How to Survive a Quarantine

I think that it's safe to say that when we all were dreaming of New Year's Resolutions and setting big goals for 2020, none of us were imagining a global pandemic plaguing our planet and changing our lives. Yet, here we all are...rowing the same boat in uncharted waters. So HOW do we stay sane in times like these? I have a few tips that I hope will help!

1. Set an alarm. It doesn't have to be super early, but staying in bed all day won't help any of us feel better. As a matter of fact, it tends to do quite the opposite!

2. Keep your morning routine relatively the same (without all the rushing around and yelling, YAY!) 

• Get up
• Make your bed
• If you work out in the mornings, then workout. In your living room or outside, just get it done! 
• If you normally shower in the mornings, then do!
• Put on some clothes. Even if it's yoga pants and a cute tee, it'll make you feel better!
• Brush your hair & brush your teeth. Again, it'll make you feel better!
• If you normally wear makeup, put a little on. It's all about feeling ready to attack your day!
• Whatever else your typical morning consists of- do it! Consistency is key here.

3. Make a list of at least 3 things you want to accomplish each day. I think it's easy with all our new-found "free time" to stress ourselves with the zillion different things we've been putting off doing, and then we feel overwhelmed and don't accomplish any of it instead. Stay focused and stay driven! Make a small manageable list that will help you stay on track and feel productive while still enjoying being at home with your family. 

4. If you're having to work from home, use time-blocking! Set aside specific time for doing your work (after you get your morning routine knocked out) and specific time for whatever else you're wanting to get done (or school work time with the kiddos if that applies for you!)

5. If you have kiddos at home, keep a routine for them, too! A morning routine (getting dressed, breakfast, etc), a daytime routine (school work, play time, lunch time, nap time if that applies for your kiddo), and an evening/bedtime routine. A schedule will help everyone feel sane!

6. HOWEVER, don't be afraid to change it up a little to fit the situation! If it's GORGEOUS outside and a rain is coming in tomorrow, then GO OUTSIDE with your family and ENJOY the time we've all been given! You can do that inside work when it rains. OR, take the work outside in the sun and soak up some Vitamin D! It is scientifically proven to boost our moods!

7. Be involved in your kid's learning! Let's be real, for those of us that aren't accustomed to homeschooling, this can be challenging. But let's look at it as a blessing in disguise! Now we get to be a huge part in our kiddos learning and BE INVOLVED! Set aside the time to do so. Take the stress out of it! We are all going to get through this! And PS, now we don't have to stress about those standardized tests anyways. WOO HOO!

8. Set aside the time to cook a nice dinner , stress free and away from time constraints. Get the whole family involved, and make sure your family is consuming healthy foods good for their bodies. Then sit down as a family, talk, and ENJOY!

9. COMMUNICATE with your family about what's going on and how you will handle what's happening together as a family. Make sure everyone is aware of your family plan and schedule so you can all be on the same page together. We all know how important communication is!

10. Enjoy a family movie together when the day is done, or a family board game, or both! Make this a special memory for your family to look back on- not a dismal one (no matter how stressful this is, that feeling doesn't have to be passed on to the kiddos if you have kiddos!)

11. Video chat/Facetime with friends and loved ones. Check in and stay connected! No one wants to feel alone- especially during a time like this!

12. Get to bed and get some sleep. We all function better with good rest! And again, keep up your normal bed time routine for the kids. We all function better that way!

I KNOW this is a scary time for many of us. BUT, light will always prevail over dark! So be the light the world needs right now, and pass that trait on. We WILL prevail! Be the reason someone smiles today.

"God is faithful, and He will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing He will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:12-14

Do you have a few tips of your own? Drop them in the comments below! 

{Alone we can do so little, but together we can do so much}

Stay safe out there...enjoy...and we love y'all!

XOXO

Chancie & the entire Ruby & Pearl team