Our New Normal

COVID – 19 has changed so many lives over the last 6 months, but most recently it has changed ours locally. This post is not to talk about COVID-19, anything political or whether or not I agree with the actions taken. This post is to simply talk about our families’ new normal and some tips that can hopefully help you as we begin to navigate this chapter in our lives.

THE IMPORTANCE OF A DAILY SCHEDULE

If I’ve learned anything in my life, it is that a schedule is my saving grace! Now is not the time to fly by the seat of my pants just because I have nowhere I need to be, in fact, it really means the complete opposite. Now is a time to have a schedule in hopes to keep some normalcy in my children’s lives. Here is a sample schedule of what our day looks like…

TIPS FOR STAYING HEALTHY

Keeping away from others should not be your only method for staying healthy. Here are some simple tips for staying healthy and building up your immune system.

1. Drink plenty of water – did you know that you are at a minimum, supposed to drink half of your body weight in ounces each day? So if you weigh 150 pounds, that means that you need to drink 75 ounces of water each day. Also, for every caffeinated drink, like coffee or pop, you should add the equivalent amount of ounces in water.
2. Get enough sleep – not everyone requires the same amount of sleep so this tip is one that you’ll need to recognize for yourself. For me, my sweet spot is between 6.5-8. My average is probably 7 and I do really well with that.
3. Eat Healthily – I know, I know, this is a pretty vague tip. Healthy is relative to each person and everyone has their own dietary needs and/or restrictions. My best advice is to eat enough immune-boosting foods like; Almonds, Garlic, Broccoli, Tumeric, Spinach, Orange, Ginger, Yogurt, Blueberries, Green Tea, etc. If your dietary needs allow, be sure to get in all the major food groups so you have a well-rounded diet.
4. Exercise – it is so important to get up and get moving each day, especially because our daily steps will be way down now that we are at home mostly. Regular physical activity can improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance. Exercise delivers oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and helps your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. And when your heart and lung health improve, you have more energy & patience to tackle your daily life… which in my case now includes homeschooling.
5. Self-Care – by self-care I mean that just because you are home, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still get up, get dressed, brush your teeth, do your hair, etc. It is so easy to want to wear PJs all day and forget taking care of yourself… before you know it, 3 days will have passed and you aren’t even sure you’ve taken a shower. Trust me, you’ll feel better if you make sure you meet your basic needs each day.

GET OUTSIDE

Even though it is pretty cold in many places still, please don’t forget to get outside daily for fresh air and vitamin D. Now that we are staying home, you will be getting less and less time outdoors. It is good for your health and your sanity. This doesn’t mean you have to necessarily go somewhere, it could mean just playing on your balcony if you don’t have a yard, going for a walk (walking the dog) around the block or if you have one, playing games in the yard. The point – just get outside, and remember to still distance yourself from others while doing so.

GRACE NOT PERFECTION

Finally, mental health is just as important as your physical health. So give yourself Grace. Many of us are doing new things or things full-time that we used to do only part-time. I never thought I’d be homeschooling my son, but now look at me? My entire dining room has literally turned into a school. Some of us are now working from home, for some our jobs have been taken away for the time being so please give yourself and others Grace because we are all navigating these uncharted waters together.

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