Self Care During the Quarantine

We just made it through our 3rd week in quarantine and it feels like sh*t just got real with homeschooling 4 kids, wrangling a toddler, caring for an 8 week old baby, and keeping up with cooking, cleaning and laundry.   

I hear about people posting lofty three month goals, showing off completely organized and clean houses, baking delicious sweets, crafting extravagant projects that would impress even Martha Stewart and sharing quarantine schedules to maximize productivity.  To be honest, I’d like to be doing some of these things (I told you I was a secret organizer last week), but the reality is I’m often getting through each minute much less each day at a time.  

To maintain some level of sanity during the quarantine (when will it end??), I'm doing six things everyday.  I hope you can consider adding them to your day to keep you mentally and physically well for the long haul.  

1. Get some air.  Luckily, the northeast Spring has been kind.  Most days we can get outside even for a few minutes of fresh air.  Something about the smell and signs of Spring (thank you, daffodils), the vastness of the outdoors and the sounds of life outside bring a sense of renewal.  
2. Move my body.  Our kids have been getting PE assignments that involve walks around the block, so it's been a great way to get everyone up and moving.  
3. Write down 5 things I’m grateful for.  I have a journal that I love and write in every night while I'm getting ready for bed.  Even during times where not a lot changes each day, it's important to find gratitude for the little (and big) things.
4. Get enough fuel. I'm loving that I can sit with the kids for 3 meals a day.  It's a time for all of us to connect and get enough fuel to power through the day.  I don't recommend going more than 3-4 hours without a meal or snack during the day. Plan some time to make sure you have a handful of things you like and when you can't get what you want, a C+ meal or snack is fine.  
5. Smile (or laugh).  Ok, that was really two rolled into one, but both are important.  Studies show that a genuine smile, the kind where you get crow's feet around your eyes, can actually improve your level of happiness.  And, we all need to laugh to get through this challenging time period.  
   
6. Sleep. This one is tough for me right now with a baby that doesn't sleep through the night, but I know it's important so I go to bed as early as possible.  The recommendation is 7-8 hours of solid sleep. 

Cheering you on from afar and sending virtual hugs....