Hey friends. What a crazy few days! I know that in time of crisis, it’s so easy to get swirled in the news and just read and read and then it’s all doom and gloom. Or maybe that’s just me. But don’t get too overwhelmed! I know it’s scary, but it’s important to be brave and focus on surviving well.
dealing with the anxiety
First up- stop reading news stories. Then do a few things to center yourself. I was struggling so I took a bath, went on a walk, cuddled my dogs, played with my son, went on a bike ride, went outside and got fresh air. These things will help get you in a better frame of mind. Yoga or exercise would help too. Get ready for the day. Listen to an inspiring podcast or your favorite music.
These things will get you mentally ready so you can help your family feel prepared and not fearful.
Surviving Well
Now I want you to think differently about this- instead of wondering how bad it’ll get, let’s focus on what we can control. We can do the basic things to keep our families safe- washing hands and social distancing. And we can help provide a sense of safety and security. That’s it. So let’s put our energy behind it.
When I was little, there was a tornado in Salt Lake City (where my family lived) we happened to be traveling a few towns over when it touched down. I’m sure you can imagine how scary that would be for a kid. But was I scared? Nope! I have great memories from that trip. Why? I felt safe. I knew everything would be ok.
We can do SO much to help our families do the same! I asked my Instagram readers for help brainstorming some ideas for surviving well and I thought I’d share them here. This is what we can do!
what to do when you’re stuck at home
If we are home, let’s try to make it a time that our families can grow closer together. Let’s make it an asset. Maybe, if at all possible, we could build happy memories. My son, like most kids is so excited to not have school! I’m going to make his days magical with some of these ideas (there’s 75 in total)-
- Play board games
- Plant some flowers outside
- Cooking- make some bread
- Watch a new show
- Crafts with the kids
- Outdoor walks
- Bike rides
- Play Doh
- Art time
- Make a family play
- Make a schedule so there’s structure to the day
- Put together a puzzle
- Draw pictures
- Bake cookies
- Paint rocks
- read a book together
- Listen to a record
- Build Lego
- School time
- Science experiments
- Jump rope
- Build a bird house
- Dance party
- Homemade pizza party
- Movie night with popcorn
- Bubbles outside
- Exercising as a family
- Organizing and decluttering
- Take online art classes
- Play Twister
- Give the dog a bath
- Play soccer
- Spring cleaning
- Learn how to crochet
- Scavenger hunts
- Fly a kite
- Bubble bath
- Chores for money
- DIY spa day
- Make soup
- Math problems
- Camp in the backyard
- Go on a hike
- Find animals in the clouds
- Watch the sunset
- Find butterflies
- Wash the car
- Listen to a podcast as a family
- Pick a theme for each day
- Organize phone photos
- Clean up the yard
- Enjoy slow mornings
- Write a letter to a family member
- Indoor egg hunt
- Scrapbook
- Bird watching
- Finishing projects that are almost done
- Build blanket forts
- Sidewalk chalk
- Take a nap
- Act out a book with toys
- Play Solitaire
- Taco Tuesday
- Indoor picnic
- Tell your favorite family stories
- Read a chapter book out loud during play time
- Family science fair
- Snuggling
- Start remodeling a room
- Take a picture everyday and document the best parts
- Play ball with dogs
- Bake homemade bread
- Paint a mural on the wall
- Play hide and go seek
- Make a movie as a family
When I read this list, it feels light, happy and hopeful. So thanks to everyone who shared their ideas. It’s important to be prepared, but also be positive.
Here’s a graphic in case you want to save them for later.
Amazon prime stuff to stash away
I ran to the store yesterday and bought a few small things that I thought would be fun to pull out as an activity. I grabbed an $11 inflatable pool that’ll be perfect for our patio (I know it’s warmer here than the rest of the country, but it might work other places soon). Don is starting to do chores to money so I got a few toys he can earn. I also got bubbles and a play doh set. I’ve stashed those all away to pull out when he needs a good activity (or I need him busy).
