HOW WE'RE COPING
How’s everyone doing? Are you hanging in there? We’re now on week… six… maybe seven of quarantine? We’ve lost count. Does anyone even know what day it is? It’s like ground hog day over here. Wake up, workout, shower, make breakfast, start the work day, make lunch, end the work day, have a glass of wine, make dinner, go to bed and REPEAT.
We’re all learning to cope with this new way of life in different ways. Maybe it’s taking time out of the day for yourself and practicing self-care, maybe it’s working out through an online class or maybe it’s just making sure you stay in touch with loved ones through virtual platforms. There are no rules here. There is no right way or wrong way to handle this experience.
This is also a time for learning. Learning a little more about yourself and what truly makes YOU happy. We’re learning to take things day by day. One day we feel uber productive and ready to take on the world. Other days we feel less motivated, maybe frustrated and angry. Know that it’s okay to feel whatever emotion your feeling. We feel it too and you’re not alone. If you need some help navigating all of this we’re sharing how we’re coping below.
How Susanna’s Coping
Mindless Creativity
I haven't picked up a coloring book in ages. I can't remember how long it's been. There was a trend of coloring books that hit the scene awhile back and I do remember thinking, "that's cool" but I never jumped on the bandwagon. It wasn't until I found myself working from home, at my dining room table sourcing tile for a fun project and was reaching out to the vendor for samples. As we emailed back and forth, I saw at the bottom of their email signature was a link to a coloring book featuring their most beautiful tiles. This made me SO happy to see! I quickly downloaded, and printed the entire collection. I've been coloring since! While watching movies, relaxing in bed or just chilling on the sofa I’m coloring. It's mindless, keeps me creative and makes sitting on my booty not so depressing!
Download here if you'd like to join me!
Drinking and Supporting
I'm not the biggest fan of promoting tons of drinking during such an uncertain time, but a few glasses of wine throughout the week has REALLY helped me cope. If you suffer from anxiety or depression, you may want to skip this paragraph. I know I'm not the only one. And if I'm going to drink as much as I have been, I feel much better doing so while supporting a small, local, female business woman.
Leucadia local, Erin Callahan, represents a wine portfolio of some of the best sustainable wines from small production wineries dotted around the world. Many of these wines can be found at local restaurants throughout San Diego that have been unfortunately forced to close due to this virus. Erin is on a mission to keep these winemakers doing what they do best by fueling our quarantine-ridden selves with a local wine club available for pick up or drop off.
If you’re interested in joining the club you can contact Erin by email: erin.garberandco@gmail.com
or DM her on instagram @erinyumyums
What To Watch, What To Listen To
Anyone else struggling to find something to watch or listen to that everyone in your household agrees on? We find ourselves mindlessly flipping through the Apple TV apps to find the right thing to watch. My husband and I are the worst at compromising and I couldn't take it anymore. So I took a tip from one of my fav Instagram followers Elsie Larson and we started a music jar. This is a great idea and we even added a movie star jar to our house. Every week we pick a musician and an actor and for that week we listen to their tunes and we watch their movies! It's been amazing watching some of the classics and I love learning more about the musicians I thought I knew. Try it! You’ll love it! It’s perfect for the kids too. They will learn all the classics!
How Elaina’s Coping
Meditation
Before this all happened, meditation was my way of grounding myself and it remains now more than ever my way of remaining sane. Uncertainty is the most certain thing there is in life if you think about it. We have no control over what is going to happen but we can control how we choose to perceive it. So, I try to allow myself to let go and surrender to this truth. Easier said than done especially in times like this but I try. That’s all we can do. My meditation practice is the one sure way I know I can regulate my breath, calm my nerves, open my heart and set my intentions.
Cleaning
I have two very active and strong willed boys close in age. Now that I’m their “teacher” and I’m trying to work and run a house I have very little time to relish in any kind of down time. Things are loud and messy all day long. Each moment is filled with a task of some sort and the days are flying by and I go to bed exhausted but one steady task that gives me so much satisfaction is cleaning. After the boys go to bed I go through the house and clean things up so when I wake up there is some sense of order before the storm hits. I channel the Marie Kondo in me and I zen out on doing the dishes, sweeping, dusting, fluffing etc. It’s my way of trying to create some order in the chaos.
