How optimize your time during COV-19 stay at home order.

Many of us this season are having to turn away from the outer world to go within. The COV-19 epidemic is leaving most of us overwhelmed and unsure what to do with ourselves in our new living situation. Despite all, there are those who rise to the occasion and find themselves winners. I for one have been finding myself more productive than ever before and even tackling projects that have been put on back burner for months. Did it really take a national crisis for me to get here? Writing this blog would have been a miracle just weeks ago considering having three children underfoot and one on the way. I went from living on autopilot and overwhelmed by chaos of family life to a place of insane productivity and peace. The transformation was simple. It is was about re-evaluating and resetting priorities. You can do this too. Listed are few tips on how to win during COV-19 or any other time of isolation.

1. Home: This is the perfect time to deep clean, organize and restore the order in your physical home space. A room may need a fresh coat of paint or something as simple as setting some flowers on the table. Rearrange furniture. Get creative using what you have. There are a lot of inspiring ideas online if redecorating isn’t your forte. Turn on relaxing music. Burn a candle. Create an atmosphere that you love to be in. It doesn’t have to cost much to upgrade your surroundings. Sort your closet. Purge items no longer serving you like those shoes that don’t fit or that dress you wore in in high school. Be intentional about the use of every item in your home. I engaged with my children on this one. They were eager to clean their rooms and organize too.

SCORE! Rule of thumb for purging “If there is no use for it, move it along. Consider selling sites like “Craigslist”, “Let go” “Ebay” “Mercari” or donate the items to a favorite charity of your choice.

2. Health: How is your health? Now is the perfect time to look at your health mindset and figure out what is working for you and what is not. Maybe treat yourself to some new workout gear and retire your old. Start new habits for your fitness routine. How is your diet? Have you structured your menu to allow consumption of all-natural ingredients that are good for your body? Now would be a great time to go through your cupboards and research the ingredients of the meals you consume. If you don’t know what an ingredient is. Look it up. Also check the side effects of these ingredients and how they might impact your health. Make a meal plan.

3. The mind. How are you feeding your mind? Are you focused on fear related subjects and consuming outside sources that do not have your best interest at heart? Or are you finding material that is uplifting that enhances your life and mental state to keep you in a uplifted mindset towards your situation? Go through your books and reading material. How are they serving you? Are they keeping you grounded and focusing on reality or pulling you off track as you give your time to what would otherwise be a distraction? What books would you like to read? Make a list and try to find them online.

4. Family. With the family indoors most of the time focusing on fostering healthy family dynamics is key. Use the mealtime to set the stage for prayer, thanksgiving, bonding and discussion. Take this time to instill good manners and go over life lessons with your kids. This will feed their minds if they are old enough to engage in conversations and they will appreciate it when they are older. (I know mine have.) Start a family project together even if it’s as simple as cleaning the car. Engaging games or putting a large puzzle together can also do the trick to help pass the time. Get creative. Try to limit screen time as this will boost the children’s moral. This year we made our own Easter decorations, paper baskets and decorated eggs. It kept the children busy and full of anticipation for the holiday.

5. Friends. Keeping in touch is key during these times of isolation. What a more perfect time than now to reach out to that friend you haven’t checked in on in a while. Set up group chats or have intentional one on one phone calls. I have witnessed so many wonderful things happening in this area of fellowship. People coming together to encourage each other via long distant and it has been very uplifting.

6. Finances. There is a lot of fear related to this subject due to the job loss and current instability of the economy everywhere. What is happening with your finances? If you have experienced financial loss, now would be the time to start a budget and work over how you will get through the next couple months. Cut spending where it is necessary. If you are out of a job, look for other opportunities that are opening up. Make a list and a vision board of where you want to be a year from now. This will keep you encouraged and focusing on the upcoming win rather than feeling lost. This may be the perfect time to start taking steps towards the business you have always wanted to start. My daughters wanted to start a cake channel to foster a creative outlet for us to spend time together as mom and daughter team. As well as prepare them a platform to have a small business like a bakery in the future.

7. Relationships: This is a tough one. Many of us couples are not used to long hours at a time with our partner. Instead of planning that call to the divorce lawyer, this could be the perfect time to get your relationship back on track. With unresolved issues staring us in the face, it takes courage to address them and then see where the chips fall. Especially in a restricted situation like a quarantine. If communication needs restructuring and rebuilding, then now would be the time to sit down and try to make that happen. The work you put in will pay off in the long run after the stay at home order is lifted and you resume your former routines. Schedule time to foster more quality time and strengthen bonds. Share with one another ways you appreciate each other. Keeping a positive note is key. Saying “I’m sorry” goes a long way too.

Imagine you went on a vacation to get everything you’ve ever wanted done with rebuilding your life inside out and now was that time. How are you restructuring your life for COV-19? Feel free to leave me a comment or an email. I'd love to hear what is working for you.