The COVID-19
Virus pandemic has hit the world hard and many of us have had a taste of
quarantine for at least a few weeks. If you have kids at home, you and they are
no doubt going stir crazy. No school, no sports, no friends to see in person,
and worst of all, for you, possibly no job.
With your
layoff, you may be experiencing a loss of purpose in addition to a loss of
income. This can definitely cause great stress and anxiety, both mentally and
financially. But this situation is not the new normal. It’s the new temporary. We’re
all in this together. Adaptability is important.
For
those who work from home or can do so during this quarantine, the stress is
reduced. For the kids, however, especially those from warm climates, being
confined to the house is a new, different, and unwanted experience. I’m
originally from Portland, Oregon, where it rains at least eight months out of
the year, if not more. Kids spend practically the entire winter indoors. I’m
used to this.
In
addition, I spent a year on an oil tanker, where my ex-husband was the chief
engineer (like Scotty on Star Trek).
We were at sea 36 days at a time, with a 24-hour turnaround when we reached the
Persian Gulf. With nowhere to go ashore, we were effectively at sea 72 days
before we arrived back in Europe. Talk about an isolated and confined
environment!
I had
been warned it would be easy to lose one’s mind. They call it “tankeritis.”
Since I was a writer, I warded this off by writing a book. That took the entire
year. Growing up in a horrible climate and being aboard that tanker were great
dry-runs for the circumstances we’re in today.
Know
that you are not powerless. You can choose how to navigate and survive COVID-19.
Obviously, taking the recommended precautions is in order. But also, focusing
on the mindset of looking at the jelly jar half-full rather than half-empty is
a strategy that will help you get to the other side of this pandemic unscathed.
Easier said than done, you say, but stressing and worrying does no one any
good. It only makes the time pass more slowly.
Why not
maximize the opportunity. You’ve no doubt binge-watched those shows on TV that
you have wanted to catch up on, so seize the day. Get dressed in the morning to
set a tone for the day. If you’re self-employed and usually deal with clients
face-to-face, think about meeting with them online through a program like Zoom (download
for free at www.zoom.us) or Facetime. If your job can be done
remotely in any way, shape, or form, ask your boss for permission to do so.
Some
employees have already realized that they want to work from home permanently.
They have few interruptions and so are much more productive. The savings on
wear and tear on their cars and on commuting time also contributes to what they
know will be their future psychological wellbeing. Employers are likely to be
more open to this idea as well.
If you’ve
“always wanted to write a book,” now’s your chance. Go for it! And professional
writers can use this time to increase productivity. Begin a new article or
book. Edit material you have in progress. Write posts for your blog or start a
podcast. I’m in the process of adding a voiceover to a webinar I just created.
Or take
the opportunity to do all the things around your house you’ve been putting off
for months or even years because you didn’t have time. Clean out closets,
cupboards, drawers, files, and the garage. Read books (you can download free
e-books from bookbub.com). Get your
taxes organized. Catch up on your hobbies. Put photos in albums or boxes or
scan them into your computer. Take some free classes online you’ve never
thought about. Online resources are more abundant than ever.
Dig out
your puzzles and board games. Have tournaments. Expand those activities by
having a virtual game night on Zoom so your friends and relatives can play.
Here’s a link: https://www.bustle.com/p/how-to-have-a-zoom-game-night-22639026 for some online games.
If you have kids,
help them with their homework. Exercise with them. Take them on Internet tours
of famous places related to the topics they are studying. Rather than reading
younger kids a bedtime story, tell them one from your childhood. These activities
will take your mind off your worries and provide a sense of accomplishment. If
you need help, get on the Next Door app and ask.
One mom
on Next Door in my neighborhood has a daughter who turned nine last week. She
asked the community to organize a car parade to come by her house at an
appointed time. Several people decorated their cars with posters and balloons,
and I joined in the parade. We honked our horns and yelled happy birthday. Her
daughter was thrilled and we had a great time helping her celebrate her special
day!
Others have put teddy
bears in their windows so that the kids can count them on their walks around
the neighborhood, since we are still allowed to do that. Some have put painted
rocks around the green belt that runs through our area and in their yards. This
is a great activity to keep kids occupied, both with painting the rocks and
with finding them. And others are leaving chalk art on sidewalks.
Another
great idea is to carry out “Formal Friday.” It’s like date night, only with
your family or someone on Zoom or Facetime. Eat meals on good china. Have a picnic
in your living room or outside if the weather allows. Try new recipes, maybe
even some more complex ones that you might not normally have time to make.
Using
something called Morning Pages to clear your mind, improve creativity and
productivity, and for self-reflection (see https://www.lavendaire.com/morning-pages/) can help to
alleviate stress.
Establish
an evening ritual of sharing at least one “high” and one “low” of the day with
your partner or as a family. This opens up communication and allows exploration
of how you are handling the events of the day. It’s important that parents
participate to set an example and to allow their children a better
understanding that adults do have challenges. Communicating them in a
supportive environment is helpful.
Of
course, adults should be cautious not to burden their children with worries
over “lows” related to major problems. Those who live alone can accomplish this
communication with a family member or friend via Zoom, e-mail, Facetime, etc.
Remember,
this situation is only temporary and not
the new normal. It may last a few months, but eventually, we’ll get back to our
old schedules. By making good use of this pause on life we have now, when you
do get back to work, your free time will really be your own. And, if you turn
this catastrophe into an opportunity to try new things, some of these
activities might stick around and enhance your life long after COVID-19 has
passed.
