I am in Day 6 of mandatory quarantine after flying home from Mexico to Canada and I'm not particularly enjoying it! First of all it is -2 degrees celsius but at least the sun is out this morning. TV is far too accessible here and I've had to wean myself to a couple times a day from all the information.
Things that are normally easy for me to do, like my morning writing, are difficult to get into right now. I understand it is the stress that is causing this and I will gradually get past it. How am I going to survive this?
I had to take a look at what my life normally looked like before all this happened because I had a daily schedule. So how am I, and you, going to get back on track? I will say right now that I am lucky because I am already retired. I don't suddenly have to put up with job loss or my spouse at home 24/7 or my children underfoot the same amount of time. If you are currently transitioning into a new way of living, write down your old daily schedule first. This will give you a base to start with as you replace things on your old list.
1. Write down my old daily schedule
I normally wake up at 6, make the coffee, and do a bit of deep breathing and make my list for what I am grateful for. l am doing well right now if I put 3 things on that list! Then I read any emails and facebook posts that came in during the night and answer them if required while I drink my first cup of coffee. This happens whether I am in Mexico or Canada.
I have a book I am currently reading and using as a daily journal. 'Born for Love' by Leo Buscaglia is something I read daily 12 years ago and I decided to read again starting January 24th, 2020. Of course, I had no idea what would happen in our world shortly after I began. As I am writing this blog I realize my book was still in the suitcase I have yet to unpack. I found it quickly and caught up. One thing that really resonated with me is today's reading. We all have the opportunity to 'reignite our enthusiasm for life' as a child would right now. When is the last time you took 10 minutes to just sit and watch an ant or a bird go about their daily life.....10 minutes that you aren't stressing out with what is going on?
'We have the opportunity to reclaim that small part of ourselves that finds joy in the commonplace and adventure in each moment. It may be buried under a thick crust of gloom, but it is still very much alive within us all.' Leo Buscaglia
It is time to pour my 2nd cup of coffee!
2. Question - Am I an extrovert or an introvert?
"Please don't talk to me before 8 AM. In fact, I'm happy if you don't talk to me before 10 AM!" I am an introvert, although people who know me might argue that statement with me. Even though I am social, I need to have a number of 'alone times' during the day in order to re-energize. If you are an introvert and are suddenly deluged with a stay-at-home spouse and/ or children you may feel like you are going crazy and ready to move out!
It is SO important to figure out what times during the day you absolutely must hide out or, in the case of an extrovert, must have social connection with others. If you live with someone else, please sit down right now and have a discussion about your needs.....otherwise your relationship might not survive what is going on.
3. Eat Healthy - Important!
I've gone through a process the last few days of re-integrating into Canada from Mexico and this has included changing my diet. In Mexico, I'd start my early day with a sweetbread and coffee and then eat breakfast about 10:30 AM. I would follow with a mid-day meal about 2 PM and have appies around 7 PM. I'm trying to do the same here.
The first few days of social distancing, even before leaving Mexico, I realized I was imbibing in one too many alcoholic drinks, something that wasn't normal for me. I forgave myself and have scaled back to a glass of red wine with my appies each evening.
It's so important right now to eat well and enjoy eating. If you have never been much of a cook maybe take it up as a new hobby or order in a special meal at least once a week. If you love specialty coffee, buy it. If you enjoy a particular wine for a special occasion, have that special occasion at least twice a week. I like baking but I like eating my baking too which could be a problem when I'm not able to get outside and walk it off! What I am doing instead is mixing up cookie dough and throwing it in the freezer for later. If I really need some cookies I can take a small chunk out and cook up half a dozen.
Whatever you have for dinner make it a special occasion by 'presenting' the meal by using garnishes or sauces, just like you get when you are eating out. That slice of orange or even a dill pickle served on the side can add to the look of your meal.
4. Stay in contact with friends and colleagues
Now, more than any other time in history, it is so important to stay in touch with friends, family, and colleagues, especially those you are normally in contact with daily, weekly, or monthly. This can also help the extroverts out there when they are going through isolation so they don't drive the introverts in their household crazy. Bill Withers died today but his song will live on, especially now.
Lean on Me
I made a list of the people who I normally connect with during the week and will continue to phone or whatsapp or messenger them. When we have the term 'isolation' in our heads we sometimes carry that to another level because we don't want to bother people. BOTHER PEOPLE PLEASE!!!!! Even if it is just a 5 minute, "hi, how are you?" it may be the only time they talk to someone that day.
If you are used to meeting up with a group, get your group online. Wednesday afternoon I was invited to a wine and appy meet-up with a group of local women. Thursday afternoon I met up with a group that gets together twice a month at a pub. it was great to see people. we even invited a couple of people from out of country. It was also a reason to get out of my pyjamas! The platform we are using is Zoom
It's a crazy time! Stay safe everyone.
