51暗网

Laurie-Ell Bashforth聽|聽 Special to the 51暗网

Over the last few weeks everything鈥檚 changed, hasn鈥檛 it?  

In some way everyone has been affected by COVID-19.  Whether it鈥檚 our frontline people tirelessly working and adapting to the changing situation; our teachers who find themselves without students for the first time ever in their careers; our parents of those students who now have cooped up children 24/7; our children, who have questions, or don鈥檛.  

In one way or another, we鈥檙e all doing things we鈥檝e never done before.

Because COVID-19 can cause such a serious illness, it is critical to slow the spread and to stay home.  

Self isolation, mandatory or voluntary, has been a massive adjustment in our daily lives.  

Talk to anyone, no matter what day of isolation they鈥檙e on, it鈥檚 the same.  

Staying home seems like a welcome reprieve at first, but then it becomes mundane, weary, lonely, scary, chaotic, emotional, hard. 

But we are resilient.  We can do hard things. 

Here鈥檚 the deal.  Now is a time for kindness, especially for yourself. That doesn鈥檛 make you selfish.  It makes you essential, and your well being essential. So, while you鈥檙e at home, with time on your side, here are five crucial words that will help you steady the storm:

ROUTINE(S)

Have them!  Morning, afternoon, learning, work, break routines. It can be as simple as making your bed in the morning, craft time/school time/work time at ten and one at the kitchen table, move your body in the afternoon.  You decide. Routines help prime your brain for whatever is about to happen.  It鈥檚 habit forming 101. But don鈥檛 get pulled into making your whole day one big routine.  There should be lots of flex time too. By having both flexibility and routine, it gives your day meaning and makes it joyful.  

FEEL

Say it with me.  This isn鈥檛 easy.  This is emotional. This is tough.  Feelings may be a little closer to the surface right now.  They should be. They鈥檙e well deserved in this situation. Pay attention to your feelings and the feelings of others in your home.  Don鈥檛 poo poo them. Accept them for what they are, uncertainty and change. Some soundbites to use on yourself or someone in your family when they get sad, mad, frustrated, 鈥�It鈥檚 okay if you鈥檙e not ok right now.  This is difficult. What can I do to help?鈥� 

AFLOAT

All of it, goes for the children at home with you.   Maybe they understand, maybe they don鈥檛. They do know something鈥檚 different.  And it鈥檚 okay to expect a little bit more from them right now. If everyone is under one roof, everyone needs to pitch in to help create a home that鈥檚 safe and sane.  Take it from a person whose job it was to manage 25 little people in a small classroom.  My job was to captain the boat, but it was everyone鈥檚 responsibility to keep the boat afloat.  Sometimes it still sunk. It happens. Just shake your head, laugh it off, and try again to get it sailing smooth once more.  Or abandon ship, together. Family means no one gets left behind.

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If there is only one thing you can do, it鈥檚 this.  Connect with others. We are social beings who crave connection.  Consider it a lifeline. A way for you to give and receive. Reach out any way you can to either hear someone鈥檚 voice or see them face to face.  Pick up the phone in an old school phone call, or do it virtually with Zoom, Skype, Facebook Messenger. Whatever you choose, do it, and do it often.  Your world, and theirs, will become a little less small, not so lonely, and suddenly hopeful.  

ACT

An antidote to fear, and getting out of your own head, is asking yourself, 鈥淗ow can I be of service today?鈥�  It鈥檚 an actionable plan that doesn鈥檛 need to be big and doesn鈥檛 have to go far.  Small acts of kindness and giving of yourself are acts of service. It could be for your children, your spouse, your parents, your community, or even your dog.  This simple question gives us the freedom to gain some control in an uncontrollable situation. And serving others is two-fold. The receiver receives, as does the giver. So put this question in your back pocket and pull it out when you need it.  See what happens. 

Stay home.  Stay healthy.  If you have questions or need anything delivered, please call us.  We鈥檙e open and here to help.  

We鈥檙e in this together.

Want more healthy hints?  Find us on Facebook at Pharmasave Jasper or sign up for monthly emails at Pharmasave.com.  Just put Jasper as your local store.