This has been one of the strangest, most rapidly changing weeks I have ever experienced. Only a week ago, Covid-19 was something we were taking precautions against, and within a matter of days it became a national emergency in which schools, local businesses, and facilities all over the world have temporarily closed down with no reopening date clear. Appointments and events are being cancelled by the minute and concerning updates are coming through media outlets at an alarming rate. I have talked to friends and family and have heard a great deal of uncertainty, fear, frustration, and a general feeling of being overwhelmed expressed. 

I am of course experiencing a range of emotions in all of this, too. I feel grateful for my health and the resources I have, while also feeling deeply concerned for those who cannot afford to have unpaid days off of work or who are struggling to get their physical needs met like food or medical coverage. I feel excited to have more time with my kids to plan creative activities and be together, while also feeling tired and more cranky without our usual routine that includes more breaks for myself and opportunities for me to work, rest, and socialize with adults. I’ve gone through a lot of ups and downs of emotions in just the past few days, and I know there are many days ahead. 

That being said, I thought it may be helpful to put out some ideas of things we can do to support ourselves and others during this time. This is not an exhaustive list, but just some of the things I am trying to practice myself and I believe can be useful for others too:

1. Practice self-compassion. Remember it’s ok to feel all of the feelings you are experiencing right now. You can feel concern for others AND feel frustrated yourself. You can see the bigger picture AND still lose patience with your family and kids while you are cooped up in the house. You are human and this is a challenging, unprecedented situation. Allow yourself a lot of grace.
2. Put kindness out into the world. I am a big believer that the intentions and actions we have cause a ripple effect. We may not be able to solve this problem, but it does not mean we are powerless. Post a kind message to a friend or stranger, make a donation to your local food bank or another reputable organization, and practice daily gratitude with your family. Remember to stay in touch with your values and what you love most and connect with those things in some way every day. 
3. Stay connected. Social distancing is so hard because we are social beings and need connection to others. Even if you cannot see your friends and family in person right now, consider having a 15 minute Facetime or phone call every day with someone you care about. Or, do so twice a day! Social engagement is still happening when you get to connect to another person through hearing their voice or seeing their face and it allows you to connect over shared experiences during this time too. You can also go in your backyard and notice beauty around you, plant a garden, and engage your five senses. Staying connected to people and nature can help ground you and offer support during this difficult time. 
4. Form a routine. I like to be spontaneous with plans sometimes, but in general, my family and I thrive having a basic outline of a routine. This situation has thrown pretty much everyone completely out of their routines without having school, work, or typical appointments available. Over the weekend I decided to make a daily routine for “Mommy School”. I outlined our day in different sections including yoga, reading, letter time, math, recess, lunch, quiet time, music, etc. (I am writing this during our not entirely successful or smooth first attempt at quiet time!) Still, I am finding so far that breaking the day into segments that have a plan and purpose, while still having plenty of time for free play, is helping me to cope with the long days ahead while also offering my kids some of the routine they are accustomed to. I know many schools are offering virtual learning and there are resources online for daily schedules as well. 
5. Limit your time reading the news. While it’s great to be informed, we are constantly being bombarded with information and updates about what is going on. I am getting emails literally every 15 minutes from every organization I have ever been involved with about their plans, cancellations, etc. I am not on social media but I can imagine everyone’s posts are dominated by what is happening right now. I think communication and information is essential, but without us even being aware of it, this information overload is overwhelming to our nervous systems. It keeps us activated and looped into the fear and uncertainty and makes it harder to connect to the present moment of who or what is directly in front of us. See if you can limit time reading the news, like maybe just checking it once or twice a day for 15 minutes max, and instead, try to read a book that has been sitting on your shelf and you’ve wanted a chance to read!
6. Laugh. While I know that nothing about this virus and its spread is funny, I believe in times of difficulty it can be helpful to remember to smile and laugh. Laughter releases endorphins and dopamine, both of which help to release stress in the body and help to increase infection-fighting antibodies. So whether its laughing with your partner, watching a funny show, or finding humor in something your pet or child does, remember it’s ok, and in fact good for you, to smile and laugh right now. 

I hope this was helpful in offering some coping strategies for this challenging time. Stay safe and healthy and take good care of yourselves! <3