5 small things that have made me feel better during Social Distancing

Never in my wildest dreams did I think this was going to be today’s blog post. The last post I published was literally me socially interacting with a fellow blogger with no idea what “social distancing” was. Now “social distancing” is our best chance as a member of this society to do our part in this war against the pandemic. COVID-19 has been a topic that I have been privately talking about with my friends and colleagues for a while now, and it started getting scary in our conversations in February as we watched it unfold in China. The company I work for started to prepare for it early on and started to activate those plans last week as we headed into a National Emergency. Now I am working full time from home watching the stock market all over the place (giving me flashbacks of when the market fell in 2008) while staying home with my husband who works at a school that has now been closed and my 2 year old son. 

SHOP MY LOOK

Over the last few days I have had an array of emotions, but overall I’ve had a pit in my stomach.

I think about all of those affected and susceptible, those in the front lines ready to help without proper masks and equipment, those who are still working (like all of my immediate family including my parents who are in their late 60’s).  I think about those who will be affected financially, those parents who have their kids at home trying their best to keep them learning, those who don’t know where their next meal is, those who are losing their jobs, those small businesses whose lives were turned upside down and also those who are not taking it seriously (I feel different about them *eye roll*). This is hard, and I know I’m not alone in this. If you feel like I do, I send you a virtual hug.

So why am I here?

I thought about just glazing over this catastrophe, but I realized that lilbitsofchic.com has become an online journal for me. I sometimes read old blog posts of mine and recall what was going on in my life at that time (or laugh at my past fashion choices), so I feel like God willing I’ll look upon this blog post and remember all of this. I also know that lilbitsofchic.com is a space to provide, whether it be tips, tricks or just a sense of connection! So today I put a simple list of things that have helped me in the last few days and going forward I will be posting things that I feel can help you or other causes in some way.

5 Things that have made me feel better during social distancing:

• Gratitude Journal: I had been meaning to start a gratitude journal for as long as I could remember and Monday night I just needed to. I wrote things that I was super thankful for like food, my family, a roof over my head.
• A What I Miss List: Right under my gratitude entry I put things that I miss and took for granted. Hugging my mom, dad and other family was at the top, followed by eating at a restaurant without worrying, and being able to go to the grocery store without worrying that there will be empty shelves. God Willing when we come out of this I can look at my list, do it and not take it for granted.
• Getting fresh air: Whether it’s from your balcony, your yard or through a window, fresh air has been a little dose of normalcy. Lately, the sun hasn’t been out too much, but when it is I go out there and just look up and thank God for my blessings.
• Putting on make up: Kind of like fresh air, for me putting on make up which was part of my routine to go to the office offers a bit of normalcy into my day. It helps me get out of a drab state.
• Staying connected: Every morning I check in with my family group chat, my friends group chats, and then I have found it therapeutic to post on Instagram stories more (on @lilbitsofpau). This weekend I have a virtual date with my girlfriends to get some girl time.

BONUS: If you have kids, hugging them. Having a toddler while working is difficult but also I look at his face and he melts me. After reading tough news, or feeling the effects of the world in my work (I work in the financial sector so it’s been rough), I give Julian a hug, close my eyes and remind myself he’s not going to be this little forever and that having these moments with him are truly a blessing.

Stay home if you can, and healthy my friends. If you want to connect, I am very active on Instagram under @lilbitsofpau!