How to make the most of your COVID-19 Staycation

I have contemplated what I wanted this post to be about for over a week now, but it is inevitable. COVID-19 has shut down life as we know it. It has raised panic & caused anxiety. The thing about panic & anxiety is they are just as contagious as this damn virus. The anxiety can spread to others AND explode in your own mind, as most of us with anxiety already understands. Please be mindful of how you are speaking & acting around children & others. You are setting an example of how to handle change, stress & unfortunate situations. Show them you can adjust & so will they.

So how do we stop the panic? We start with ourselves. Make it a point to only check the news or social media once per day. Do. Not. Live. There! I also do not recommend checking it first thing in the morning or before bed. That would be a terrible way to start your days. Plus, who wants to dream about this shit.

If you find yourself in fear, please take a few moments to educate yourself on the situation. Knowledge can help counterbalance anxiety, but don’t forget the consequences of our deep dives into WebMD. Balance is something we need to learn & most importantly practice. I have a few resources listed at the end of this post.

Stock up, but don’t hoard. As most of you already know, when you take (I guess “buy”) excessive amounts of products that you don’t really need, the stores are unable to keep the supply in stock. This means that when certain people finally make it to the store, they are unable to buy the products that they so desperately need. On top of that, they may not have the ability to drive to the next store or city looking for the necessary supplies. Not to mention, when pictures of empty isles at your local Walmart show up on social media, it’s not a good feeling, even for those prepared! Stop spreading panic. Please, please, please be mindful of others. Thankfully, the stores have tried to counterbalance this craziness & are now offering the first hour of their day to the elderly.

The whole point of this post is how to make the most of your staycation, but before I get to that I want you to try and answer these questions:

How are you?

Are you happy?

What makes you happy?

What brings you joy?

What makes you feel good?

What are you grateful for?

What do you do for fun?

What do you care about?

What are your values?

Are you living a lifestyle that promotes physical, mental & spiritual wellbeing?

I am an optimistic person who works incredibly well in stressful situations. However, this is not always good for the mind, body & spirit. I learned a hard lesson this past year about having to slow down, & because I didn’t do this at will on my own, my body & health forced me to. I believe the mindset of the average hardworking American needs a slight adjustment and this can be the perfect opportunity to make that change. Social Isolation can be a beautiful thing revealing many lessons about ourselves. I hope you find your balance and grow from this strange & unique experience.

This picture was from our planned social isolation in the desert. It provided a lot of lessons and beauty.

1. Make the most of your time at home. I know for me; I never seem to get caught up with the daily chores throughout the week. I created a home schedule & to-do list over this past weekend & so far, it’s been a lifesaver. I use block scheduling, so I have 3-hour intervals broken up throughout the day where I get specific tasks accomplished. I got this tip from Jordan Page from funcheaporfree.com

2. Exercise. Since the gyms were forced to close, you may be thinking how? Well, there are so many opportunities from your own home. I suggest yoga, sit-ups, pushups, jump rope, or even a walk outside with the pups. They would love that too.

3. Eat as healthy as you can to boost your immune system. Don’t forget your vitamins. If you order take-out, try to avoid chain restaurants & support small local businesses instead. They have also taken a hard hit this week but are remaining open for take-out only.

4. Read. Read something fun. Read something educational. Read something to your kids. If this isn’t something you normally do, I encourage you to pick up a book. If you want any suggestions, message me.

5. Meditate. Relax, quiet your mind. This is one of the best things you can do in order to counterbalance stress & anxiety.

6. Listen to uplifting music or podcasts. Dance around your kitchen while you clean and cook.

7. If you have children, use this time and teach them how to cook, bake, clean or do the laundry.

8. Work. If you are working from home, be sure to set up your own workstation. If you have a spare room, use that. If not, try to separate it from the rest of your home so you are able to concentrate when you need to and can step away from work when you should. Take notes on what needs to be done because I am sure there are things that you may not be able to accomplish from home.

9. Spring clean. We got a head start on our spring cleaning over the weekend, but we plan to get the rest finished during this downtime. We are also using this time to plan, budget & create a timeline for our next update that we need to make in our home.

10. Is the garden ready? Now is about the time you should start preparing your garden. Germinate your seeds, rototill the soil & plan a layout for planting.

11. Spend time with your fur babies. They were born for this moment and are so excited to have you home throughout the day. Take advantage of this time by taking them for walks and hikes. Keep a distance from others but be sure to smile & wave. Pass on the good vibes during this turbulent time.

*NOTE: If you don’t have any pets, please consider fostering. They will provide company and you will be helping our local shelters tremendously.

12. Get outside. It is time to reconnect with nature. I know it’s not 60-degree weather but bundle up and breathe in the fresh air. Sit, walk, listen and enjoy the scenery. There is beauty there, even if it is mostly grays & browns.

13. Re-evaluate your goals & plans for your life & home. If you had some trouble answering the questions I asked earlier, please make sure you put some time into this one. Do it for yourself.

In close, I hope that you are doing your part in helping to stop this virus by following the CDC guidelines. They are the experts & it's going take a community effort to accomplish this goal. Once we have the virus under control our economy will bounce back. I believe that 100%.

1. Avoid large gatherings. (10 or more)

2. Practice good hygiene.

3. If you are sick, stay home.

4. Call your doctor for guidance if you are experiencing any symptoms.

Worth a look or listen:

The Joe Rogan Experience #1439

Need help through this time of isolation?

National Suicide Prevention 1-800-273-8255

Online Counseling

Talkspace.com

Betterhelp.com

Unemployment: