I know that some of y’all aren’t used to being home this much. I totally get it.
When I left the bar industry this year, after many years of dealing with what seemed like everyone all the time, I didn’t really know how I was going to handle it. As a matter of fact, there is a column that I wrote my first few weeks in, and I’m fairly certain I was starting to lose my mind.
But I, by nature, enjoy my own company and a lot of silence. It’s more than likely the reason that I am still alone. Well, I’m super sorry, Mr. I Can’t Chew With My Mouth Closed, that if I hear you smacking your food around and stab you with a fork, you can’t understand my reasoning.
Again, I digress.
Some of the things that I did when I made the shift to writing full time from home may sound pretty obvious, but I know what it’s like to get into that rut, that needle groove in the record that makes that same damned track play so often you want to throw the whole damned record player.
Some tips:
Get up every day like you’re still leaving for the office. Don’t sit around in your yoga pants all day, unless that’s what you wear to the office, and we all know you don’t because HR would be all in your shit swiftly. If you have kids, get them dressed as well. Obviously you’re not dressing to the nines, but put some jeans and makeup on, don’t sit around like you’re not working simply because you’re doing it from the house. Listen, y’all could hit me on Zoom anytime I’m at this laptop, and I’m in full makeup with my blowout looking fresh…just because I’m not leaving the house to work, doesn’t mean I sit around looking ghastly. I would end up feeling the way that I look.
Do you have pets? If you don’t, you should, they’re the best antidepressant under the sun. My dogs wouldn’t allow me to sit around moping, because they think that anytime I’m not ecstatic and singing dumb ass songs to them off-key that I’m upset. So, I walk them more often, because I’m here more often. I have always baked their cookies, but I’m using little cookie cutters and taking the time to do the little extra lap around the neighborhood. You have the time now, go ahead and put it into something worthwhile. Pets are great for using your spare time like it’s their own, just ask my dogs. They swear I live solely to serve them little bone-shaped cookies.
I know we’re all tempted to binge-watch everything on our queue, but remember, the longer you sit there, the harder it is to get up. Try to get to some of the cleaning you save for spring instead… are your floors waxed? I hand waxed mine twice the first week I was home. (I’m a freak about cleanliness anyway, but staring at a floor that definitely wasn’t worthy of eating off of wasn’t making my time at home more awesome). Seriously, don’t let the couch grab you by the ass. It’s so hard to get it off of you.
Try some outdoor time with either your pets, kids, or both. Or hell, by yourself. Ladies put on a 20 SPF, take a book, and get a little bit of color. You’ll look amazing when you get back to the office, instead of pasty-faced like Marge. Go sit in your patio chair, get some fresh air, and don’t allow yourself to become a shut-in. Just because you’re home doesn’t mean you have to be trapped inside the house.
Brilliant post April! I've always been a fan of "fork stabbing" - could be why I was 35+ before my first marriage proposal....sorry, I also digress (we're so much alike ;) Your suggestions are excellent ways to help folks cope with this odd "new normal."
My only additional "sanity tip" specific to this situation is DON'T spend all day binge-watching "Pandemic Apocalypse TV." It's a virus, it's highly contagious, it's high-risk to everyone I love most in this world (including ME :) and it's out there - when someone develops a vaccine or a known cure, I'm sure that WILL hit the headlines.
I could care less about the "Critical Breaking News" they keep screaming about on EVERY fucking channel EVERY 5 minutes, they're just trying to keep an already captive audience MORE captive. People would be less panicked, stressed, depressed and angry if they'd just STOP watching that bullshit 24/7 - Life IS short, regardless of COVID-19!
I'm a freak for organization so that's my plague project. I just downloaded a home inventory program and, by the time we're done with lock-down, I'll have a database built with every damn thing in this house listed, located and detailed - how cool is that?
When I take a break between sock drawers, I'll look forward to being entertained by your wonderful writing and great advice! Stay safe and well coiffed ;)