Hope you are doing well!
To say it’s been a crazy whirlwind these past few weeks would be a drastic understatement.
While some have been more affected by recent events than others, I think it’s safe to say that life looks a little different for most these days.
With the coronavirus spreading, a lot has changed in our social life. Our “stay at home” order for Houston just got extended to April 30th. The governor of Texas order schools to remain closed for the remainder of the school year. My son is missing his last semester of high school, prom and possibly graduation ceremony.
For the sake of social distancing, people are retreating into their homes for self-isolation. Thus far, it seems to be the best measure to control the pandemic. But while we’re all doing our part by remaining home-bound, let’s face the facts: it’s not easy.
Even if you typically thrive on alone time, self-quarantining can be a challenge for everyone. Here’s 10 ideas how to survive social distancing and self-isolation, for the next few weeks.
Hang Out Virtually
Schedule FaceTime, Skype or Zoom sessions with friends and family, either one-on-one or in groups. Or start a phone group text and share photos and daily updates. It’s the best way to maintain regular social contact without getting together.
Stay In Touch
When was the last time you received something other than bills or junk mail in your mailbox? Send people something handwritten from the heart or greeting cards you have have lying around.
Organization Project
You know that household chore you’ve been putting off for months? Now might be the time to actually do it. Whether that’s reorganizing your pantry, doing a spring clean of your closet to figure out what you’d like to keep vs donate, repotting your plants, or sorting out that junk drawer (everyone’s got one)—there’s never been a better time to dive in.
Learn A New Skill
Now’s a great time to refresh your knowledge of whichever foreign language you studied back in high school or college, or even learn an all-new language. YouTube and Duolingo could help. You’ve always wanted to learn how to draw or paint, order a box of supplies online.
Get Cooking
If you’re trying to make meals at home, there are websites where you can type in what ingredients you have and it’ll give you recipes you can make, like SuperCook or MyFridgeFood. The great thing about the internet is that you can google any recipe you would like to cook. Use grocery delivery services and take this opportunity to teach your children how to cook.
Home Projects
There always seems to be something to do around the house. No that you have time kick those ideas and plans into gear! Home projects can be anything from painting furniture, or update your outdoor space. No matter what plans you have, now is the perfect time to get a jumpstart!
Get Outside
Just because you are social distancing doesn’t mean you have to be stuck in the house. Grab your sneakers and walk your local trail or park or bike around the neighborhood. Just keep maintaining that six-foot distance from strangers you encounter along your path.
Self-Care
Why not try a few face masks, paint your nails, or start a new workout routine? The possibilities are endless! Start journaling, and practicing mindfulness! Everything is stressful and isolation makes it worse, so try to implement things in your lifestyle that will benefit your physical and mental health.
Save Memories
We’re in the middle of a very memorable time in our history, and we’re in it with family. With your phone or with a real camera, document everything happening in photos, and then curate a slideshow or print the photos and place in a scrapbook.
Make Future Plans
Anticipatory happiness, or the joy of having something to look forward to on the horizon, is a very real thing that can help us get through hard times. Plan ways to spend the happier times ahead together, such as finally taking that trip you’ve always wanted to go on, or a celebration party once social distancing ends. Those plans will be waiting for you once this crisis is over — and yes, it will be over. The silver lining? We’ll never take being together for granted again.
My friend Rachel is a local photographer that has taken many of the pictures you see here on my blog. Rachel is using her camera to give back to our the community by capturing what quarantine life looks like. These pictures are part of her Porch Project to see more fun photos click here.
I wanted to showcase how I’m spending my quarantine, thats right cooking! As for Blake he is smiling because he is enjoying all the new recipes.
The best part of this project is seeing how my friends and neighbors are spending their quarantine. We are all making memories in our homes that we will never forget.
Stay healthy and safe my friends…
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