My Self-Quarantine Life: An Update + Hacks to Make this Time Productive, Fun, Hopeful + Restful
It's been quite a week, hasn't it? My prayer is that as you're reading this, you and your people are healthy and safely tucked away in your house with an adequate supply of food and toilet paper to hunker down for a bit.
I've been nervously following the Coronavirus since the Wuhan, China outbreak in January. As I said on Facebook and on my Instagram, "I've got a lot of feelings about this disease, the current state of things, the unloving chatter (although today, I'd add reckless actions here) toward those who are the most vulnerable populations, and those I've seen step up around the world to speak out, spread love + kindness and help in any way they can."
MY HEALTH + ASHLEY KARLEN PHOTOGRAPHY
Right now, those things that are breaking my heart on every news outlet and circulating through are not what I want to talk about though. I actually debated about jumping on and blogging about this period, but I want you to be aware of what I'm doing to protect myself and you during this time. Plus, we've implemented some things in our home that you may find helpful in yours (and got way longer than I expected).
I do want to assure you that as I do fall into that immunocompromised category, I am taking extreme precautions and not leaving my house. Rick is staying home sans grocery and pharmacy pick ups. We had family coming in this week, and I think it's no secret to anyone that I am so thankful their trip was postponed. We'll still celebrate being together and doing life when we can, but I won't be constantly anxious about my compromised immune system during their visit.
During this time, I am still scheduling upcoming sessions, but I won't be scheduling any session until after April 13th (although this date is tentative based on CDC recommendations and everything else that is happening). If you have anything booked or are in the process of booking, I will be reaching out to you individually to discuss any changes that will need to be made. I am so deeply saddened by having to wait for sessions, but I am confident that this is what needs to happen currently. Thank you so much for entrusting me to be your photographer, and I look forward to capturing future memories with you.
PRODUCTIVE
I know that quarantine is, in itself, stressful. For much of it, we're doing new things, finding new rhythms and overwhelmed by it all. Know that God sees you. He loves you. He knew that this was going to happen, and He knows how the next several weeks and months will unfold.
Make a Schedule.
Don't wing it. Choose a wake up time, a bed time, work hours, meal times, etc. Try to go as closely as you can to your normal schedule but be flexible with it. It's going to take time to get used to and will need some adjusting along the way. Rick and I have slightly different schedules so ours varies from each other's schedule, but we have the same meal times and keep each other informed about virtual meetings, etc. where we need solo space for a bit. We are both working regular hours from home currently. When your work day is done, leave it. Shut off your laptop. Go on a walk. Cook dinner. Transition to what you'd normally do after work. We also scheduled in date nights, sabbaths days, and some separate hang out time to do individual hobbies - video games versus Happy Planning.
Separate your Work Space.
I fail at this daily, but I know on the days I do it well, I succeed. Make a designated area for work. Rick uses our office on the days he works at home. My work space changes as my mood changes or my laptop dies so sometimes it's in the dining room, sometimes it's at the kitchen table, sometimes it's outside on the patio. Every now and then it's on the couch, but I do not recommend that at all if you have stuff you want to really tackle.
Get Dressed.
It's so easy to say I'm wearing pajamas until further notice. I work from home, and I'm the biggest culprit of this. On days when I wear pajamas, it doesn't feel like I get as much done. Here's the thing, you don't have to be uncomfortable to be dressed unless a tie makes you more productive. I wear workout clothes. It's a reminder that I need to move my body but makes me feel more dressed than true pajamas. Shoes always help too. They make you more productive somehow. I don't know how, but they do.
Make a Quarantine Bucket List.
Totally stole this idea from Annie F. Downs thanks to her insta and her TSF Quarantine episodes on her podcast. Rick and I made a 14 day list that we'd love to get done over this time. This includes some home projects and chores that we want to get done, some baking projects, our FlyLady routine (more info on that below) and some relaxing items like brewing beer and reading the 5 Languages of Apology in our hammock. We'll continue adding to it if we accomplish everything or if situations change. Make sure to add fun stuff to the list as well as productive things too!
Use your stuff!
If you're anything like me, you probably have some food in the back of your freezer or pantry that falls into the "if I have to, I'll eat this". Now is the time, my friend! Yesterday, I pulled out a tupperware of fruit that's been in there and made myself a smoothie (Okay, okay, Rick made me a smoothie.) We're going to try to eat everything out of that category first before the food we love so that it won't be in our house any longer.
I've got a ton of face masks, lotions, face washes, body soaps and that's just in my bathroom alone. That doesn't even tackle the graveyard of individual hotel toiletries in the guest bathroom. I'm using this time to try a the Aussie Instant Freeze Mousse on my hair and see if I can use that in my morning routine. I'm also trying to use through some of the soaps and lotions that will free up some space in my bathroom as well as in the guest bathroom. No one is going to know that I smell like hotel soap and pumpkin pie lotion. Well, except you now and my husband...
Tea. Y'all this needs a separate category. We have about 300-400 if not more individual things of tea. We will not run out any time soon. I had already switched my afternoon coffee to try to do more tea so that the tea drawer would close well. We're both doing afternoon tea now in an effort to get rid of this. Don't be afraid to make a short term switch that could make another food item or product you love last longer. For me, it's coffee.
Do a Home Project.
Seriously. I know I've seen several people say this is the time for home projects you got the supplies for and put off, or time to go through closets. These are easy things to put off because we have places to be, people to see, and things to do. Now that you're at home, this is the time to do those. We have several on our Quarantine Bucket List above.
Declutter, Organize + Clean.
