Things To Do While "Sheltering in Place" (+ Be the Gray Dot)

My home state (Indiana) like many others, has now been issued to "shelter in place" through April 7th, 2020.

I know this seems scary and we all wonder when things will feel "normal" again - however, this is exactly what we need to slow the spread of COVID-19. The more we abide by orders to stay home, the more quickly we can get through this. Collectively, within our communities, our state, and our country. This, from my perspective, is a very small sacrifice comparatively speaking. 

What does "shelter-in-place" mean? 

It means that, aside from "essential businesses" or permitted activities, we all STAY HOME.

You can read Q&A here from Indiana's governor here.

What is a “permitted activity" you ask?

Taking care of someone who needs help. Getting groceries or medicine. Or, for some, reporting into work (healthcare, first responders, etc). 

Tip: Try ordering groceries from Instacart or Shipt versus heading out to the store.

What is not a “permitted activity"?

Going to a family's house. Having a gathering. Seeing friends. Hosting a party. Leisurely walking the aisles of a grocery store. Shopping without a clear purpose. Etc.

Why is this so important? 

In this NYTimes piece, experts advise the the virus can be stopped, but only if we take harsh steps. I'd encourage you to read it, but this excerpt is pretty powerful:

"The next priority, experts said, is extreme social distancing.

If it were possible to wave a magic wand and make all Americans freeze in place for 14 days while sitting six feet apart, epidemiologists say, the whole epidemic would sputter to a halt.

The virus would die out on every contaminated surface and, because almost everyone shows symptoms within two weeks, it would be evident who was infected. If we had enough tests for every American, even the completely asymptomatic cases could be found and isolated.

The crisis would be over.

Obviously, there is no magic wand, and no 300 million tests. But the goal of lockdowns and social distancing is to approximate such a total freeze."

Look at this visual. Sheltering in place, staying home, and minimizing your contact with others means you're likely to be a gray line, rather than red. Be the gray dot.

And, in the meantime, thank your healthcare workers. Your teachers. Scientists. Grocery stores clerks. First responders. Nurses. Doctors.

How can you keep yourself and/or your family occupied during this time?

First, do what you can, when you can. Be realistic with yourself. This is a first time situation for everyone — remember that and don’t expect that you’ll just go on as normal (I tried it, didn’t work. In fact, blew up in my face. I wrote about that experience here.

Check out The Mom Project for resources on working from home with kids. 

Head to YouTube or Instagram and try one of the million online workouts people are sharing - yoga, body-weight, or even some stretching.

Utilize resources like Coursera to take a course on all sorts of topics from top schools. Explore the Science of Well-Being or Learn How to Learn.

Learn a new skill. Duolingo has tons of languages to learn (and is fun and user-friendly) and LinkedIn Learning offers great courses.

Check out MasterClass to hear from experts - or as they say "the best in the world."

Heard over to Audible listen to a few new books (tip: listen to the preview first to make sure you can stand the narrator's voice. I love listening to books narrated by the author themselves).

Check out the thousands of podcasts out there for free. Let me know if you want recommendations. 

Take a nap. Heck, take many naps. Naps are great.

Take advantage of this time to catch up on household work - organize, de-clutter, paint, re-organize - all the things that are usually de-prioritized. 

Re-connect with what it's like to be bored again. It's good to let our minds wander and roam.

Write in a journal. 

Start a blog.

Reconnect with family.

Play virtual games + host virtual dinners or happy hours. 

Go for a long walk outside - social distancing rules apply.

And, daily, remind yourself that in doing all of the above activities? You're saving lives. You're doing your part. 

Stay safe, sane, and socially connected friends.

Share below: What are you doing during this period? Any other resources for people to check out?