How to Stay In is a series about redefining "normal" life in order to take care of ourselves and one another during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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While thinking about all of this is fairly bleak, one thing gives me hope: This time around will be different—both because we won’t be blindsided by it, and because we know so much more about the coronavirus now. We have an opportunity to say to ourselves, “What, in four months, would I absolutely regret not doing when I had the chance?” and “What small-ish things do I wish I had done in January 2020, that I can do some version of now?”And small-ish really is key here. Obviously, it would have been great to, say, not book a non-refundable April trip to Europe, or to know in December that you were going to suddenly get laid off in March, but that doesn’t exactly help you here. Instead, think more specifically about your day-to-day comfort, habits, and health. What were/are the biggest pain points? What might be exacerbated by cold weather, being indoors, or an unforeseen catastrophe (like a job loss or illness)? And what, if anything, could you do (or plan to do) now to feel a little bit less bad come January?If you’re filled with dread about the coming winter and want to do something about it, here are some questions to consider. Two tips, before you start, though:
- As you think through this, you may want to make a mega list of all of the things that could possibly be helpful… but then do a second pass and choose the 3–5 things that stand out to you as the highest priorities. You can always revisit the list in a month or so and choose a few more to work on. But try to resist the urge to do everything all at once; it’s too easy to get overwhelmed and give up that way.
- If your cash flow and resources are limited at the moment, it might still be worthwhile to think about this stuff now—because then you can keep an eye out for good sales, try to save a little money here and there, hit up thrift stores or Facebook resale pages, celebrate when you stumble across the exact thing you need in a neighbor’s trash pile, etc.
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Cool? Cool.This might look like…If your time, money, and energy are super limited and you can’t do much between now and December, look for one seemingly small but wildly irritating source of frustration in your life, the thing in your home or your room that pisses you off every few days, if not more—e.g, a too-small trash can, the absence of blinds or curtains, or socks that are always slipping down.Even though a lot of people are mourning the end of summer and its attendant outdoor hangouts, I suspect that masked hangs are going to continue in parks, even as the weather gets worse. Because, as the Norwegian phrase goes, “There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing." While there is absolutely such a thing as bad weather (wind!! horrible!!!), this phrase still makes its point. So: do you need an actual winter jacket, actually good gloves, waterproof boots, or those pocket hand warmers? If you are lucky enough to have a patio or backyard, would an outdoor space heater or patio string lights make a demonstrable difference in your life? Take note and start researching your options.If you’re regularly feeling like a garbage slug at the end of the day, it could be time to re-think your setup. That might look like stacking up books to create a standing desk; buying a used monitor on the cheap; getting a lap desk that would change your working-from-bed life; moving your desk near a window; or downloading a white noise app and shutting your door to better drown out your housemate’s calls. Or it could just mean finally figuring out lunch—freaking lunch, my nemesis—once and for all.
What can you do in the next few weeks to make sure your physical and mental health are as good as they can possibly be?
- Getting a flu shot
- Taking care of That One Nagging Issue—bad allergies, birth control, contact lenses, the tooth that’s been feeling not quite right, etc.
- Finding a therapist and starting sessions, getting back into therapy if you’ve let things slide, and/or joining a support group
- Getting a thermometer, some non-expired cold and cough medicine, cough drops, ibuprofen, tissues, etc.
- Finding one style of face mask that really works for you—comfortable, a good fit, protective, easy to wash/sterilize, etc.
- Setting a boundary with a friend, coworker, or family member
- Learning to prepare one low-fuss meal that leaves you feeling nourished
- Starting an extremely low-pressure workout routine or coming up with a plan to move your body somehow regularly. (I have taken my own advice in this regard and, based on a Swole Woman reco, started doing an at-home 20 minute bodyweight workout a couple of times a week. Catch me flipping full suitcases in November!!!)
Is there something you can do in the next couple of weeks that will solve one (1) recurring problem in your life?
Is there anything that would help you deal with cold and wet weather, practically speaking?
If you’re working or studying from home, are there any changes you could make that would help you focus or feel good?
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