Quarantine Life: Coping 101.
It’s 7 am.
Normally at this hour, I am waking my kids up to get ready for school. Today, I am sitting on my balcony, watching the sunrise. With the exception of a few cars driving by, it’s completely quiet.
I haven’t read the news yet, because I know what’s coming. The Corona Pandemic continues to wreak havoc everywhere, and the situation will likely get worse before it gets better.
Scary things are happening. People are dying, businesses are closing down, and the world is in chaos.
I try to remember that it’s not all terrible. Many people are feeling more gratitude for little things that previously went unnoticed, like toilet paper, or the freedom to step outside for fresh air. There’s a sardonic humor in the situation, too, like people insisting that things like eyebrow waxes are as essential as basic household items.
I’ve seen my fair share of memes from frustrated parents wanting out, some depicting parents drinking alcohol while their kids are tied up in the background. I can’t say I find that very funny.
Despite the ups and downs, and desperately wanting this all to be over, part of me takes solace in knowing that in the days ahead there are no travel plans and that I have nowhere else to be.
When we encounter life’s inevitabilities, coping mechanisms vary from person to person. During this unprecedented pandemic, introverts might not experience the same social withdrawals that extroverts will. People who have had exposure to the virus will likely experience more worry than those who have had no exposure.
Some of us choose to snack on skittles (me), while others are making healthier food choices.
Some of us are shutting down and feeling intense pressure while others are seizing the moment and becoming more productive than they have ever been. I’m guilty of both.
What’s most important is not how we cope with the days ahead (beyond being diligent about social distancing and staying safe), but that we let go of the expectations that burden us and relieve ourselves of the pressure to do anything we don’t feel equipped to manage.
Let’s give ourselves permission to stop apologizing for how we are managing during these chaotic times.
See the post below for some of the tips I use to stay sane during quarantine.
