What is helping you during this time of social distancing?
Hi all! I've been thinking a lot about the periods of time in my life that IBD has left me stuck at home for weeks/months on end. Or even stuck in the hospital for weeks at a time, and what skills I've learned that are helping me right now during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here's what I've come up with:
-Having activities on hand - puzzles, coloring books, journals, a netflix queue, cards to write friends, etc.
-Having patience with not being able to go places or do things- I've mastered this in the past and when I start to feel cabin fever these days. I find myself gravitating towards drawers or cabinets in my house that can be purged and organized.
-Having great text/video chat skills and being used to communicating this way with friends and family
-Opening the windows to get fresh air, even when I can't go outside.
I'd love to see what you can add to my list!
Have a question? Ask it here!
Hi Amanda! Thanks for sharing all these tips and activities that are helping you right now. I have been doing much of the same ones and have been looking for good books to read and new recipes to try. -Graceann (Team Member)
Love those ideas too, Graceann!
Warmly,
Amanda (team member)
For me, rest has always been my priority. I only ever had time off following surgery, and I didn't deal with it well psychologically, so I always just binge watched programmes that I didnt really have to concentrate on!
So this social distancing thing is so much easier for me than being off due to illness ever was, as I my mind is awake and willing lol.
Cooking is one of my fave things to do!
- Sahara (team member)Love the cooking suggestion! I've been trying to get creative with what I have on hand 😀
Warmly,
Amanda (team member)Yes, I have also been staring into the pantry wondering what I can make with what I've got! It's surprising how much I CAN make!
- Sahara (team member)
It's funny, I just said to my dad today that I feel like this quarantine/social distancing isn't so bad because when I had my surgery 6 years ago, I lived alone and couldn't walk further than my living room so I was essentially quarantined for 3 weeks while the rest of the world was going on around me which made me feel left out. This is quite nice to have my husband and baby with me 😀 Also, being hospitalized with a flare for several weeks with no food may also be a terrible form of "quarantine" so this is a luxury compared to that, as well. Perhaps living with Crohn's has prepared us for this?
But to answer your question--definitely cooking, doing in-home workouts to live streamed classes, working, and taking care of my little one has kept me plenty busy over the past week +!
--Julie (Team Member)
Can relate 100%. I feel like I have been quarantined for years lol. This really isn't something that has made me anxious because I truly am used to being a homebody at this point and never leaving the house unless for groceries. Go figure!
Elizabeth (team member)YES! I love the optimism, Sahara. We are just highly trained professional social-distancers 😀 and this time it is enjoyable.
--Julie (Team Member)
Yea, being quarantined is pretty much like any other day for me while I'm flaring. So thankfully I am taking this quite well. It is weird when everyone else is quarantined alongside with you, but I find it sort of comforting.
As for me, I make sure I keep with a routine. I have my morning routine which includes reading after breakfast. Then I work from home and make sure I do some yoga afterwards to move my body. Weather permitting, I like to have lunch and dinner outside in the backyard to get fresh air. I also open all the windows in the house, as I find it really comforting.
Bottom line, stay busy when possible. I also make it a point not to spend too much time on social media as I can go down the rabbit hole rather quickly and end up scrolling for hours.
Stay well everyone! We will get through this. This soon shall pass.
Elizabeth (team member)Elizabeth,
I love your idea of routine. It's something I've been working on lately, and it's so helpful for mental health as well.
Be well,
Amanda (team member)Yes it is! So crucial to stay with a routine. Hope you are doing well!
Elizabeth (team member)
