I know you’re sad, scared, worried, exhausted, running on empty, and/or about to lose it!

You’re not alone, Friend. I float through these emotions, as well. I’ve also struggled with depression, anxiety, and addiction – like some of you do/did. I have started doing three things because we are hearing all about:

• First-Responders and healthcare staff working around-the-clock often separated from their families to minimize exposure, often getting sick, themselves
• Grocery store, gas station, warehouse, maintenance, manufacturing, banking, postal workers, delivery drivers (local and long-distance) food service, pharmacy, etc. staff who are risking exposure to make sure that the basic needs of the general population are being met, usually without extra pay to cover their added risk.
• Non-profit agency workers that already work with at-risk populations that are often unable to utilize work-from-home options.
• Service industry workers that cannot perform their jobs during social distancing and Stay-At-Home executive orders. Hairstylists, massage therapists, bartenders, restaurant servers, housekeepers, local retail staff, uber/lift drivers, local sporting/tourism staff, etc.
• Teachers and Independent Contractors that are trying to pivot to offer their services online. Gym owners, personal trainers, yoga instructors, lawyers, realtors, tutors, therapists/counselors, etc.
• Work from home (WFH) people
  • Many who are able to continue their work from a laptop with internet but are doing so with their kids (and pets and partners) home 24-7 which means more meals, cleaning, disinfecting, e-learning, keeping youngsters entertained during that Zoom meeting or phone call. It’s like having many jobs all going at the exact same time. #exhausting
  • So maybe they haven’t been financially burdened because they can still work, but there is still a price for all that togetherness.
• Students in K-12 that are now home with their families
  • They are often the most impacted when it comes to processing all that’s going on right now and paying attention to do their schoolwork online isn’t optimal for anyone. It’s not a vacation, but it can feel like it to them because that’s what they have to compare it to.
  • And to be very honest, some of these kids might be at home alone while the single (or even both) parents are still going to work because their job has been deemed essential.
  • Also, even in this great, developed nation, not every house has internet and the libraries are closed, so some students are falling behind.
• Students in college that are now taking their classes 100% online and who have on/off-campus or internships that are on hold.
  • Living on campus? Most of these students have returned home to their families, whether locally, nationally, or internationally.
  • Living off-campus? A lot of students choose to live close to campus and work to pay some or all of their own expenses and that could mean no job to pay for rent and food, even if tuition is already paid.
  • Living at home with family? This population is probably the least impacted, but with the added stress on food, toilet paper, and internet can be a lot to manage.
• People under a doctor’s care for something other than COVID-19 are worried that the care they need is being put on the back burner. Pregnant women, people with a chronic illness and disease, newly diagnosed injury or illness patients, hospice (hospital or in-home) care patients are all fearful about what this all means for them.
• People that catch the disease (COVID-19) and all that they are doing to keep the spread from others while also dealing with quarantining and potentially lost income (or worse).
• And everyone has family members and friends that are being impacted, as well.

My dreams are filled with worry. I’m losing sleep over these people and my heart is breaking for the ones dying that we can’t properly mourn whether from COVID-19 or something else (including you, Uncle Cleo, RIP). I’m sending them positive thoughts and texting, calling, FB messaging, and Marco Polo’ing with some of these people. This is certainly a time when escaping the emotions, feelings, thoughts in our head would be so nice. But how do we get through this time with our sanity [mostly] intact? Try these 3 things today and feel better.

Do these 3 things TODAY to cope:

1. Limit the news or turn it off altogether. “But LouAnna, how can I know what’s going on if I don’t tune in?” Great question! The pandemic is not going to be over tomorrow, so you won’t miss much if you turn off the TV today. If you’re anything like me, you aren’t a regular news-watcher anyway because it’s usually bad news. How did you get your news before? FB posts from your friends? NPR? A friend? A group chat? I still have those things and if it’s something huge that happens, your friends will be talking about it.
2. Go outside (without your phone). “But LouAnna, it’s cold/rainy/there are people out there.” I get it, it’s currently only 48* here in central Indiana and I’m always cold. But fresh air and nature are sooooo good for us! The best thing for me would be going for a 30-minute walk, but I don’t enjoy cold weather. I’m a sunny and 75* girl, but 80* and a slight breeze is my jam! So, I haven’t been going outside per se. What I have been doing is standing with a door or garage door open so I can get fresh air for at least 5 minutes. I like to flower garden so when it is warmer, I’ll just walk my yard and see what new life has sprung from the dirt and it reminds me how beautiful life is and that I have a piece of that right here at home. And if something is truly photo-worthy, I go back in and get my phone.
3. Talk to someone, who has a history of making you feel better. You know what I mean. A friend, a spouse, a significant other, a partner, a parent, your child, an online counselor, or me (LouAnna)! You’re allowed to feel all that you are feeling. No one should make you feel shame for your feelings. But you don’t have to process all this on your own. Share your fears, worries, joys, gratitude list, prayer requests, concerns with someone else. We’re all going through this together, but we are all handling it differently. A tip you do could help someone else or that thing your friend really needs is something you can give them and vice versa. Social distancing doesn’t mean emotionally distancing and often times we feel better after talking to our people. We feel even better when we feel like we’ve helped someone. Go help someone and let someone else help you.

Lastly, go to bed with a lighter heart. (I know I said 3 things, but this can be 3.1 and we’re still fine, right?!)

• Put all your worries/fears/joys/prayers on paper and give your head a break,
• thank the world for another day,
• ask for a restful sleep and the strength to get through tomorrow
• then go to sleep.
• There’s nothing more you can do tonight so punch the time clock and allow your body to heal, restore, and renew itself during the magic of sleep.

We’re going to have good days and not-so-good days and that’s okay. Get shit done during your good days (whether it’s taking a shower or organize the spice cabinet – you don’t have to do #ALLTHETHINGS) and allow yourself to rest on the other days when you need to recharge and get filled back up. I’m thinking of you all and sending you so much love and positivity. Let me know your thoughts in the comments! Wanna talk more and be friends? So do I!!

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