Bored! Cabin Fever! Ready to Get Out of the House! No, I’m good!
Life has definitely changed from how it once was with having the freedom to go wherever we wanted whenever we wanted to now be in a place of social distancing due to COVID-19. For people who like being on the go, sheltering in place may be a challenge for them. For others, being at home and working from home is perfectly fine. If they had their way, it would be their choice to continue working from home and it wouldn’t bother them one bit.
While I’m praying for this to be over soon, I’m beginning to wonder if I’m more of an introvert than an extrovert. I’m enjoying my quiet time and the current environment I’m experiencing. When I first moved to my current location, I selected a unit on the water because, for me, water is calming and relaxing. The view is of the lake and the one-mile walking path where I see people walking, running, biking, and fishing throughout the day. Ducks in the water, birds chirping, and dogs barking are all elements I hear or see as I gaze out the window or sit on the balcony.
Several weeks before we started to shelter-in-place, I was questioning the decision of selecting a unit facing the water. I was thinking that this could be money going into the savings account instead of into this unit. Fast forward to the current day–I’m thankful for my enjoyment of water. Otherwise, I’d be sheltering in place in a unit with a view of another building. Looking at people and people looking at me.
“The rainbow that I have put in the sky will be my sign to you and to every living creature on earth. It will remind you that I will keep this promise forever. When I send clouds over the earth, and a rainbow appears in the sky, I will remember my promise to you and to all other living creatures. Never again will I let floodwaters destroy all life. When I see the rainbow in the sky, I will always remember the promise that I have made to every living creature. The rainbow will be the sign of that solemn promise.” Genesis 9:12-17 CEV
So, what do you do with all of this spare time? Here are some ideas for stress management and ideas to lift someone else’s mood.
- Use essential oils–one of my favorite things to do when establishing a calm atmosphere.
- Deep breathing exercises
- Journaling
- Write a letter to someone and mail it. It’s fun when the person calls and says “Hey, thank you.” It’s also fun to receive something in the mail that is unexpected and not a bill that needs to be paid.
- Listen to music.
- Say, thank you to someone, either by text or phone call.
- Pull out the stack of greeting cards you have and start mailing them. I sent my friend a congratulations card. I don’t remember who it was originally for, but I congratulated her on being my friend. Even if it’s a birthday card, cross out the word birthday and add “friend’s day”. Be creative!
- Sit down and watch a movie without interruptions. Now, this one is hard for me. It can take me up to 3 hours to watch a 1 ½ or 2-hour movie because I keep stopping the movie to do something else. One day, I’ll make it through a movie from start to finish without pausing it.
- Learn something new; both fun and relevant.
- Go for a walk to get some fresh air, reflect, and exercise. There will come a day when we’ll need to put our work clothes back on and we need them to fit.
- Randomly send someone an electronic gift card–this has been fun for me and others.
- Read a book or listen to an audiobook.
- Declutter–I have stacks of papers that have magically found a place in my home that I’m determined to organize and shred.
- Start a journal that includes letters you write to your child(ren) or someone you love.
Whatever you do, don’t give in to the pressure from others of what they think you should be doing. If you have the desire to start a new project–great. If not, enjoy your quiet time without the nagging voices of others pushing you into something that’s not meant for you to do at this time. Everything has a season and a time. For everything, there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NLT). I’m not saying don’t prepare, I am saying don’t be pressured and made to feel uncomfortable.
Remember that what consumes your mind, controls your life. A point to add–avoid becoming obsessed with reading about COVID-19. I know that we need to keep up with what’s going on, staying updated is one thing, but when you obsess over it, the topic takes control of your mind and actions. During this time, focus on what’s important to you and connect with a source of comfort. “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3 NIV
(All of the pictures in this blog were taken from the balcony of my apartment.)
