Whew! It’s been a crazy ride around here the past several months, and it’s just getting crazier. I shelved my blogging for a while to focus on a family emergency. I can’t go into details but, briefly, this past November, one of my daughters got hit by a car and was seriously injured. She’s working hard to recover, and that has been and continues to be our main focus.
Fast forward to current events: COVID-19. We, like many of you, are practicing social distancing and basically living the hermit life with as little face-to-face interaction outside our home as possible. I’m not interested in politicizing the situation, as that isn’t the nature of this blog. But it’s definitely hard on us, and I’m sure it’s hard on all of you too.
“There is something in even the darkest situations that we can make a positive in our lives.”
― Deborah Norville
With schools, sports, events and other non-essential businesses closing in many areas across the country, people are home with time on their hands and worries on their minds. I thought it might be a good time to focus on things that fall to the wayside during our regular hurried lives. Seranndipity is, after all, built out of happy accidents. While we should not discount the gravity of current events, we can still try to make the best of it.
Some Tips and Ideas for getting through this unplanned “staycation”:
- Take a break from the news cycle. Put down your phone for a while. Close those open browser tabs that keep repopulating with the latest news and counts related to the ongoing pandemic. Yes, it’s important to be aware and stay updated, but none of us need to obsess over it. Check in a couple times a day, but then let it go and focus on you and your household.
- Play family games. Dig out some of those old-school style board games or a deck of cards and simply enjoy a little family time without the distractions of the world around you.
- Read. That book you’ve been wanting to read but never had the time to get around to? It’s waiting for you. Pull it down off the shelf or load it into your e-reader of choice, curl up on the couch with a comfy blanket and let it take you away for a while.
- Learn something new. Have you always wanted to learn something, but just haven’t had the time or opportunity? Today is a good day to get started! There are free online courses and video tutorials for just about anything. You could be strumming that guitar, learning that new language, or practicing those new dance steps in no time.
- Spring cleaning. Clean out closets, organize cabinets, or take care of any other household chores you’ve been too busy to do. Stuff you come across that you’d like to sell or donate can be boxed or bagged and labeled so it’s ready to go later.
- Get creative. Write. Draw. Paint. Discover or rediscover your creative side!
- Pamper yourself. Take a long bath, do your nails, feed your soul – whatever the term “pampering” means to you, do some of it.
Use this break from the hustle and bustle to reflect and reconnect – with yourself, with your immediate family, with your passions.
It is much too easy (and quite understandable) these days to get swallowed up by fear and despair. Taking care of yourself is important. Knowing when to step back, disconnect and reset is important. Try to focus on the good and look for the positives. Keep in mind those things for which you are grateful. It may be cliche, but it definitely helps.
What are you all doing to keep from going stir-crazy? Drop a comment below to share how you’re passing the time in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wishing everyone continued good health! If you must venture out – for work or other necessities, please do so responsibly. Also, so much thanks to all of you out there in the trenches! Stay safe! 
Best to all,
