The Scaredy Cat’s Guide to Life: Forced Staycation

Edited Feb. 23, 2021: While I’m keeping most of this article the same, time capsule-style, I have updated some links and information that is no longer relevant and added commentary. Look for my almost-one year reflections in italics.

March 17, 2020:

I don’t know about you, but I’m anxious.

I’m sitting at my desk drinking cacao tea bought just two months ago in Cusco, thinking of those different times. It’s incredible how much has changed since then.

My day to day hasn’t honestly changed much since COVID-19 began making its way around the world. I work from home teaching English as a Foreign Language online and remotely working for a small public relations company. So, most of my days were already based out of the 1920s apartment I share with my partner, cat, and bird. – – Wow, a year changes a lot. We unfortunately lost our sweet Robespierre in July 2020. Just in January 2021 we welcomed a new baby cockatiel, Lafayette into our lives. Note to self: I’m not sure why the 1920s is relevant, but it IS a cool apartment.

But today is the first real day of lockdown in my city. Non-essential businesses (even the liquor stores!) are closed. Gatherings of virtually any size aren’t allowed. I can’t work at the coffee shop to get a change of scene. No visiting friends or window shopping. –– I miss sitting in coffee shops soooooooooooooo much. My budget doesn’t mind, though.

I can hear the whirring and thuds of Super Paper Mario from the living room – a sign that my partner has dusted off the Wii that had been in storage since we moved in July. A researcher and mental health counselor, he will be working remotely three times a week for the lab and is transitioning to telehealth with his clients.

He may, however, have to see some clients face to face.

This makes me nervous.

I worry for all of you out there reading this who work in a field that doesn’t allow you to work from home. It’s okay if you’re worried, too.

It’s okay to feel anxiety about this unprecedented situation. And it’s okay to talk about it. –– Ugh, “unprecedented.” So sick of that word.

Leo and I had a long conversation yesterday about how we were feeling about the situation. I’ve talked to my best friend about it. And to a friend who I hadn’t talked to in months. And to my mom at least three times. We all need to voice our concerns and now, if ever, is a time to reach out (by Skype, phone or text) to people we care about.

What we shouldn’t do is panic. I know that can be hard. –– Here, I’m actually reminding myself not to panic because, let me tell you, the panic was *this* close under the surface.

To keep myself calm and carrying on, I’ve been thinking about ways to keep my mental and physical well-being priority during this Forced Staycation.

Remember, I’m not a healthcare professional in any sense of the word. I can only provide information that I have found useful. It might help you, it might not. But here’s what I’ve come up with.

4 Ways to Maintain Mental Health in Isolation

Make Food Fun

Last night, my partner, Leo, and I assessed the pantry and fridge. We had both done some pre-pandemic shopping, so we theoretically had enough for a couple weeks. But we hadn’t actually done a full stock and my anxiety kept saying, what if we don’t have enough?

As we went through, we wrote down fun and interesting meals that we could make with the ingredients we have – even the ones that were gathering dust in their respective jars and cans at the back of the top-most shelves. We are prioritizing fresh ingredients and then will work through non-perishables and frozen foods before doing another shopping trip (grocery stores, pharmacies, and doctors remain open). –– Not going shopping every week is actually a great lesson in sustainability and minimizing food waste, plus it gave us the opportunity to support the small local market to fill in between large trips.

Tonight, we’re using already-opened tofu, fresh mushrooms and a tomato, and tortillas to make tacos. Down on the list, I will combine dry-stored tortellini, chicken broth, frozen spinach, and powdered Parmesan cheese to make tortellini soup. It was fun to meal plan and reassuring to visually see just how far our food will go.

I’m not going to lie; I was pretty excited to discover a bag of frozen cranberries. Cranberry muffins? Yes, please. Muffins freeze well and are great for breakfast, snack, or dessert. –– Ooh! Does this mean I have cranberry muffins in the back of the freezer?!

We had also assessed our liquor cabinet, something that is generally ignored in our household but seemed important for pandemic preparation. In our final trip (for the next couple weeks) to the small, neighborhood market, we picked up special cocktail ingredients. Upon buying them, we agreed that we would reserve this special cocktail for weekends in order to break the monotony and create a clear delineation between week and weekend. –– Here’s the first thing that fell apart. I really enjoyed marking the weekend with a cocktail or takeout or a fun activity. One night we even turned on music and turned our dining room into a two-person club, hitting on each other as if we were meeting for the first time.

Create Structure

I just mentioned creating a clear delineation between week and weekend. For me, structure is important for keeping calm. I like to have things planned out, whether a trip to Peru or a forced staycation due to Covid-19.

Yesterday, we unintentionally figured out our weekday routine:

8 a.m. Wake Up

Maintain normalcy. Wake up when you normally would. For me, that’s 8 a.m. This was, surprisingly, the last thing to go. It’s only been in the last few weeks that I’ve found myself sleeping until 9:30 if I don’t set an alarm.

9-5 Work/School

If you still have to go to work, then this block is obviously going to be filled. If you’re working remotely, this is easy-peasy, too. If you’re a student or have kids, I assume this time will be for attending virtual lessons. Oh my gosh, sweet Mel of a year ago. So nonchalant about virtual schooling. I’m going to say loudly right now that I HAVE SO MUCH RESPECT FOR PARENTS, TEACHERS, SUPPORT STAFF, ALL OF YOU. How any of you can juggle all of this, I do not know, [pretend there’s a gif of superheroes].

What if you don’t have the ability to work from home but your job is closed? If you’re retired? You can tell with that first question I thought this would last a couple weeks.

