By: Kierstin Tonic
This quarantine has some of us in a whirlwind. Many of you are now working from home, homeschooling, and keeping house. It hasn’t been an easy transition. Here are some tips to help you ease into this temporary normal. How does it go, “I did it, so you don’t have to”? This is what I learned in my transition, the hard way:
Adhere to a schedule as much as you can.
Now that you are home, you don’t have to get up as early to get dressed, drop the kids off at school, and commute to work. Use this time to wake up a little bit later. All of you could use the rest and will help bring balance to the day if you are well rested. Get up ahead of the kids to set up workstations for the day. Allow your schedule to have 10-15-minute breaks. If possible (be sure to follow employer and school guidelines), end the school day a little early to give yourself time to focus on your work. Then, just as you would any other day, when work is done have dinner and continue the same schedule as if you were still working outside the home. Enjoy family time and keep the same nightly routines. You and your family are used to having structure to your day. The more you can maintain that normalcy, the less chaotic the days will seem.
Engage with your family.
I know you’re like, “Well damn! Aren’t I doing that already with all of this homeschooling?”. Yes and no. Neither of you want to be doing this right now. Try to look at it from that perspective. Do activities that you all like doing together. Allow them to help with dinner. Go for a walk or bike ride (practicing proper social distancing for others who may be doing the same). Make Friday nights movie night and Saturday night date night with your spouse. Create a time for you all to enjoy this new time together.
Meal Plan and Prep…
…as much as you can. It will save time and energy in the long run. Remind kids who are old enough that they would not be able to snack all day long if they were in school. Allow them to grab healthy snacks on their breaks and after schoolwork is done for the day. Keep breakfast simple. Present basic options continental breakfast style. Toast, eggs, fruit, and cereal are quick and easy options that older children, especially can help themselves to. If you have time on the weekend prepare of batch of pancakes and freeze them for another option that can be just popped in the toaster. Make ahead egg muffins are another easy make ahead, that is quickly microwavable. Have a game plan in mind for dinner and again, keep it simple. Just because you’re home every day doesn’t mean you have to make Sunday dinner every evening. Speaking of Sunday, think about making two meals so leftovers can last a couple of days to give yourself a break from having to cook every single day. Or use leftovers for lunches.
Make time for yourself daily.
Now this one can be a struggle, but it is mandatory for your mental health. Get everyone accustomed to the part of the day that you take for yourself. This doesn’t have to be one stretch of time either. For example, if you normally go to the gym in the evening, use that same time to workout at home. After dinner head to your quiet place and do whatever it is you want for at least an hour. Journal, meditate, take a long shower, whatever it is you can do to relax and take a break from it all. Do it consistently and everyone will get used to the fact that this is your time and you are off limits.
Know that this is temporary.
Stay as positive as you can and don’t accept this as the new permanent normal. We don’t know when this will end but rest assured that it will. Be realistic with yourself and don’t add pressure attempting to do everything perfectly. This too shall pass.
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