When news of the rapid spread of Covid-19 broke, I was in Mexico on Spring Break with a large group of family and friends. While discussing the potential for a pandemic poolside with Pina Coladas (say that 5 times fast), we never would have expected this.
Fast forward, and we are now over a month into this “new normal.” Our world looks nothing like our near past. Priorities have greatly shifted, and all of us are wearing many hats right now.
We are juggling being:
- Spouses to the love of our lives who have become our constant companions, for better or for worse.
- Parents who are trying to be everything their children need them to be.
- Employees remotely working from home with so many distractions and disturbances.
- Teachers working to make sure their children are learning and trying to adjust to new learning environments and new uses for technology.
- Sanitation Specialists armed with orders for everyone to remove shoes and wash hands for a million times each day all while vigorously scrubbing down anything coming in from outside with bleach wipes and a haze of Lysol.
- Peace Negotiators for arguments and scraps springing up from the confinement.
- Chefs for those who are always “starving,” and think the kitchen is a 24 Hour Diner.
- Maids tackling mountains of laundry while steam-mopping the floors while sanitizing counters, doorknobs, and light switches.
- Nurses for all of the boo-boos from the above-mentioned scraps and spouses who need their temperatures taken over and over because they are convinced they have the virus.
- Analysts who must listen, learn, and process all of the health and economic information coming in from our government and health officials filtered through the media.
- and so many more!
How Do We Stay Sane?
So the question becomes, how do we successfully survive all of this? Our emotional resources are being spread thinly, and while there are still only 24 hours in a day, we are spending much more time wearing our many hats.
Balancing Home, Work, and School
The answer lies in organization, flexibility, downtime, and a good sense of humor!
- Organization minimizes chaos. Spending a little time prepping and planning saves a lot of time down the road. I’m a firm believer in the saying, “A stitch in time, saves nine!”
- In the evening, try to set a schedule for the next day. Of course, this has to be flexible, since the only constant these days is the fact that things aren’t going perfectly according to plan.
- Block off time for things like work, helping with school assignments, meal prep, cleaning, etc. Also take time to schedule some type of exercise, even a walk or some stretching can help boost our moods and mental clarity. Setting aside time for ourselves, personally, and our families will remind us of the value of ourselves and our loved ones.
- Meal Planning is a must. During this time of social distancing, dining out is not an option, and we want to minimize the number of trips to the grocery store. I usually plan meals for the week and write the menu on a chalkboard in the kitchen (see our DIY Chalkboard Tutorial). This keeps the number of times I’m asked “What’s for Dinner?” to a minimum.
- If you want an easy and delicious TWO WEEK menu, see the Menu and Printable Grocery List Nora put together.
- Looking for inspiration, visit our Recipe Page and find some sample menus and recipes.
- Involve the family in meal planning and preparation. It’s a great life skill that we all need. Now that we have the opportunity to have more family dinners, it’s a great time to bond.
- Have all hands on deck for cleaning. We need to make sure our homes are cleaner than ever, and everyone can help, even the little ones.
- Make this Reusable Dry Erase Chore Chart with a picture frame.
- With cleaning supplies in short demand, try some of these Frugal Spring Cleaning Tips, and find out how you can use Kool Aid Lemonade to clean your dishwasher!
- In the evening, try to set a schedule for the next day. Of course, this has to be flexible, since the only constant these days is the fact that things aren’t going perfectly according to plan.
- Flexibility can be a challenge for me. I enjoy my routine and like being able to control my environment. Of course, that has all gone by the wayside at this point. To help myself regain control I keep reminding myself that I am NOT allowing these crazy times to get the best of me. We may not be able to control the situation, but we can control our responses!
- Working from home may not be ideal with the noise and distractions coming from all directions. Space to work can become an issue with two parents working and children trying to do online classes. My friend was on a video conference call in her bedroom so she could have a little quiet and privacy. In a stroke of bad timing, her husband happened to walk by the camera in a state of undress as he headed to the shower, oblivious of her video chat! Oops! Luckily they had a good giggle over it.
- If you find yourself feeling a bit down or overwhelmed, try reading the article I wrote about Regaining Control of Our Lives when we feel depleted.
- While we should take advantage of the schedules we attempt to keep, know that things will most likely need to be adjusted. Muster up all of the patience and grace we can find! As I am writing this, my daughter decided to make a smoothie without using the lid of the blender. My kitchen looks like a crime scene! Instead of getting too upset since I know she’s feeling terrible about her mistake, I told her that her dad did the same thing when we were in college. We had a laugh over something that could have left us in tears (see the section on humor below).
- Downtime is more important than most of us realize in creating harmony in our lives. Without a good amount of rest, our brains can’t properly process information and our bodies stop running like the well-oiled machines they are. Stress can wreak havoc causing insomnia, aches, and grouchiness.
- Self-Care is very critical. Taking time to refresh and recharge is not selfish at ALL! We can’t take care of anyone else is we aren’t in tip-top shape. Remember what the flight attendants say during takeoff, “If the oxygen masks come down, put yours on before you put one on your child.”
- Catch up on the book or tv show you’ve been wanting to finish. Listen to podcasts.
- Go for a walk. I’ve been listening to podcasts while I walk (and keep 6 feet of social distance between anyone else I encounter along the way).
- Do something crafty or work on a home project or hobby. We have some ideas to get you started on our DIY and Organization Pages.
- Take some time each day to stretch or meditate.
- Phone a friend or do a video call. Host a virtual happy hour.
- Give yourself a manicure, pedicure, or facial. Soak in a tub or take a long, hot shower. Indulge in a nap.
- Do whatever it takes to give yourself a little break! That includes taking a break from media updates that capitalize on sensationalism to get ratings.
- Self-Care is very critical. Taking time to refresh and recharge is not selfish at ALL! We can’t take care of anyone else is we aren’t in tip-top shape. Remember what the flight attendants say during takeoff, “If the oxygen masks come down, put yours on before you put one on your child.”
- Maintaining a sense of humor during these times of uncertainty saves our sanity. If we can’t laugh and joke to lighten the mood, we will crumble from the stress. We all know that laughter is the best medicine!
- Share funny or inspiring things you see on social media. A friend of mine from college created a Covid19 Album on her Facebook page and adds funny memes to it. I look forward to seeing them as I scroll through the app. I save funny things I come across to an album on my phone. My kids call it “Mom’s Memes.”
- Have a family night, and watch a funny movie or play a game.
- Don’t forget about time with your spouse. My husband and I have bonded over yard work, walks, frisbee, and relaxing in the backyard with a little fire and a big glass of wine!
- Video conferencing through Zoom, Facebook Messenger, or FaceTime is a great way to have a laugh together. My husband’s friends from high school have held several online gatherings. One of our group of friends here had a Zoom happy hour. It is so nice to see people’s faces on a screen, even if we can’t get together in person. We are social creatures by nature, and connection is so important during times like these.
We hope these quarantine sanity tips will help your family too. Share your ideas with us! We can all learn from each other. Now GO WASH YOUR HANDS!!
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