My Strategies for Home Life During the Pandemic

This is what works for me:

1) I take a shower and get dressed every day.

2) When the weather is nice I sit on the patio.

3) I only watch the news enough to stay informed. Any more than a few minutes here and there makes me anxious.

4) I share only hopeful and informative posts on Facebook.

5) I do my exercises every day.

6) I keep busy doing something. I'm working from home. When I'm not working, I'm usually cleaning or organizing. Right now I can concentrate better on that than reading or watching shows.

7) I keep believing that each morning brings us one day closer to resuming our normal lives.

librarianintx

Morning Gratitude List 3/19/20

1) I am showered, dressed, and feeling fine.

2) I got medicine I needed yesterday.

3) I am about to start working, which will keep me busy and positively distracted.

4) I have a goal of building a friendship / support system in my local area.

5) There are no new cases of virus in Wuhan today.

librarianintx

Bedtime Gratitude List 3/18/20

1) My loved ones are safe and well.

2) I'm not homeless.

3) I have a job.

4) I have food.

5) I have toilet paper.

6) I haven't lost my motivation.

7) I still have hope.

librarianintx

My Grandmother and Napkins

My mom's mom, who we all called Nanny, was alive during the Great Depression.

When I would eat at her house, she would tear a napkin in two, and give me half.

"Why can't I have a whole napkin, Nanny?" I would ask.

"Napkins are expensive," she would answer. "You don't need a whole one."

I thought of Nanny tonight as I was tearing small squares of toilet paper from the roll to make it last longer.

I still have three rolls.

But I haven't seen toilet paper on grocery store shelves in more than ten days.

I never thought I would have to worry about toilet paper in my lifetime.

librarianintx

My "Life During a Pandemic" Tip for Today

I like to eat.

But I don't always eat everything I buy.

I endeavor not to be a food waster.

I know there is food insecurity around the world, and I am grateful every day for a place to live and food to eat.

But let's face it. 

Sometimes you're just not interested in the frozen peas you bought last week.

You're at the store, you see the frozen asparagus, and you say, "I know I have peas at home, but DAMN that asparagus looks tasty. I want it, and I'm buying it!"

Next week the asparagus might get passed over in favor of brussel sprouts.

Wait.

Bad example.

I DO NOT like brussel sprouts.

Change that to fried okra.

Much better.

But you get my point.

You probably have a good amount of food in your freezer and pantry.

Now is a good time to eat that food.

Panic has resulted in temporary shortages at local stores (emphasis on temporary).

Social distancing has been encouraged, so less trips to the supermarket are a good idea.

You'll also be saving money by eating the food you already have.

So that's my tip for the day.

As long as the food isn't freezer burned or past it's expiration date, have at it.

Eat those peas! 

librarianintx

A Few Tips for Life During a Pandemic

1) When you have to go out, be kind to others. Smile. Be patient. Express your appreciation for medical personnel and store employees especially. Remember that we are all struggling.

2) Turn off the television. Stay informed, check in throughout the day, but the dire predictions only feed anxiety and depression. 

3) We are not experiencing a nuclear winter. Go outside. Stay as active as you can. Any kind of physical activity improves mood and outlook.

4) Keep your mind active too. Get to all that reading you've been wanting to do. Play games. Do puzzles. Nothing wrong with catching up on television or binging Netflix too. 

5) Focus on the opportunity more than the sacrifice or isolation. Tackle house projects you've been putting off. Clean out a closet. Give away clothes you'll never wear. Organize something.

6) Stay connected with loved ones. Technology is our friend during this time. FaceTime, use Facebook chat, or even the phone. 

7) If you are healthy and not as concerned about getting sick, consider helping vulnerable people in your area. Offer to buy groceries for elderly neighbors or volunteer in your community. Thinking of others and doing good deeds benefits our mental health.

8) Consider the money you are saving by not going to concerts, sporting events, etc and donate to a food bank. Food insecurity is a big problem all year, but some people only donate during the holidays.

9) Again, turn to the Internet for both entertainment, education, and a sense of community. Research a topic you're interested in. Find an online group. Some museums have virtual tours. Wikipedia can keep you occupied for days!

10) Above all, try to stay positive and resilient. Life will not be this way forever. Make good use of this time instead of focusing on the negative. Hard to do sometimes. But it can be done.

librarianintx

Gratitude List for 3/14

1) No one I know is sick.

2) I have food and a roof over my head

3) My supervisors are concerned for my health and will let me work from home.

4) Thanks to modern technology, I can see and interact with loved ones in different cities, even if we can't be together in the same place.

5) I already practice good hygiene, but I am learning not to touch my face.

6) I have hope that we will all get through this, and life will return to normal. "This too shall pass."

librarianintx

February 2020 recap

This year is flying by already. It's already March - wow!

February was a good month. Not as busy or successful as January, but still productive.

I read three books in February - Hope: A Memoir of Survival in Cleveland, Finding Me, and Alice & Gerald: A Homicidal Love Story.

I saw two movies: "Seberg" and "Emma"

I went out to eat three times: twice at the Texas Smokehouse with family members, and once at Central Market with two co-workers.

I went to two concerts in February: I saw Sarah MacLachlan at Bass Concert Hall, and attended Chorus Austin's "Songs of the Earth" concert.

I also walked over to the Texas Capitol one day with co-workers to see the Barbara Jordan exhibit during Black History month.

On February 26th I presented a webinar for the FDLP (Federal Depository Library Program) about traveling with a disability or health condition.

I also early voted in February. #votebluenomatterwho 

I am so pleased, and more than a little surprised, that I have continued to be mostly consistent with my exercising. There was just one day in February when I didn't do my arm exercises. But I have kept up with the other exercises. I have also been consistent with my medications, except my calcium supplements. I need to do better there. I also need to do better with fluid intake. So there is room for improvement. The potassium continues to be an issue, but I'm at least somewhat happier now that my doctor has lessened some of the restrictions. There is still a lot I can't eat, and that's frustrating. But I'm coming up with some new meals, and I'm eating beans again, so I'm pleased about that. I'm getting used to rice milk instead of regular milk. I found a new snack I like - Nature Valley peanut butter cocoa bars.

librarianintx