For just a few minutes, let’s focus on some of the positive aspects of sheltering in place. While we recognize that #socialdistancing is not anything anyone would have voluntarily signed up for, I’m going to ask you, how many times have you lamented the fact that you never have enough time to spend with your loved ones, or start and/or complete projects in your home? How many books have you wanted to finish? How many podcasts have you been meaning to tune into, how many shows have you wanted to binge? Didn’t you recently scold yourself for not spending enough time cooking and relying too heavily on delivery food?! Well from that perspective, this is a great opportunity to tackle some of those goals!
I do recognize it’s not as simple as all that. On top of the fears and uncertainly that everyone is understandably feeling, many have to contend with working from home while also looking after small children or trying to monitor their kids’ distance learning. Working from home on a random Friday with no kids or partners around can be a treat, being forced to stay in with your entire family, or all by yourself, for an extended period of time takes on entirely new meaning. That’s why it’s important to be proactive about how you handle the situation so you can keep your health and sanity in tact.
Exercise is important for staying healthy, both physically and mentally. Get out for a walk, either solo or with your family, whenever time permits. If at all possible, it’s a great idea to carve out a small area of your home for personal fitness where you can stretch and do some calisthenics. Additionally, there are a lot of exercise classes being offered online and/or through social media, and several companies have either started offering their streaming services for free or a voluntary donation. A quick google search for “guided meditation” can also provide some great options for getting out of your head and focusing on your breath, even for a short period of time.
The relative down time also offers opportunities for discovery. While I don’t recommend spending massive amounts of time on social media, no matter how tempting that can be, utilizing the time you do spend on social media wisely can actually be life-affirming right now. Designers are still designing, and posting the results of their labors of love, so show them support with likes and comments. Shifting outside the jewelry space can also offer opportunities for smiling. The actor John Krasinski started a #SomeGoodNews movement on his Instagram account that, along with other accounts dedicated to good news, like @TanksGoodNews can shine some light into a dark day. And searching for #quarantunes can lead you to the discovery of musicians from across the globe. (I personally recently developed a profound love for Lukas Nelson!)
Keeping sane with your kids can be a challenge! I’ve seen a lot of families have busted out the 500 piece puzzles that have likely been sitting on the shelf for a while. Cosmic Kids Yoga offers really fun, free yoga classes targeted to kids age 3 and up that follow along with popular children’s stories. Scholastic.com is a great resource for day-to-day activities that can keep kids engaged, allowing you to get some work done (or just take a breath!) throughout the day. Most importantly, I’ve heard countless child psychology experts weighing in on various news outlets that encourage people to, above all, lighten up on stringent rules during this time. We all know the negative impact of too much screen time, and of course it’s important to keep the kiddos moving and learning, but cut yourself some slack when enforcing existing rules becomes too stressful.
Speaking of cutting yourself some slack…yes, your nails could use a good manicure, your roots are gonna grow out, your gray is gonna show, and frankly, we’re likely all going to come out of this situation at least a tad more voluptuous than when this started….and all of that’s okay! We’re all in this together, and we’re all facing the same issues. And remember, social distancing really means physical distancing. Zoom, FaceTime, Skype and Google Hangouts offer a great way of staying connected during these trying times. It’s unfortunate that the very thing many of us need most to get us through stressful times–human contact–is exactly what we’re supposed to avoid right now, which makes it more important than ever to have some virtual face time with your loved ones. The old adage that “laughter is the best medicine” has never been more true! And while you’re at it, before you connect with loved ones virtually, throw on some of your favorite jewelry; the sparkle will put a pep in your step!
Catherine Davis wrote a great article in Travel & Leisure about her experience of being quarantined in Hong Kong that highlights some of the more positive aspects of being on lock down with her family. And while a lot has changed since the article was published in early March, she does give us some nuggets of wisdom that we can all take to heart, “Occasionally, whenever I do feel a flutter of panic, whether it’s up a mountain or sitting in front of my computer staring at the latest virus statistics, I remind myself to pause, take a deep breath, and enjoy my time in Asia — the good and the bad — as nothing lasts forever. Hopefully not even the coronavirus.”