You can still feel joy, even in the most uncertain of times.
By Zen Honeycutt, Working Mother
Take this time to practice gratitude and, when you can, find what makes you joyful.
Are you losing sleep over that spot on the door that you think you didn’t sanitize? Is your family reaching a new level of cabin fever? Could your kids win a Stink Face Champion Award when you ask them to tackle chores?
Like many working moms, my kids are learning from home while I manage work, clean the house and keep up with the news (that leaves me feeling like a wrench is being thrown in the cog). It’s beyond challenging. It’s overwhelming. The pandemic-induced stress we are feeling is likely to turn into sickness if we don’t manage it. Here are five ways to boost your health and mood during lockdown.
Take this time to practice gratitude and, when you can, find what makes you joyful.
Are you losing sleep over that spot on the door that you think you didn’t sanitize? Is your family reaching a new level of cabin fever? Could your kids win a Stink Face Champion Award when you ask them to tackle chores?
Like many working moms, my kids are learning from home while I manage work, clean the house and keep up with the news (that leaves me feeling like a wrench is being thrown in the cog). It’s beyond challenging. It’s overwhelming. The pandemic-induced stress we are feeling is likely to turn into sickness if we don’t manage it. Here are five ways to boost your health and mood during lockdown.
1.
Create a family partnership.
Have a meeting with your family. First, ask how can we make the next month fun and successful? How might it go (i.e. constant video game playing and a very cranky mom versus less video game playing and a more happy harmonious household)? How do you want it to go? Listen, consider, then give your kids and spouse the plan and ask for their partnership. Make a deal with them: if it goes this way, X happens. Create a partnership and your housemates will be more responsible for their own happiness and productivity.
2.
Give your kids freedom.
We cannot complain about the kids leaving orange fingerprints on the couch from eating Flaming Hot Cheetos if we’re the ones buying them. Make sure the house is stocked with acceptable snack and meal options to give them the freedom to make their own choices. Organic, non-GMO, whole foods like ancient grain bread, fruit, and veggies and almond butter, for example, are the most nutritious snacks and satiate their appetites. Make a list of possible meals they can cook themselves, if they are old enough, or snacks they can grab from a designated box. Healthy food equals happy mom.
3.
Play!
Being home with your children for months at a time means that you get to observe them playing—and can join them more easily! Step away from your laptop and get creative. Get down on the carpet with them to play with Legos, dance, do yoga, paint a portrait of each other or make a sign to thank your postal and sanitation workers together. Your boss should understand if you are not 100 percent available during this time. To eliminate stress, play and laugh with your children.
4.
Stay strong.
Now is the time to be vigilant about taking high doses of vitamin C to keep up your immunity. Do some research—vitamin D, selenium, and melatonin have also been reported to be important for the immune system. Natural remedies such as oregano oil, colloidal silver and garlic have historically been used to fight viruses. In addition to vitamin and herbal supplements, make sure to supplement your day with some time to be sassy. Yes! Sing to your favorite empowering song like "Roar," "I Will Survive," or—for the family—“We Are the Champions.” Nothing boosts the immune system more than singing like an invincible victor.
5.
Practice gratitude.
It is important to talk about our fears and stress. But it’s also important to talk about how grateful we are for the people who are being amazing during these difficult times. At dinner time, ask your children who helps keep our town going? Who helps keep us well? Who might need extra help now because their income has been eliminated? Acknowledge a family member for showing gratitude. Being grateful for what we do have, even if it is less now, is an important lesson in resilience and the strength of our families.Before COVID-19, I used to dread dinners. Honestly, my children were so tired from being “on” and well-behaved from six hours of schooling and stressed about another three hours of homework, that dinner time was a time of surviving each other. Now, with homework done early in the day, we are taking the time to cook new recipes. The children delight in sharing their creations. My husband and I tell stories about our childhood and our kids laugh and joke with us. Now, despite difficult times, we are thriving.
The secret to being happy and joyful is choosing it, when we can. It doesn’t have to be every day or every hour, but choose to have healthy choices, fun, learning and laughter when the opportunity pops up. Be the joy, and all around you will feel the joy.
