Quarantine!

Being a blogger is something I’ve wanted to do for years, but I never knew where to start. I was plagued by feelings of self-doubt and worried that no one would even read what I took the time to write. I’m a pretty confident person, so this paralyzing fear was totally new and inexplicable to me. Who knew that contracting Covid and enduring a frustrating quarantine away from the majority of my family would finally push me off the cliff to get started? I can’t say that I don’t still feel shy about putting myself out there, but anything at this point is better than isolation.

It definitely hasn’t been easy. For one, my Type A personality is screaming to be in the office, doing what I do best. I belong in high heels and blazer seizing the day and running a bustling company. Instead, I’m in pajamas, fighting a fever that won’t break, and barely able to string two sentences together with my employees over Microsoft Teams. The baby is NOT thrilled about being stuck with me either, and although she isn’t feeling the best, she’s at that stage where she wants to explore everything: “Oh this is new! Let’s put it in my mouth…” That includes my computer, cell phone, and just about anything within reach of her chubby little baby hands. The fact that I won’t let her have free reign is an endless source of frustration for her.

Needless to say, it’s taken a few days to adjust, but I think we’ve settled into a reasonable operating cadence that will see us through the next five days. Hopefully, it will also protect my husband and older two girls from getting ill. If you find yourself in a similar situation, here are a few tips to making it through to the other side of quarantine.

Quarantine Survival tips for the Type A Personality

• BEFORE getting sick, make a plan on what you will do if you have to quarantine.
  • If you have children, what are their school or daycare policies for exposure and infection? (Spoiler alert: their protocols may be wildly different from CDC and local health department guidelines, so it’s important to know in advance.)
  • Are you equipped to work from home if possible? Have you communicated any needs to do so with your employer? If you can’t work from home, how does your company handle a Covid-related absence?
  • Who is your support network if you do need to go into quarantine? Would they be able to help with housework, grocery shopping, or childcare?
  • Does your area have access to delivery services such as Grubhub, Shipt, and/or Instacart? Do you have an active account with one or more of these services?
  • Do you have a plan for you and your spouse on who will handle what if one or both of you need to quarantine? The plan will look very different if only one of you or one child is infected, and you are trying to keep the rest of the household healthy.
  • Do you have a few days’ worth of ready-made meals in the freezer available to cook with minimal effort? If not, check out my recipe page for easy freezer meals for the crock pot and pressure cooker. Especially if you are in a rural area where delivery is limited, or an overwhelmed urban center with astronomically long delivery delays, having simple options on hand can make all the difference.

• When you are in quarantine, follow these simple tips to make your quarantine a little less frustrating:
  • Use grocery and food delivery services. Yes, it can cost a bit more, but the convenience of getting what you want, when you want, gives you a sense of control.
  • Make the freezer meals that give you the most comfort and you will look forward to eating.
  • Sign up for a free video conferencing app like Zoom, Facebook Messenger, or Skype. Many employers who utilize Outlook for email also have Microsoft Teams for their employees to use for free. You can get most of these apps on both your phone and computer so you can use the camera platform you are the most comfortable with. Have daily video chats with loved ones, friends, or coworkers. Don’t worry about what you look like. The Face-to-Face contact is so much more meaningful than a phone call and can make all the difference between feeling isolated and feeling connected to the outside world. If you are quarantining from your spouse, find ways to have video dates to stay connected.
  • If you are quarantined with young children, do what you need to do to get through it. It’s only for a couple of weeks at most, so don’t worry about the Karen in your parenting Facebook group judging you harshly for embracing unlimited screen time. Quarantine is hard on kiddos too, especially when it throws off their routine, so providing them with a treat like extra screen time on their tablet can avoid daily meltdowns. Whatever works within reason, I say go for it.
  • If you are working virtually, know when to shut down. When it’s time for dinner, close the computer and focus on family time.
  • To the best of your ability, practice good sleep hygiene by not working in bed before going to sleep. Create separation from work and relaxation.
  • For those of us who don’t work from home on a regular basis, there is nothing conventional about being virtual. Therefore, don’t even try to make it conventional. Especially if you have children at home with you, take breaks throughout the day to have lunch with your kiddos, or enjoy a family game. Certainly don’t slack on your professional duties. Instead find ways to break up a workday to engage your loved ones and explore unique solutions to come together. Toddlers and young children can’t comprehend the need to work an eight-hour day. You can still put in eight hours, while still pausing from time to time to connect with family.
  • If your spouse is the one who is sick and you’re left to hold down the rest of the fort, it’s okay to feel overwhelmed. It’s NOT okay to take out your frustration on your sick spouse. He/she doesn’t owe you anything when they are better. The beauty about marriage is that most times you are walking side by side through life, but sometimes you are being carried by your spouse, and sometimes you are carrying them. It’s tempting to start tallying up all the loads of laundry your spouse is going to owe you, but in reality, this is what you signed up for when you said, “I do.”
  • If you are the one sick, make sure to vocalize how much you appreciate your spouse taking care of matters while you were down and out. Don’t assume he/she knows you are grateful. Say it loud and say it often.
  • Start a blog. Just kidding! Find a hobby or something new to keep you busy. Find a streaming show to binge, download a new book to read, find a mobile game to lose yourself in, or try something completely new (like starting a blog… just saying…)
  • Find ways to make your quarantine a little special. My husband has brought me a dessert several times throughout my quarantine in the form of brownies and red velvet cake. I don’t normally eat these types of food except on special occasions, so my brain automatically associates my situation as being “treat worthy”. Whether it’s something decadent to eat or binging the hot new show you haven’t gotten around to watching until now, allowing yourself a little indulgence adds some flair to your quarantine.
  • If you are confined to your house alone or in an area of your home away from family, set up a station in your quarantine for convenience. Include non-refrigerated snacks and bottles of water. Make sure you have any remotes, devices, and charges within reach. Stock up on any medication that could alleviate symptoms such as Tylenol, Advil, Vitamin C, Zinc, and cough syrup. Having what you need on hand will not only help you avoid exposing your family to your germs by venturing out of quarantine, but it will also give you convenience and comfort when you are feeling under the weather.
  • Get a good cuddle blanket or robe.