No one really wants to do this, so it's another thing that gets pushed off. While you're already at home, it's a good time to tackle some of that stuff. Right now, I'm working through the FlyLady system to try and get some routines that work for us. I have a friend that swears by this system and has told me about it for years. It can seem really overwhelming with the site, but I started working through the baby steps last week and it breaks it down to easy, manageable steps that you can do at any stage of decluttering, organizing and cleaning. I think this is going to be a game changer for me and my family. The best part isAlso, while I'm on this journey I'm youtube binging The Secret Slob and will be checking out Diane in Denmark afterward. If you look at Diane's stuff though, she has some COVID-19 based videos.
Workout.
Free At Home Workouts during Coronavirus
Take a walk around your neighborhood. Just keep your distance. Fresh air is good for your body.
New to Homeschooling?
If you're heading that route with littles, know that I am not a mama and as much as my fur mama heart longs to understand. I'm not facing the difficulties that you are, BUT I am actively in prayer for all of my mama friends. Take this or leave this, but I'm dropping some links and tips I've sent to friends and I've seen that seem helpful.
You do NOT need to replace the same school schedule, same schooling. Give yourself grace and the permission to not do this perfectly. You are doing amazing right where you are.
Reach out to a teacher friend. They know the struggle and can point you to way more resources than I ever could.
Instagram account @busytoddler has a ton of ideas to keep littles busy.
@lindsay.m.wilkins is a homeschool mom and has some incredibly grace-filled words along with what she does for you over in her saved stories and on posts. She's one of my favorite people to follow online. I got sucked in and started exploring her stunning art (again) but I did find out that she also blogged about this whole thing here too.
Free Learning Opportunities from Home for Elementary and Secondary Kids
Use Netflix for their educational shows.
Jump down to the Fun category because there's virtual field trips that do have small lessons with them and can keep kids entertained.
Not great at science? Science Mom has got your back.
FUN
Read.
Y'all know I've got several books that I'm reading at once. I'm working on finishing what I've been in the middle of reading. After that, I'm turning to my "To Read Next" pile. Are you in the middle of a book or have any on your shelf that you haven't read? Any that jump out at you? Now's the perfect time to saddle up to it with some tea (or whatever beverage you have plenty of!). Check out the library too!
Watch TV.
Here's my suggestions according to service provider:
Hulu - Brooklyn 99, Raising Hope, 30 Rock (also free on Prime),
Amazon Prime - The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Psych, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Parks and Rec (also on Netflix)
Netflix - Hart of Dixie, I’ll Have What Phil’s Having, Somebody Feed Phil, To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before + P.S. I Still Love You, Longmire, Great British Baking Show, Stranger Things, NCIS , Kim’s Convenience, The Dark Tourist, One Day At a Time, The Good Place, Nailed It
Disney + - Frozen, Frozen II, Boy Meets World, Moana, Lizzie McGuire
Play a Board Game or Do a Puzzle.
Do or Start a Hobby.
Not sure what to do but want to be creative? Brit.co has all fo their classes free through the end of March.
What do you love to do but don't have the time to do? For us, we'll be brewing a new batch of beer, baking a baguette (finally!), and planting some herbs that we'd already purchased.
Need a hobby? Google hobbies and explore some until you find something that speaks to you.
Go on a Virtual Excursion.
So many places are giving us access to themselves virtually. We'll possibly be using some of these for date nights because who wouldn't want to hike a national park from their couch or watch otters be cute? You could also easily use them for that new homeschooling life if you've had to pivot into that.
20 Virtual Field Trips + Lessons For Kids. (Zoos, Museums, Aquariums)
Houston Zoo (They're doing daily Live videos. I watched Monday's giraffe feeding and loved it!)
Stream Broadway Musicals from your couch. (Finally we can see Hamilton!)
Virtual Disney Attractions you can ride and see. (Frozen Ever After!)
12 Famous Museums you can tour including the Guggenheim Museum.
Try a Service for Free or Take an Online Course.
Make a Local Support List.
This is something we haven't done quite yet but is on the list. We're going to write down the restaurants we want to hit up, the small businesses we want to support and what we want to purchase. Some of these will be current purchases, others will be for future purchases.
HOPEFUL + RESTFUL
Stay Connected to God/Start a new Bible Study (online or on your own!)
I'm jumping in on the study hosted by KellofaPlan over the book, It's Not Supposed to Be This Way, since I'll have extra time for reading. It's got the major perk of being in the word and being in community. Win-win. Although, if you're looking to start reading the entire Bible, check here for how I did it last year and the changes to how I'm doing it again this year. Breakaway Ministries at Texas A&M is doing a daily reading and study of James.
Turn off the news. Explore the goodnewspaper.
If the news is bumming you out, take a break. Let someone know in case there's a major announcement, they can relay it to you. Then stay away. The goodnewspaper has amazing articles on the good that is happening around the world in the midst of this crisis and every single day. You can see some of them here. I also just discovered they have a podcast! Look for the helpers. Look for the good.
Reach out to others.
We're all in this together. Write a card to someone you can't call. Call, FaceTime, text, Skype, Zoom or whatever other people. Set up a coffee date over skype. See what meetings can be done virtually over video. Get creative!
Take up Journaling.
If you're already a journaler, go ahead and do your thing. If you're not, it helps to get fears out on paper. It doesn't have to be pages of pretty
Make time for Gratitude.
To be honest, yesterday morning was rough. I started the day really upset until I sat down and journaled some gratitudes while praying. It puts things into perspective and gets your mind out of all of the terrible news that's constantly bombarding us through Facebook Lives, the TV, news stories, social media, etc.
Take a Prayer Course.
This free youtube course from Val Woerner of Val Marie Paper is a super good refresh and way of diving into prayer, especially when it can be so distracting.
Now, go wash your hands + be kind. Love y'all. Please reach out if you need any prayer, if you're struggling, or if you need a virtual coffee date to shoot the breeze. I'm here.
