You have been home for weeks.
… or is it months?
You don’t know what day it is. Your idea of walking to work is taking the steps to get from your bedroom to your office or living room. Your roots are showing, the walls are closing in … yes, you are suffering from CoronaBrain.
But, thankfully, you are physically healthy as the guidelines for staying at home change daily … and you want to be careful to stay that way.
Please note, we are not at all taking the devastating impact of the Coronavirus lightly. As of the date of this writing, over a million Americans have been diagnosed with this deadly disease. And we have lost nearly 60,000 loved ones — most of whom have not been able to have their family members with them during their last moments.
Worldwide, the toll is unspeakable — over 3 million citizens of Earth have been diagnosed as positive, with nearly a quarter of a million lost. And these are just documented cases. While the odds are excellent for recovery and survival, these numbers are, nonetheless, frightening and tragic.
Thankfully, however, since most of us are adhering to the rules of social distancing, are staying home and are listening to the scientists, we are staying safe.
And we are facing the quandary of how to stay sane while at home.
Some of us are home alone, others with families. Some have children who have had to be home-schooled, others have pets who seem to be the only creatures actually enjoying this pandemic … after all, they love having us home all the time. But how can you stay sane? We have already talked about how to keep your business’s momentum going … but how about YOU?
It Isn’t Forever!
First and foremost, remember that this is temporary!
Maybe it feels like forever, but in the overall scheme of life, a couple of months is just a drop in the bucket. We may have to wean our way back to what we may call “normal,” and that might include some not so normal behaviors for a while (like continued social distancing). But we will get through this! The sacrifice of our listening will be rewarded … and in the meantime, nature cleanses the skies from the auto pollutants, making views of the mountains or horizons or just sunsets clearer.
Be Grateful!
Instead of complaining about being inside, be grateful for the time you can spend with loved ones, whether in person if you are really lucky, or through virtual visits.
Think about creating a gratitude jar, either for yourself or for your children. Gratitude keeps our jars half-full, or makes them refillable. A gratitude jar is an easy thing to make. You can use a template or create your own. And the best thing to do is set a time of day to work on it … say before dinner, or before bed … or, if you have had your coffee, first thing in the morning to get your day going.
Meditate!
OK, so you don’t have to do Yoga or stand on your head … but there are a ton of free apps that can help you with breathing and mindfulness … And even the most jaded of us can benefit from some true quiet time. Insight Timer and Calm are two that come to mind, but there are plenty of other meditation apps out there for your style or frame of mind.
Discover!
Maybe there is a special series on TV or streaming that will engage you and the family. Maybe there is a craft you always wanted to try. This isn’t just the time to spring clean or do laundry … and besides, we all know that we won’t get either done anyway. So why not use the time to do something. Try something or learn something you have been putting off for so long?
Maintain a Sense of Humor!
But remember … whether you have visited the multitude of free museums, shows, concerts or classes that are being offered during this difficult time, the best medicine for mental health is a sense of humor!
Reader’s Digest had it right for all those years! And so did the Bible – Proverbs 17:22 says “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.” (New Living Translation)
So, instead of complaining about grey roots, remind yourself that you are still a better person than Cruella DeVil (and you look better, too!) Keep an eye on social media for the amazing amount of hysterical memes out there that are keeping us focused on what a truly funny species we belong to. Keep a healthy smile as you wonder why a tattoo parlor or tanning salon is considered “essential“.
And remember what your grandmother told you about how many more muscles it takes to frown than to smile. The Grow the Dream team is doing it’s best to keep the smiles, the fun, the discovery and the support there for all of you.
At the end of the day (which may have seemed unbelievably long) – we can promise you: We will get through this. We will hug one another and celebrate and go back to the parks and the beaches. And we will remember this period in history as one during which we were able to stay sane in what seemed to be an insane world.