Work here is defined loosely. Maybe you’ve been researching genealogy, need to get your taxes done, have home improvement projects, want to write a book, create art. This all counts. What I mean by Work is focused attention. Distraction. Structure. Something you sit down to do each weekday as if it were your job. –– Shoutout to people who turned their hobby into a side or primary business during the pandemic.

Don’t forget to give yourself a lunch break! –– Always true, even if you’re working in-person.

5:30 Exercise

Yesterday, we joined a virtual Zumba party. I’ll talk more about exercise below, but it’s important to think about physical well-being, which is so integral to mental health. Before I came into the office after lunch today, Leo and I agreed to “meet up” in the “gym” (living room) after work. –– Exercising daily fizzled out after a couple of months but we’ve gotten back in the groove the last two months and OMG it’s amazing how quickly I feel better about everything when I’m active.

6:30 Dinner

Last night, we had leftover Thai food, the last out-of-home food we’ll probably have for a while. Tonight is tacos. Make a tradition out of making dinner. Get the family or roomies in on it. Insist on eating together. Create structure. –– Another option: virtual baking or cooking with a friend!

The rest of the night is just like any other. How do you usually unwind? We watched TV and did a puzzle. Some nights we take turns reading Harry Potter to each other. Other nights we play games or read. We try to head to bed the same time each night. –– We’re now on The Order of the Phoenix.

Stay Active

Staying physically active is so important for mental health. With fitness centers closed, many people are left with a gap where their workout was. For others of us (read: me), the gym was never a treasured place even though exercise may or may not have been on their radar.

There is always ancillary movement in society. Walking around the office – or being on your feet all day, depending on the job. Wandering around stores. Walking through parking lots, up stairs, waiting in line.

And now, there isn’t.

But that doesn’t mean we have to wallow on the couch. There are so many ways to get exercise in during a forced staycation. –– Although it’s totally okay if you wallowed on the couch, too! There was plenty of wallowing on the couch here.

In many places, being outside is still allowed and parks remain open. Take a walk. Go for a run. Play Pokemon Go or Wizards Unite. Start small if you’re out of shape. Then work your way up. Honestly, this may be a great time to get into shape. We’ve got nothing if not time. –– “We’ve got nothing if not time” says the person without kids. Again, PARENTS, YOU ROCK.

If you’re uncomfortable going out, or the weather or local lockdowns prohibit outdoor exercise, there are growing numbers of indoor activities you can do. Watch a favorite show or movie and use rules like you would in a drinking game but assign exercises instead. Harry Potter? Do 10 jumping jacks every time a spell is cast, hold a plank during any scene that features Voldemort. Have fun coming up with the rules and the whole family can get in on it.

Last night, we joined a virtual Zumba class recorded by a local studio (shout out to Regent Square Zumba). So many fitness providers now offer virtual sessions!

Here are a couple free resources for at-home classes:

FitOn app

I’ve been using this app for a few months. Difficulty levels and workout lengths offer a wide variety of content and now there are even classes hosted by Jonathan Van Ness from Queer Eye! –– I still use this app and I’m still in love. @ me on Twitter to hear my recommendations for instructors/classes.

Yoga with Adriene

My old roommate swears by Adriene and I’ve enjoyed her videos, too. Family friendly and personable, she joins a slew of other fitness hosts that you can watch for free on the video-streaming website.

Stay Social

I know this one seems counterintuitive. “But, Mel, how can we stay social when we’re supposed to be socially isolating?”

Easy: Google Hangouts, Skype, Zoom, phone calls, or socially distant walks. –– Do people still Skype?

Today is my best friend’s birthday – Happy Birthday, A! She was supposed to have a birthday party this past Saturday, but when her boyfriend was feeling unwell after traveling, it was decided a virtual party would be better.

She came up with some pretty awesome ideas. In the morning, we were invited to watch Yoga with Adriene’s “Happy Birthday Yoga” episode, starting at the same time. That night, she organized an in-the-house scavenger hunt via Google Hangouts.

It was actually really cool and, because it was all virtual, her friends from out of state got to get in on the fun, too.

Being social isn’t out, we just have to think about it a little more creatively now.

Mental Health in the Age of Panic

Know that if you’re anxious or feel your mental health slipping, there is help out there. Reach out to your mental health professionals. Even if they are transitioning to telehealth, your health is their priority and they will work with you to make it work for you. –– Many insurance providers also waived co-pays for therapy. Check with your provider to see if they are still offering it if cost is a factor.

Virusanxiety.com is a website run by a mental health professional that is compiling truthful, helpful resources for those dealing with anxiety over Covid-19. This appears to be a reliable source with facts and advice based on research, not propaganda. Avoid sensational news and biased advice. –– They haven’t updated this resource since early 2020, but the information posted is still helpful and relevant, so I’ll leave it for now.

From Virusanxiety.com: “If you’re feeling anxiety about the spread of coronavirus – and the socioeconomic uncertainty that comes with it – you are not alone. / This is a confusing and overwhelming time for many. And if you’re one of the 1 in 4 people who have already been struggling with a mental health disorder, it can be even harder. / We, and the wider mental health community, are here for you.”

Reach help here:
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME 24/7 to:
741741 from the U.S.
686868 from Canada
85258 from the U.K.
Disaster Distress Helpline – US Only
Call 800-985-5990
Text TalkWithUs to 66746

Stay well my friends. Let me know what you’re doing to maintain your health during these bizarre times down in the comments. I’ll be back to regular programming next post, talking about hopping around Peru by road. Keep an eye out!

As a note, I get no compensation for recommendations. Chosen links above are based on lived experiences only.