As the pandemic continues to rage, it’s only natural to worry about the future. Whether you’re concerned about your own or your loved ones’ health and safety, finances, children’s education, or employment, worrying won’t make things better.
By instead assessing your situation, taking precautions, and making adjustments to your “old” way of life, you can maintain your safety and sanity during these difficult times. Here are some tips to help you carry on — and carry others — during the pandemic.
Reducing Risk of Transmission
As public places reopen, the risk of people transmitting the virus will rise. If you want to stay safe when out and about, continue to follow CDC guidelines on wearing a mask, washing your hands, and social distancing. If you can’t wash your hands, proper hand sanitizing can be done in 30 seconds. Don’t let down your guard, as the rate of infection is still high.
Carry a supply of masks, quality hand sanitizer, and disinfecting wipes with you wherever you travel. Be selective about the places you go, and avoid unnecessary contact with crowds. This is particularly important if you’re in a high-risk group due to your age or health conditions.
Treating Patients at Home
As coronavirus infection rates climb, local hospitals may only have room for people with serious symptoms. This means some families may have to care for sick loved ones at home. If you find yourself in this situation, the first step is quarantining the sick person in one room and designating one person as a caregiver.
Caregivers should wear a mask and gloves when tending to a sick person’s needs, and wash hands (or even shower and change clothes) before coming back into contact with healthy members of the household. Make sure you have medications to give a sick loved one to relieve fever or pain. If your loved one takes a turn for the worse, contact your doctor immediately or call 911 for emergency care.
At the same time, you’re caring for a sick family member at home, you need to take precautions to protect those who are healthy. Disinfect surfaces throughout your home regularly to avoid spreading germs while a loved one recovers. Those who are well shouldn’t take their health for granted. They should do their part to stay healthy by eating well, drinking enough water, exercising, getting enough sleep, and minimizing stress however possible.
Caring and Educating Children at Home
With summer camps closed and school openings doubtful, there’s no time like the present to plan for the care and education of your children at home. Seek help from the pros (long-term homeschoolers) in your local area for tips on handling online learning, accessing educational resources, and keeping your kids academically challenged.
Homeschooling veterans can provide valuable insight into fostering active learning at home and suggesting age-appropriate activities and hobbies to keep your kids engaged and happy, even during school closures.
Living Within Your New Financial Means
In addition to affecting your family’s health, your social life, and your children’s education, the pandemic is taking a toll on millions of people’s finances. If you find yourself between a rock and a hard place financially, take some time to appraise your spending habits. You may be living way beyond your income, and need to make some spending cuts.
Take charge of your finances by creating a realistic budget and living within it. Cut the fat on your spending, and start saving for emergencies. If you’ve maxed out your credit cards, start paying them off as soon as possible to free up some borrowing power for the future.
Upgrading Your Workspace at Home
If it looks like you’ll be working remotely for some time, upgrade your provisional work area (bed, couch, or dining table?) to a more professional home office space equipped with all the tools you need for the job. A private, quiet workspace away from noisy kids and needy pets will enable you to get more done with less effort and stress.
And to avoid the distraction of home repairs, take out a home warranty. It’s different from homeowners’ insurance, as it protects your home’s systems and appliances. This way, you won’t be pulled away to deal with repair issues (nor worrying about how to pay for them) while you’re on company time.
Acquiring Supplies
Reduced income could make it difficult for you to obtain home essentials or emergency supplies. If that’s the case, try tapping into the help that local nonprofits and churches can provide.
If you have the finances but can’t leave your home because you’re in self-quarantine or caring for a sick loved one, order products online and take advantage of free delivery services offered by many pharmacies, supermarkets, restaurants, and other businesses.
Finding Ways to Unplug and Relax
The longer the pandemic lasts, the more helpless you may feel. Constant worrying about your health, finances, children, and career can drain you of hope and happiness. That’s why it’s important to find ways to unplug and relax.
Instead of retreating from life, stay engaged. Reconnect with family and friends, as they can be a major source of support in your time of need. Look around to see who needs your help, and volunteer to pitch in.
If you’re spending more time at home, use that time wisely. Start a new hobby, learn a new skill, or spend personal time with each of your kids, getting to know them better.
Or plan a daylong outing at a national park, lake, or other outdoor attraction where there’s plenty of space for the kids to picnic, run and play, and connect with nature. Don’t avoid outings because of safety fears: Many outdoor areas offer porta-potty facilities that are well maintained and regularly sanitized for your convenience and safety.
This pandemic is testing us all, and the conditions we face are not always convenient or pleasant. But there are plenty of positive ways to respond that can make the situation better for everyone. Try to look on the bright side, count your blessings, and maintain a brighter, can-do attitude that can see you through any disaster. If you would like more information please contact us.
