If there’s two things I can count on when I open Facebook these days, it’s the presence of COVID-19 news stories and memes to make light of them. And I get it. I try to find humor in everything and not let the doom and gloom of news stories sink in and wreak havoc on my anxiety. I’m all about the toilet paper memes, Lysol memes, quarantine memes, and the tie-your-kids-up-so-you-can-get-some-work-done memes. The good ones are funny and provide a laugh when all of us could a use an extra laugh.
What I’m not all about is the trend I’ve seen surfacing on Facebook and other places of people who are suddenly forced to work from home living in their pajamas, not taking showers for days, sleeping in every day, and binge watching Netflix as if being a movie critic was their new job. I’m not trying to shame anyone. We all need to process what’s going on in the world and cope with it in our own unique way, within healthy limits.
We’re all feeling some pretty big emotions right now and our fight, flight, freeze, or fawn response is bound to kick in if it hasn’t already. But freezing, as I’ve seen many people not only doing but embracing, is not an acceptable response for longer than a week. As a society that still needs to be productive three months from now, we can’t just roll over and play dead as this virus sweeps across the globe. We’ve got to fight this thing. Not just with medication, social distancing, and hand sanitizer, but with keeping our minds and our bodies strong while we’re laying low.
Here are a few things you can do to create some necessary structure and not become an absolute slug while spending 24-7 in the confines of your home this Spring:
Shower. Every day. This is far from optional. The others you’re quarantined with all agree with me on this one. They have enough to be worried about without your body odor invading their air space.
Get dressed. You can skip the heels but otherwise, remove your pajamas and get dressed each morning as if you had to go into the office (remember those days?). Dressing up can do wonders for your confidence and your mindset.
Set your alarm. Starting work at 9am does not mean you can just roll out of bed at 8:55am and log on, still half-asleep. Your company still needs you to show up at your best. Wake up early and stick to the morning routine that’s been serving you well for years.
Go to sleep. At a reasonable hour. A good 7-9 hours for most people is vital to your overall health. Resist the temptation to stay up late scrolling Instagram or watching reruns of The Office. Restorative sleep can reduce stress, improve your memory, and reduce inflammation among other Make it a priority!
Exercise. The gyms may be closed but your living room is not. If pushups and sit ups aren’t your thing, there are plenty of free videos online to guide you through an at-home workout. You’ll find everything from pilates and yoga to resistance training and bootcamp.
Go outside. That’s where the fresh air is and that’s where you could be reading a book, taking a nature walk, riding your bike, or gardening. Get outdoors and enjoy doing something you love. The benefits are tremendous.
Pick up a hobby. With no more commute, dining out, bars, or malls, you might find you have more time on your hands. Don’t waste it. Use that time to learn how to crochet, bake, paint, speak Spanish, change a flat, or do whatever it is you’ve always wanted to do but never had time for (clean out the garage perhaps).
Help others. Witnessing people going out of their way to help others during this time has renewed my faith in mankind. One retired teacher is hosting morning kindergarten classes for a pop-up Facebook group that now has 43,000 members. Others are hosting music and language classes. Celebrities are doing story times and free concerts. Companies are offering free learning tools and resources to businesses and students. People are buying groceries for their neighbors and sewing surgical masks for hospitals. Everyone has something they can contribute. How can you help others get through this time?
Get social! Social distancing is a strange term. Physical distancing would make more sense. During these unprecedented times, follow the CDC’s guidelines to physically stay away from those outside your household but make every effort to stay in touch with the people you care about. We are so blessed to live in the age of FaceTime, Skype, and Zoom. You can even get creative and host a virtual happy hour, playdate, or mastermind.
Start a gratitude list. We take a lot for granted in a life. A LOT. Think about all the things you never thought you’d miss but will now feel super grateful for when they return to your life. Things like sitting at a coffee shop, working from your laptop. Traveling (oh, how I wish I was on a girls’ trip right now). Watching your kids climb all over a playground. Eating out. Parties. Even toilet paper. I miss driving because it allowed me to rock out in my car to my favorite tunes that are unsuitable for little ears. Keep a gratitude list and your appreciation for the little things in life will help you grow in beautiful ways.
These next few months will be rough. We know that. But let’s not make it even tougher on ourselves by throwing our routines, hygiene, and zest for life out the window. Let’s fight this virus by doing what we can to keep our identities and sanity intact and our contributions to this world flowing as we stay home and stay safe.
