Steps In Life with Covid-19

Like every thing else at the moment, life revolves around Covid-19 updates. It has affected every single person on the planet. Like it has for so many, for me personally, it has affected my job, my church life and how I deal with every day life. I went from working 3-4 full days a week to being a full time stay at home wife and mama-to-be. I won’t be returning back to work until after baby girl arrives. Very quickly I needed to change my every day to adapt to this new normal. 

Here are the steps I took to adapting:

1. Let it go - I know this sounds silly but really we all had big plans for 2020 and now it all looks completely different. We need to realise that this for us is going to be the normal for a while. That doesn’t mean that we let those dreams and plans die but we put on hold some of those. This may take longer for others especially those who love to dream big and achieve really big. You essentially grieve but don’t let that drag out. 
2. Throw the schedule out the window! If you have a written schedule, literally throw it out the window or in the bin. Schedules are pointless now. They will only remind you of what you used to be able to do at what times and then you’ll loop around in missing that old life and be back to square one.
3. Create a Routine - I can hear you saying that I just said to you to throw the schedule out the window. Yes I did. Routines are different. Routines are patterns or sub sequential steps not a time restricted plan or attack of the day. For me, I don’t have a routine for my whole day. I’m sure that will change as soon as little missy arrives. At the moment I have a morning routine and an evening routine. The morning routine involves getting up, dressed and ready for the day, making the bed, having breakfast and tidying up. The evening routine involves making sure the kitchen and house is tidy and smelling nice for when Curtis gets home from work and getting dinner prepped. Sometimes, I’ll feed the dogs or we’ll take them for a walk or the routine involves getting the washing off the line.
4. Get ready for your day - I already covered a little of this. You achieve so much more and feel so much better if you get dressed in actual clothes and  brush your teeth. For some people it is doing their hair nicely for the day or putting on makeup. Whatever it is or takes for you to feel ready for the day, do it. 
5. Spend time with Jesus - Obvious but essential! Through this whole craziness I really believe that God is doing wonderful things through his church. We need creative ways of connecting together as a church so we need to be tuned in. And it changes your perspective 
6. Change your perspective - this can be hard but makes life so much easier when you get there and just maintain it. Instead of seeing the restrictions as can’t, try to see them as opportunities of finding the new can and get creative.
7. Go for a walk every day - exercise is important for health but sanity also. We have been trying to walk our dogs every day. This is not relaxing whatsoever. One pulls nearly the whole way and the other doesn’t get how to consistently walk but rather stops and then bolts to the end of her leash. But still we go. It gets you out of the four walls of your home, you get some fresh air and some sunshine. And you can still social distance while walking. 
8. Make a project for the day - This helps me with boredom. They’re not massive tasks but they still mean that you accomplish something in your day. For example, today’s was make the bed in the guest room. I know this sounds simple. It is. But I googled how to do hospital corners on the sheets and I even ironed the pillow cases (for those who don’t know, I hate ironing). Then I dusted and wiped the fingerprints off the light switch and the doors. I also folded a load of clothes and put a load of towels on. But the thing remains I achieved something today. There’s no need to overload your goals onto one day. Tomorrow is house cleaning day. The next few projects I have in mind are: cleaning up a shelf or two in my pantry, clean one kitchen cupboard at a time and sort out the entry table drawers. I have a minimum requirement for the day, if I do more, yay me but I like to have done at least one thing. 
9. Turn the news off - Not long after this whole thing started, I stopped watching the news. This was a decision I made because of the fact that I just found it depressing and too much. I didn’t however totally shut it out. I still use social media so if there is an update that I really need to see, such as new restrictions, they generally get posted on Facebook and I can stay up to date but at my pace. If I want to read some news or weather forecast updates, I can google it. So control what is coming in on that front.
10. Be nice to yourself and reach out - It isn’t a comfortable time for anyone really. When I started writing this, I was going really well and adapting. But to be brutally honest, it has been getting harder. I am starting to miss seeing people’s faces, when my little girl arrives only Curtis can visit us in hospital, I miss seeing my church family and I miss the ability to go out freely. In light of all this, be nice to yourself. Give yourself some grace, look after yourself but don’t allow yourself to wallow. This morning, partially being so pregnant, I woke up having a meltdown. I was over being pregnant and missing being able to reach the floor easily and bend over without being sore, I was wishing that I could go to work and  that I could see people. I had a friend message me about something and as the conversation went on, she really encouraged me to enjoy the time even though slowing down so ubruptyly is hard when you’re used to going constantly. This really helped because I was then able to have connection but also someone understood where I was coming from. And reality is, if today sucks, that’s ok. But make sure that you tidy up the loose ends by apologising if it is required and making sure you start tomorrow better and go again tomorrow. 

I hope this really helps some of you adjust. Remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day. Many of you are doing things you have never thought you would be doing and are totally smashing it out of the park! Message or call a friend today and encourage them. This then helps for you to be encouraged as well . In my journal this morning I wrote this: Take heart. Hold on to hope. Put on faith. Be brave. Apply courage. Wear a smile. Keep waiting expectantly. And don’t give up. 

Keep on my friends! You’re doing amazing!!