Susan Gerle is a traveler, writer, teacher, mother, and grandmother. Please feel free to share her posts with others or sign up to get her new blog posts.
Things that are normally easy for me to do, like my morning writing, are difficult to get into right now. I understand it is the stress that is causing this and I will gradually get past it. How am I going to survive this?
I had to take a look at what my life normally looked like before all this happened because I had a daily schedule. So how am I, and you, going to get back on track? I will say right now that I am lucky because I am already retired. I don't suddenly have to put up with job loss or my spouse at home 24/7 or my children underfoot the same amount of time. If you are currently transitioning into a new way of living, write down your old daily schedule first. This will give you a base to start with as you replace things on your old list.
1. Write down my old daily schedule
I normally wake up at 6, make the coffee, and do a bit of deep breathing and make my list for what I am grateful for. l am doing well right now if I put 3 things on that list! Then I read any emails and facebook posts that came in during the night and answer them if required while I drink my first cup of coffee. This happens whether I am in Mexico or Canada.
I have a book I am currently reading and using as a daily journal. 'Born for Love' by Leo Buscaglia is something I read daily 12 years ago and I decided to read again starting January 24th, 2020. Of course, I had no idea what would happen in our world shortly after I began. As I am writing this blog I realize my book was still in the suitcase I have yet to unpack. I found it quickly and caught up. One thing that really resonated with me is today's reading. We all have the opportunity to 'reignite our enthusiasm for life' as a child would right now. When is the last time you took 10 minutes to just sit and watch an ant or a bird go about their daily life.....10 minutes that you aren't stressing out with what is going on?
'We have the opportunity to reclaim that small part of ourselves that finds joy in the commonplace and adventure in each moment. It may be buried under a thick crust of gloom, but it is still very much alive within us all.' Leo Buscaglia
It is time to pour my 2nd cup of coffee!
2. Question - Am I an extrovert or an introvert?
"Please don't talk to me before 8 AM. In fact, I'm happy if you don't talk to me before 10 AM!" I am an introvert, although people who know me might argue that statement with me. Even though I am social, I need to have a number of 'alone times' during the day in order to re-energize. If you are an introvert and are suddenly deluged with a stay-at-home spouse and/ or children you may feel like you are going crazy and ready to move out!
It is SO important to figure out what times during the day you absolutely must hide out or, in the case of an extrovert, must have social connection with others. If you live with someone else, please sit down right now and have a discussion about your needs.....otherwise your relationship might not survive what is going on.
3. Eat Healthy - Important!
The first few days of social distancing, even before leaving Mexico, I realized I was imbibing in one too many alcoholic drinks, something that wasn't normal for me. I forgave myself and have scaled back to a glass of red wine with my appies each evening.
It's so important right now to eat well and enjoy eating. If you have never been much of a cook maybe take it up as a new hobby or order in a special meal at least once a week. If you love specialty coffee, buy it. If you enjoy a particular wine for a special occasion, have that special occasion at least twice a week. I like baking but I like eating my baking too which could be a problem when I'm not able to get outside and walk it off! What I am doing instead is mixing up cookie dough and throwing it in the freezer for later. If I really need some cookies I can take a small chunk out and cook up half a dozen.
Whatever you have for dinner make it a special occasion by 'presenting' the meal by using garnishes or sauces, just like you get when you are eating out. That slice of orange or even a dill pickle served on the side can add to the look of your meal.
4. Stay in contact with friends and colleagues
Now, more than any other time in history, it is so important to stay in touch with friends, family, and colleagues, especially those you are normally in contact with daily, weekly, or monthly. This can also help the extroverts out there when they are going through isolation so they don't drive the introverts in their household crazy. Bill Withers died today but his song will live on, especially now.
Lean on Me
I made a list of the people who I normally connect with during the week and will continue to phone or whatsapp or messenger them. When we have the term 'isolation' in our heads we sometimes carry that to another level because we don't want to bother people. BOTHER PEOPLE PLEASE!!!!! Even if it is just a 5 minute, "hi, how are you?" it may be the only time they talk to someone that day.
If you are used to meeting up with a group, get your group online. Wednesday afternoon I was invited to a wine and appy meet-up with a group of local women. Thursday afternoon I met up with a group that gets together twice a month at a pub. it was great to see people. we even invited a couple of people from out of country. It was also a reason to get out of my pyjamas! The platform we are using is Zoom
It's a crazy time! Stay safe everyone.
Susan Gerle is a traveler, writer, teacher, mother, and grandmother. Please feel free to share her posts with others or sign up to get her new blog posts.
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