Before I go any further,  I want to check in with you. How are you? I mean, really. How are you? This COVID-19 Pandemic is a time of unprecedented stress. Now, I don’t mean to insinuate that you’ve never lived through a time of great stress before, but for real, a global pandemic? Unprecedented for people currently alive on this planet. Or at least everyone reading this. No one here is old enough for Smallpox or the Spanish flu? Correct?

I’m being a little silly, but only to make the point that what we are currently living through is no small thing. Whether you’re trying to maintain work now from your home with children small or large, or you’re a regular work from home person who has had their space invaded by new “colleagues”, or your newly minted retirement days are ruined by a spouse that’s now working from home, we are ALL struggling through some unwanted changes.

First thing is to allow yourself to feel whatever you are feeling. A part of you is grieving your old life, while another part may be full of anxiety over the future. You might also feel ok most of the day because your routine has actually loosened up now that there aren’t 14 baseball games and ballet recitals to drive to and from. I bet there may be a little guilt that crops up with that feeling though, so it’s ok to feel that too.

It’s also ok to feel totally overwhelmed, or angry, sad or deliriously giddy- maybe all in one day! And it’s definitely ok to not have it all (or any of it) figured out. The key is, by allowing yourself to feel whatever comes up, you can more easily move through it. If you try to soldier forward without feeling anything, you’ll eventually be too full of unprocessed stuff to handle anything.

So, laugh. Cry. Scream into the pillow. Talk to your people about how you are feeling. Talk to a professional about how you are feeling. My client load has multiplied this week and I applaud those folks for taking care of themselves (via video chat). None of this is easy. Do whatever you can to take care of yourself through the process.

I’ve included some links to resources in a post on the blog. I update the list every change I get so go check it out.  Some are good for you. Some are good for entertaining (ahem, I mean educating) kids from home. Some are good for both. Above all, take it easy on yourself. Your best is THE best right now. Remember that.