my formal work visa that allows entry into Ch.
5. THEN have to determine where I can fly out and where I can get COVID tested prior to departure, which is determined by Ch. Embassy regulations.

The unknowns and the flux of all this is stressful, and I need to go back and use my tools to create resilience and adapatability (qigong, taiji, meditation, shaolin kungfu, running, walking, strength training, reading books on mindfulness and self-compassion). I know all this, but I don't always do it!

I want to change my pandemic-acquired morning habits of reading and mucking about for hours on end to return to my decades long exercise routine of running (or other) each morning. The sitting and being sedentary for hours has got to stop! I also need/want to get back to fasting regularly and being consistent with longer fasts. I've turned my excellent habit of reading into a bad habit of reading too long. I want to return to writing in the AM and PM which has been replaced by reading too long in the AM and watching movies in the PM. But sometimes there is too much stress and overwhelm with tasks or just feeling ungrounded or just not knowing where I'll be in two weeks from the present day. Everyday I continue to set goals and intentions to change though.

The irony of having so much time during the pandemic is that I have been so challenged to create a consistent schedule for myself. I've had too much time. But then again, I have accomplished much and learned much. I just wish I could get my exercise back on--for me, this really is the key to all the challenges I face mentally, emotionally, and physically!

Oh, and I still need to start the master's course for the CEU requirements! But I will have at least two weeks in quarantine in China to devote to those studies, so may put that off for a while!

Overall, I don't feel like I'm in a down-state or dark place, just not managing my stress as well as I would like with actions that promote well-being.