Social Distancing: How to Get Through This

You've heard it about a million times now and it sounds like a broken record, "Practice social distancing." Social distancing according to the CDC (Center of Disease Control) is avoiding social interaction and in cases where you are in social situations to keep 6 feet between you and others around you to avoid spreading of disease. It is a practice being carried out by thousands of people across the country and the world right now with the global pandemic COVID-19 aka the Coronavirus spreading rapidly in our communities.

I live in New Jersey about 2 hours south of New York City which is one of the top affected states/cities in the United States. Because so many of New Jersey citizens commute to and from NYC it's no surprise to me that our state is second below New York. Other states with a high amount of diagnosis include California, Washington state, Michigan and Florida.

At this point in time New Jersey, New York City, San Francisco, Philadelphia and a few other areas are in full "Stay at Home" mode with the order being referred to as the Stay At Home Executive Order. In short, it means STAY. HOME.  The longer version can be read on the NJ Gov website.

I'm not here to go into the details of the order or dwell on the fact that we are stuck at home for a few weeks. I'm here to save you some time from browsing pinterest and YouTube for hours trying to find something to do at home alone, with your partner or family.

1: Take a break outside

Put on your shoes, slippers or flip-flops and go outside. If you have a porch or a deck grab a chair and sit outside for a little while. Listen to your favorite playlist, read a book and clear your mind. You can go for a short walk in the neighborhood or go for a run, it doesn't have to be a marathon or 3 miles but a little fresh air and vitamin D will help you recharge and give you a change of scenery.

2: Home Improvement

You don't need to bust down the doors, paint the walls or install a new bathroom but you can definitely take some time to go through your cabinets and reorganize what you already have. Clean out your pantry and maybe use what you have and make a stew or chili in your crockpot. Organize your spice cabinet or what lurks under the kitchen sink. Deep clean your bathroom, alphabetize your book shelf, "Marie Kondo" your closet! The possibilities are endless! Figure out different ways to "Spark Joy!" in your home.

3: Work on a puzzle

Netflix, Disney+, Hulu and other streaming services are an obvious go-to for most people but if you need a break from screens (phone, computer, TV, tablet) break out a puzzle and put on some music and get puzzling! Yesterday I finished this 550-piece Zelda: Majora's Mask puzzle while listening to some podcasts. It was a nice way to zone out for an hour or 2 and focus my attention on something else.

4: Work out at home

At this point I'm positive you've seen friend after celebrity after friend posting themselves doing push-up challenges, squat challenges or recordings of their home workout on their social media pages. Working out is an excellent way to keep busy, relieve stress and get those endorphins running! A lot of local yoga studios are offering live streaming classes as well as cross fit and barre studios. If you don't have the cash to spare, head on over to YouTube for hundreds of free videos of whatever kind of work out you are looking for. Lululemon, Alo Yoga, Carbon38 and many other businesses have their own YouTube channel that feature all different types of workouts. If you want something less mainstream check out YouTubers like Yoga with Adrienne who offer a different approach to yoga, especially if you are a beginner.

5: Learn something new

A lot of different websites and companies are offering free classes, online tutorials or waiving their subscription fees temporarily so you can hone in on a new skill or advance one you might already have. Skillshare is offering 2 months premium for free. Skillshare is a website where you can learn just about anything from graphic design to marketing and business analytics. Adobe is giving 2 months free to current subscribers and there are a lot of tutorials on youtube for a lot of their programs if you need help getting started. Learn how to code at the codeacademy! It's free to start!

Or be like me and learn a new craft--I just ordered yarn and crochet hooks from Joann Fabrics and I'm going to teach myself how to crochet. I had an introduction to it a few years ago but haven't done anything with it since so now is a good time to begin again. I am hoping to make something fun and colorful for spring!

6: Express yourself

Get out a pen and paper, dig up some colored pencils, paints, markers or whatever you can find at home and get creative. Have an adult coloring book you haven't touched yet? Have you ever wanted to paint a still life? Have a blank journal yearning for words? Get on it! Stop saying you will when you have time and just go for it. It doesn't have to be amazing, you don't have to share what you do on social media or with your friends it's something that's for you! 

This blog is something that I've been neglecting and I want to bring it back to life again. I enjoy sharing my thoughts, inspiration and stories with you all. Sharing my stories is the best way to express myself so in sharing this post I want to motivate you all as I motivate myself.

These times are ever changing and a little uncertain but by staying home and practicing social distancing we can hopefully be back to our regular routines soon. Now is the time to come together through text, video calls, phone calls and letters to comfort one another and lift each other up. I always like to think that weird moments and crises that rock the world in this way bring us closer together because we are not going through this alone. This pandemic is affecting each and every single person in this world in a different way but don't let this struggle discourage you. You will get through this. Be well. Take care of yourselves & each other.

Stay strong and style on,

~Kristina