Talking To Friends
I believe connecting with people is what makes the world go round. When I chat with a friend I love to hear about their perspective on all of this, what they’re doing that’s different, how they’re managing the madness of homeschooling or for a lot of my friends just being at home alone… sharing experience with people I love and trust helps me articulate my own experience and make sense of what this all means and where I hope to go from here.
How Jen’s Coping
Diving Deep Into Self Care
I am a huge advocate of self-care. If we don't take care of ourselves, who will? Your own self-care can change depending on what we need the most in that moment. Right now I am finding it shows up in simple ways, such as staying hydrated, eating nutrient-rich foods, exercising, taking breaks from the news and social media and simply resting when I am tired. I'm really allowing myself the space to feel what I am feeling, observing it and not being so critical of myself. Riding the wave of change and allowing myself to trust the process.
Leaving Room For Self- Expression
I'll admit my outfits these days don’t vary much from workout attire and not a touch of effort went into my hair for at least a week when this all started. But if this change in lifestyle has taught me anything it's that this is time to celebrate our most authentic selves. For me, that happens to be getting dressed! Mixing up outfits, trying on old pieces, the "save for later” items. Heck, the other night I put on my cowboy boots while doing laundry. Even just adding jewelry to the mix makes me feel like I am connecting to my personal style. It's a simple reminder that no matter how scary and uncertain things can feel at times we have the ability to make the most of the present moment.
Create Sacred Space
Light the candle, blast the playlist, water those plant babies and cherish your space. I have such a deep gratitude for this space my husband and I share. Does it look straight out of pintrest? Nope! It's a rental that was probably last updated in the 80's, but I've never been more thankful for a simple apartment. It has sentimental touches like my Grandma's old desk that is now my new workplace. I suddenly notice and appreciate the art and crystals I've collected over the years that make the space feel personal and grounding.
How Jess Is Coping
Sticking To A Routine
In this time of uncertainty there is one thing that I CAN control… the decisions I make in my day: what I do and how I pass the time. I made a commitment to myself when all of this started to workout every day. It helps that I’ve been challenged by my family who also made this promise. We’ve all decided to workout every day at home and at the end of every day we text each other that we’ve completed this task. The idea that I am held accountable for this has forced me to create a routine for myself. There are a few things that are certain during this time… the sun will rise and the sun will set. What you do with the hours in between is completely up to you. This thought is constantly running through my mind. Everyday I wake with the sun, complete my daily workout, enjoy my morning coffee on the couch and go through my daily routine. If I stray from my routine at all I don’t feel as productive. It’s a funny thing, this time at home has made me realize that my days are just as full as they were before all of this started and sticking to a routine has helped create a sense of normalcy in my days.
Staying In Touch
As humans we are social beings and need interaction to survive. I’ve never appreciated the internet more than I do now. Having the ability to talk to my family and friends through virtual chat rooms and FaceTiming has helped me maintain my sanity. Although my family lives 3,000 miles away they don’t feel so far away when I’m able to see them through my screen in real time. I look forward too our scheduled weekly dinner meals and game nights at the end of a long work day. During this time at home, I’ve had a lot of time to reflect on what’s most important in my life and who is most important. I’ve reached out to friends that I haven’t spoken to in a few months, if not years, and I’ve kept in touch with those that matter most to me. If you’ve been thinking of reaching out to a friend or family member, now is the time. There is not ONE person who isn’t effected by this. Send a message or a package to a friend. Let the people you love the most know and stay in touch.
Listening To Music
If I was stranded on an island and I could only bring one thing, I’d bring some form of music to listen to. Not one day goes by without music playing in our house. I start my mornings with a workout playlist, I work throughout the day to a playlist and end my day cooking dinner to a playlist.
“A world without music is just a world full of noises that don’t make sense” - Isaac Saylor
I honestly don’t know what I would do during this time without this universal language. I’ve had good days and bad days during this time. Music has kept me grounded through all of my emotions.
These are just a few ways that we, as a team, are coping. This is a time to slow down and appreciate what’s most important in our lives. Live authentically. If your reading this right now, write down a few things that have helped you cope during this time. Remember to LAUGH, CRY and HEAL in whatever way helps you though all of this.
Love, The Sisters