We are about four weeks into our quarantine here and about three weeks into our Shelter in Place Order. And this past month has created a new normal, that none of us saw coming.
When this all started I honestly thought that it was going to last two, maybe three weeks before things settled down. We quickly realized that was not the situation and this Pandemic would have us hunkering down at home for much longer.
We had to make some serious adjustments and have some serious reality checks along the way. Admittedly, the first two weeks were pretty tough. I actually had a fever and had to quarantine myself for a week which didn’t make this whole adjustment an easy transition. At this point, Henry was still going to daycare so Scot was able to work from home and take care of me during the day.
The following week we pulled Henry out of childcare, which was preemptive of his childcare (my sister) closing up shop until all of this was over. We had made the decision for me to stay home with Henry until this was all over. (Insert deep breathes on repeat) I was excited and nervous at the same time. But, after the first couple of weeks, I think we have found our groove and are actually really enjoying this time together. So here are a few things we are doing to keep the sanity in a very uncertain time.
1. Give yourself some ”me” time. This was so important for Scot and me to establish early on. Scot knows that I don’t function well when I don’t get some time to myself, so we made this a priority. And it doesn’t look the same every day, but every day I get my time to workout, shower, and journal. I typically do this before Henry wakes up or during his nap time so Scot doesn’t have to interrupt his work schedule. But if those times don’t work out, Scot gives me time in the evening.
2. Workout! Yes, I work out just about every day! It’s my therapy in this crazy time right now. It clears my head from all the noise and allows me to just be present and appreciate all I have. Movement is medicine and I think we could all use a little bit of help right about now.
3. Get Outside! Just about every day, we make sure to get some fresh air. When spending all of our time coupled up, it feels like the walls can come caving in at times. Getting outside can make us feel some freedom in this temporary confinement we are all living in at the moment.
4. Get dressed! Like really get dressed! Not every day, but once or twice a week. I feel so much better when I shower, get ready and get dressed for the day. Don’t get me wrong, I love my loungewear, but throwing on a pair of jeans and some makeup can make all the difference in my mood.
5. Eat together. Something that Scot and I started doing, was eating all of our meals together, at the table. We weren’t eating dinner in front of the tv anymore and we were actually talking, as a family. I think sometimes when we are together all day, every day, we forget to ask how each other’s days were and how we are feeling. I’ve made it a point to ask Scot every single night at dinner, how work was today? It may seem insignificant, but remembering to communicate Is so important, and for Scot and I, that started with eating all of our meals together.
6. Make the bed. Yup, make the bed. I don’t know about you guys but pre-quarantine, mornings were kind of hectic and the bed never got made, clothes were on the floor and it stressed me out. Since quarantine started, I have made my bed and picked up daily, dusted and even vacuumed my room once a week. It makes me happy and when the rest of the house can’t be kept up with, it gives me my escape. And really there is nothing better than crawling into a nicely made bed at night.
7. Order out at least twice a week. This is good for a couple of reasons. You are supporting local businesses and their employees, as well as saving yourself from the hassle of cooking a couple of nights a week. When having to prepare 21+ meals and snacks per week, we could all use a little break.
8. Give yourself some grace. We could all use a little bit of grace right now. I’ll be the first to admit, Henry’s screen time is at an all-time high right now. I waver between being a “bad” mom and patting myself on the back for buying him a tablet. There is no right answer here, and if too much screen time is the worst of it, we will all be ok. So again, give yourself some grace and know that you are doing great!
I hope that these few things may help make the days feel a bit lighter. The world is full of uncertainty and if I am being honest, pretty fucking scary right now. Getting through our days the best we can, is all we can do right now. We are all in this together and this too shall pass.
Much Love,
Shan
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