Covid 19. Keeping your sanity through lockdown
Over the last few days, a lot of things have changed thanks to the covid 19 threat in kenya. Working from home, schools are closed and there's world wide uncertainty of how long this will last. This means mental related issues are expected to be on the rise due to the change of routines. From stress levels to anxiety attacks over worrying about what's next.
However loosing your cool is only going to make things worse. We have our kids at home, remember they can pick up on our anxieties. They are also struggling to cope, since for them being out of school means fun, bouncing castles, friends hangout and they will have a bit of hard time adjusting to being in the house all through this period. Therefore expect tantrums, change in their behavior and some kind of rebellion.
Let me share some methods on how you can keep your sanity during this trying times.
1.Try to come up with a new routine.
There's something comforting in knowing you can control what comes next. Since for now we cant control what goes on in the bigger picture, why don't we try to control what happens in your house. If you have toddlers and pre primary kids, consider coming up with a Time table. Set time for play time, reading and coloring time for snacks and being with them. BeMyRay can help you with the basic age appropriate activities timetable. This will ensure when they are reading you get some alone time to catch up with work. It also gives all of you a sense of direction.
If you have teenagers set time for their school work, house chores, TV time and monitor how they use their phones. Expect attitude and fights with them, but remember everyone is frustrated. Keep your cool.
2.Set time for bonding and family interaction
We need all the assurance we can get at this point. Find quality time to spend with your family. Bring out those board games like scrabble, monopoly, cards, Uno and all the games you can come up with together. Tvs and phones should be switched off. If you don't have this games sit around and tell stories, paint and color or anything that ensures you are doing something together. If you are blessed with a big family, try forming teams and competing against each other. It's a good way of temporarily decompressing.
3.Be honest.
Try to be as honest to answer any questions regarding the disease to your family. This includes the kids. Make sure you have the accurate information about it. Teach them in a way they can understand why staying at home is important. Tell them about the dangers of the disease without panicking them. Teach them about the preventive measures. Remember ignorance is no defense. And you are likely to have less tantrums and attitudes with them if they Understand what at risk and the reason for being kept indoors.
4. Stock up.
Hold on don't panic I don't mean you go on a maniac shopping spree, get the essentials. Fever medicine, some painkillers, dry cereals, tissues and some soap. Even if we were to go on a lockdown, shops selling food stuff will still be open, so don't worry about your food running out for now. Also make sure when you're cooking, you don't have leftovers that you throw away, start scaling down.
5. Get a meal plan.
Before you scoff. Remember how annoying it is everytime you are asked what are we eating today? A meal plan will save you time and stress of ensuring you are giving your family a balanced diet. It explains what you will be eating from breakfast, snacks to dinner all the while ensuring you are eating healthy and not in danger of gaining extra weight during this inactive period. Malkia Nutrition can help you on get a personalized one and all you will have to do is buy ingredients and the next one month stress of tunakula nini leo? Will be over.
6.Get the right information.
Ensure you are upto date with new guidelines that the government will put in place. All the preventative measures and anything else concerning the disease. Stop believing everything you read on the internet. Follow the right sources. Do not share information That you aren't sure of. Mass hysteria has been started over less
7. Do something you enjoy.
Its time to go back to those hobbies you gave up or been meaning to try but never had time. You can learn how to sew, crotchet anything really. Unearth those books. We have online platform that offer free books anybooks is one of the apps I use for my books. Try chess. Keep trying new things out till you find one that you can enjoy either alone or with family.
8. Pray.
When you have done everything humanly possible to cope, it's time to call on higher powers to intervene. If you are spiritual, you already know the tranquility that comes from knowing God got you . I hope you all can find your spirituality again. Its time to repent and reconnect with Your God.
Am sending all the positive energy your way. This too shall pass. Male that your mantra and we will get out of this with stronger bonds and more love now that we are spending every waking moment together. Its not all negative. Its time to reignite that flame.
Peace and strength.