I’m not sure any of us could have imagined a global pandemic when we thought about the year 2020. I sure didn’t. I was thinking it was the year I turn 40 and how I want my 30s to go out with a bang. I was thinking about how to adjust to having two tweens in the house, juggling busy schedules. But here we are, stuck in our homes 24/7, praying for our loved ones to stay healthy and that we don’t kill them from all the sweet togetherness.

I'm trying to practice these habits to make this time of quarantine a little easier:

  1. Institute daily pick-ups: I live in a house that is constantly on the brink of becoming a tornado path. Even as I type this, I can look around and see small pockets of clutter breeding into a massive infestation. Twice a day, I’m going to set the timer for 10 minutes, and each family member picks up as many out-of-place items as possible. It’s amazing how a tidy space improves my mood. For us, these times are right after breakfast and before the girls’ afternoon screen-time.
  2. Commit to daily walks outside: Even though social distancing is a must, and as good citizens (and Christians) we should do it, it does not mean that we should lock ourselves in our home and restrict the outdoors. You can responsibly take walks as a family on a neighborhood street while still practicing safe distance practices. The combination of sunshine and exercise is the best medicine for anxiety and grumpiness, and it’s the way we’re surviving the monotony of the days.
  3. Pray: This is THE most important tool for dealing with this crisis. God is the only one who not only has the power to change it, but he knows exactly how long it will last. He will work this out for good as he always does. When I’m anxious, I give it to him, and ask him to replace it with hope. I’m trying to remember to ask him to show me how I can make an impact in a time when I feel helpless. This is not the first world-wide crisis, and it probably won’t be the last. Our God will use this bleak time in history to do amazing things, and he’s the only one who can shoulder our fears about the future and times of uncertainty.
  4. Carve out alone time: If I wake up in the morning too late, and my girls are already expecting something from me, I struggle to fully recover. I must have a period of time in the morning before anyone calls me Mom, where it’s just me, my thoughts, and my coffee. If you’re not a morning person, find a different time. You deserve to be alone with your thoughts too, so find a time in your day to fully embrace solitude.
  5. Compile a gratitude list: God teaches in scripture that when we’re anxious, we should dwell on things that are good, noble, pure and lovely. It’s amazing how spending a few minutes a day reminding myself of the good in the day can transform my mood. No occasion is too big or small for us to put on the list. Document them all, then say a prayer of thanksgiving for the good that exists during such a difficult time.
  6. Restrict the amount of news I watch: I’m an anxious person, so having constant exposure to the news fuels my worry and fear. It’s good to stay current, but it’s bad to stay consumed with the doom of our current reality. We need to disconnect, and our kids need us to disconnect. If you’re like me, you may feel like if you tune out, you’re complacent and harbor guilt for not caring enough. This is Satan feeding us lies. We can have a heart to care for our hurting world and offer prayers up to our sovereign father, but beyond staying quarantined, there is not much we can do. Stay home, pray, and limit your news!
  7. Hang out with my friends: By FaceTime, of course. Tuck your kids in bed, put your jammies on (if you’re not already in them like me), light a candle, make your favorite cocktail, and enjoy some much needed girl talk!
  8. Carve out time for a hobby: I’m totally guilty of saying “I wish I had more time to…” Guess what, we have time. Go do it! I really want to learn to paint with watercolor paints. My husband started a sourdough yeast starter. Whatever it is, now’s the time.

Finally, I want to offer up one more bonus suggestion. If you have joy whatsoever in your life, praise God! It’s amazing how a heart of praise trumps feelings of hopelessness. So I offer up this passage to the one who’s got this:

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.
Habakkuk 3:17-19