I thought I’d share a few links to Amazon prime items that might be good to order and hide in case of a rainy day.
mood setter
In my family, I consider myself to be in charge of the ambiance. I’m the one who lights candles and buys plants and puts on a record and fluffs the pillows and cleans up clutter. These little things can make a little bit of difference. Let’s keep doing them. I hope these ideas are helpful and you feel a little more hopeful. I’m going to do my best to feel brave, even in this scary time. I send you my best thoughts. 💗
I wanted to share this video- it’s from Italy, people singing out their windows. It’s so beautiful and a little sad. But it got me thinking- we have to do what we can now to help each other. We need to find creative ways to help others and be there for them. I’m going to call my grandma today- I know it’ll make me feel better. If you have any loved ones you could call and check in on, it might help. The connections we have so important.
p.s. I have a few more informational things below, but I’m sure you’ve seen this information over and over. Still, I wanted to include it in case it’s helpful to someone.
p.p.s. an FYI I spent yesterday running to stores and buying items to do three to four full weeks of DIY projects (stuff for redoing my thrift store chairs, trelliage, finishing up rooms). I’m hoping that that’ll be a fun distraction for you and me both. I’m going to do my best to keep creating beauty however I can. Hopefully that’ll keep me sane.
What is this virus?
So, what is the coronavirus? Well, it’s a family of viruses that cause a range of illnesses. It can be anything between a cold up to a more severe respiratory illness.
Actually, there are other forms of it that have been circulating for a while. But the new one that’s currently an issue is the novel coronavirus, which hasn’t been seen in humans before now.
So where does this virus come from? It’s transmitted from animals to humans. The other forms of it have come from camels and the civet cat (a tropical cat seen only in the wild). However, the animal source of coronavirus is still being researched. (source)
How to Stop the Spread
So there are several ways to stop the spread of the virus, and also keep you and your family from getting it.
First of all, washing hands regularly with soap and water. Or by using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. This will kill viruses that might be on your hands.
Second, do your best not to touch your eyes, nose and mouth. Since your hands touch so many surfaces that you don’t even think about, if you then go and touch your face then viruses can enter your body. So, I know it’s hard but do your best not to touch your face!
Third, practice keeping a safe distance of three feet from anyone who’s coughing or sneezing. When people cough and sneeze, they release small droplets of moisture from their body. And if they have the virus, that’s how they can spread it to you.
Fourth, be as sanitary as possible when you happen to cough or sneeze. Make sure to cough into your bent elbow or into a tissue. If you use a tissue, throw it away immediately.
Finally, stay at home if you’re not feeling well. And if you have a fever, cough or a hard time breathing, call your local doctor or health authority to seek their advice.
Please note that you should only wear a mask if you have these symptoms. Or if you’re healthy but caring for someone who has these symptoms. The CDC does NOT recommend for healthy people to wear a mask. (source)
How to Prep for A Quarantine
So, now that a lot of events have cancelled, some people are working from home and things are pretty serious, how can you prepare if you happen to get the virus?
First of all, make sure you have enough of the things you’ll need for your family for a 14-day quarantine. Just in case you or your family gets it, you want to make sure you can get through that time if it comes.
Here are a few things you can stock up on:
-Over the counter cold medicine
-Medications you’re already using
-Canned, dry and frozen foods
-Drinks, water, etc.
-Toilet paper
-Diapers
However, only buy just enough for what you would need for 14 days only. If you buy too much or start hoarding, then there won’t be enough for everyone. And sadly, that means that people with lower incomes are usually the ones that suffer because they can’t afford to buy huge bulk quantities of things.
While there’s a lot of panic and uncertainty, people are buying much more than they actually need because that helps them feel in control. Which I totally get! It’s a scary time.
Just get what you need, but don’t hoard so we all have enough.😉
Making This Positive for Your Family
Honestly, I spent a couple of days being really stressed out about this whole thing. While I’m still a little afraid, I came to a very important conclusion…
Now more than ever home is so important! Hopefully none of us are quarantined, but since we’ll all probably be spending more time inside, you might as well have a home that wakes up to greet you. A place that is happy and organized and thoughtfully decorated.
What about you? How are you feeling about all this? How are you making this a positive time in your home? Tell me in the comments below.
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