In the last two months, I have also been laid up after surgery and unable to drive, go grocery shopping, or take a walk. I know the frustration of being cut off from what I enjoy doing. With only one arm functional, I've had to make a lot of adjustments in order to survive and thrive under these conditions.
It's important to find ways to get through the challenges that keep us from our "normal" lives and manage the increased stress that comes with them. So, here are my best five tips for surviving tough times like these:
1. Keep to a regular
routine/schedule:
It may sound silly but having a
routine or schedule will help you get through the day more easily because it
makes your time more predictable. Rise and shine at the same time every day.
Keep your usual bedtime routine. Eat regular meals. Organize your “to do” priorities
according to your needs and the needs of the people around you. Treat this time
of crisis like it is a challenge you will master. Take it seriously and look
for opportunities to move in positive directions. Don’t forget to give yourself
breaks throughout the day, just like you would have if you were at work. The
important thing is to be proactive in navigating yourself through the pandemic
in ways that make you stronger and more confident.
2. Choose your weekly goals and work
at accomplishing them every day, as time allows:
The crisis isn’t ending tomorrow. It
will take weeks, if not months, to resolve. You are more likely to manage your
time and energy effectively by being productive in the interim. Sure, you aren’t
in your normal work surroundings, but that doesn’t mean you should lounge
around and binge-watch episodes of “Married with Children” in your underwear until the pandemic is
over. Use the time wisely to get a head-start on projects you have long thought
about doing, but never did. Stay busy with things that matter to you, even while
you are holed up. Thinking of renovating the bathroom? Do some research on
current style trends, price out options, or even compile a list of local contractors.
Planning a trip to France in the future? Brush up on your French with Babbel
classes online and get suggestions of what to see and where to go from travel
sites and blogs. Have you put off tackling that closet of yours because you
always have “other” priorities? Open that door and dig into that black hole. Sort
the items into piles. Donate what you don’t wear and organize the items you
want to keep. The important thing is to make yourself feel like you did
something useful at the end of every day.
On those rare opportunities that you venture out into the world, be safe, but also be mindful of your surroundings. Look at the world through fresh eyes and remind yourself every time you leave the house that this is a temporary situation. You won’t always be stuck at home. At some point, the crisis will end, and you will get back to your ordinary life again. In the meantime, appreciate the small things that you notice. Make eye contact with people, even as you keep your distance. Smile, nod, interact from a safe distance. The seasons are changing, so take all the glorious sights in. Look for beauty, for joy, for kindness, for goodness everywhere you go. The important thing is to remind yourself that you are still a part of the big world and once the virus has been contained, you will be back out there.
4. Get regular exercise
One of the best stress relievers I
know is regular exercise. I have always made exercise a part of my daily life, but whenever I am facing difficult challenges that create extra stress for me, it's even more important. When I was providing hospice care to my mother, I burned
off a lot of stress with heavy workouts. I continually challenged myself to
keep going with different exercise routines. Now I am busy with physical therapy exercises every day, to regain my mobility and function, so I can get back to my healthy self. I set aside that time because it makes me feel like I have some control over my life, even if I can't do everything I want to do for several more months. Get in touch with your body’s need
to stretch, to move, to feel alive. Let your mind wander as you work up a
sweat. Exercise helps clear the head and brings us better clarity and focus. Regular
exercise can tamp back some of that depression, panic, or fear you are feeling
during these uncertain times. When those endorphins kick in, your mood is
likely to improve. Hate to work out alone? Challenge family and friends to physical
contests. Take an online exercise class. Line dance with your kids or
grandkids. The important thing is to “just do it”.
5. Reward yourself for your
perseverance and determination:
Treat yourself with respect during
this difficult time, by recognizing that there are ways you can and should make
a difference. You have control over certain aspects of your life while you are
stuck at home, keeping your social distance. Use them to your advantage to
survive this. What can you learn from this crisis that will make you stronger,
wiser, kinder, smarter? How can you and your family adapt to these challenges
in positive ways? This crisis didn’t suddenly emerge in a single moment on one day.
It took its time getting started and it will take its time ending. Think about what
you will do when the pandemic begins to wind down. What are those first steps
on the road back to ordinary days? The important thing is to recognize that
your efforts to get through this crisis are a reflection of you as a human
being, so go ahead and make yourself proud by doing well.