Hi friends <3
I hope you guys all had a great weekend! t definitely doesn’t feel like a “weekend” but the fact that we didn’t have any “homeschooling” over the last few days was good enough for me!
I haven’t spoke too much about whats been happening with COVID-19 on here, or on instagram because to be honest…I can only control myself and my own actions. It can be so sad & disheartening with all of the negative news and I am just trying to stay positive! I know a lot of you are using blogs and instagram as an escape rather than a space to hear more about it so thats kind of where I stand.
But to be real with you…its something that I feel like is is affecting so many people who haven’t actually been “diagnosed” with COVID.. It scares me thinking about how many people I know are struggling mentally with this….And I get it. So thats why I’ m talking about it, and different things that have helped me over the past week or so because unfortunately…this is just the beginning :( At the end of the day though, we have to stop the spread and think about our entire community!
The past 2 weeks literally feels like its been a year. I miss so many things…working at an office, my family, SPORTS & soccer!, my gym, being around other people, doing girly things like getting my nails done, going out to dinner and mostly taking my kids places and doing interesting things with them every day!
Its definitely been a HUGE adjustment on so many levels for us as a family, and I’m sure you feel the same way. Not only are we faced with major threat, but serious uncertainty in every aspect of our lives…. Some of us are afraid, anxious, and nervous…and lonely, overwhelmed, and are completely out of our element.
I’m such a routine person, and as of now our daily routines have gone completely out the window! I for sure embraced slower mornings (no bus to catch, school lunch to make & rushing off to work!) for the first week, but I think that most humans thrive on a consistent routine to be productive. I’ve tried to let myself slowly adjust to our new normal (however long this lasts) rather than force some color coded schedule on ourselves and the kids, especially because we are still working (from home) BUT I did want to share some of things that I think have kept me sane over the past 2 weeks while trying to juggle work, homeschooling, and my other 2 kids. I am planning on sharing our “homeschooling” schedule next week!
How I’m getting through the Quarantine & My tips :
Get ready for the day: I’m not going to lie, the first few days of “quarantine” I kind of relaxed and enjoyed extra time with the littles and stayed in sweats! But I really do feel like even just getting dressed every day (even if its just a cute tee and leggings) you will feel so much better & more productive. I felt so much better towards the end of this week throwing on light makeup, and even a pair of jeans for part of the day. And most important, it made me feel a little bit normal , and that my friend, is priceless.
Stay away from too much news & social media: Ok so I’m not saying close yourself off from the world but honestly…having the TV on or being glued to twitter isn’t going to help you. You can get ALL the pertinent info you need in literally a 30 min watch of the news or 15 minutes on twitter/ FB. You can get caught in this huge black hole…educate yourself and move on! I also have been avoiding the news for the kids sake. They know what is going on but I know SO MUCH has changed for them VERY quickly and I want to make life as SIMPLE as possible for them…and that means no scary newscasts on.
Surround yourself with positivity: Enough said. Call people you care about. Facetime. text. Zoom. Do what you need to do to find positivity even if its via technology. Unfollow negative people on social media. Stay away from too much news. Follow happy things :)
Make a new routine (especially for M-F): This one has been huge for me. I know that I (and my kids) thrive on a basic schedule so we have slowly morphed into a “quarantine schedule”…obviously its a loose schedule but does help us Monday-Friday!
Nutrition: Be organized with meal planning & Track your food. It can be easy to lose control of what you’re eating when you’re home all day. I’ve been tracking my meals (especially because I’m not eating out at all) and entering them the night before that way I’m set up for the day. I’m actually really excited to use this time to focus on establishing more consistent healthy eating habits, especially after the winter!
Exercise: Get outside for a walk, a hike or a run. Sweating & Exercise is so good for you and boosts your energy and mood. Also, there are SO Many resources online regarding at home workouts! Utilize them! There are so many things you can do with minimal equipment! I happen to have Kettlebells and bands, but I know there are lots of exercises you can do without any equipment!
Take up a new hobby: I don’t really have time to pick up a new hobby because: hello 3 kids, work, and blog…BUT if you don’t have kids now is the time to dive into something new!
De-Clutter and Organize: I literally dream about being locked in my house all weekend (sans kids), & unable to go anywhere. NOW IS THE TIME TO DE-CLUTTER, FRIENDS. Do it for me! I wish I could tackle this with all of my energy and attention.
Nature : Spending time in nature does wonders. enough said :)
One day at a time… GRACE. I hate this word because I feel like I’ve heard it 4030940 times since this all went down, but this really is unprecendented times. You are living through a crisis. Cut yourself a break whether its learning to work from home, homeschooling, or adjusting to social distancing and missing family and friends. Let yourself grieve milestone events that you or your kids will miss like vacations, proms, sporting events, and family events. We will all get through this. Give yourself grace.
Here are a few of my “Quarantine Favorites” !
Stay safe friends! xo
Alex