Maintaining my sanity - 7 tips

​For many of us, it’s only been a little over a week, since being told we needed to quarantine at home, and not leave the house unless it’s for essential things – like getting groceries, gas, medicine, etc. I think it’s safe to say that this situation went from ‘0 to 100 real quick’ - meaning things escalated way too fast. And with less than 2 weeks in, and the possibility of months of social distancing,
​I wanted to give you guys 7 tips on how to maintain your sanity.

1. Wake up with a grateful heart. This may sound cliché but it truly helps any situation feel bearable when you can think of things to be grateful for or think about how someone out there may have it much worse than what you do. A few things I’m grateful for right now are my family’s health, my job & business, and being able to spend more time with my family at home
2. Figure out a routine that works for you. Many times, when there’s no routine, there’s no structure, and when there’s no structure, we tend to not put much effort into our days and end up feeling like something’s missing because we weren’t productive, therefore not reaching our purpose. For me, this looks like waking up, reading my devotions, making breakfast, getting the kids started with homeschooling, 9-5 work, spend time with kids, business work, and the list goes on. And within some of those areas, I may write specific tasks on things I want to get done, so that I can really ensure each day, I’m doing something to reach my big-picture goals. Everyone is different. If you’re more of a planner like myself, try this approach. If you’re more of a “go with the flow” type of person then you can be less detailed, but at least have a general idea of what all you want to get done in the day.
3. Make time for self-care. You guys know I am really big on this. We can’t let our self-care go downhill just because we’re stuck at home. You can still take advantage of massages if you have a spouse or kids at home. You can give yourself a mani-pedi at home – if it’s been a while, watch a Youtube video on how to give yourself one. I watched several when I wanted to start spending less money at the nail shop. You can make your own treats at home also. One of my favorite desserts is Applebees Blue Ribbon Brownie. Although they’re still open, I’ve been learning to make my own brownies, and top it off with ice cream at home.
4. Limit what you watch, read, and listen to. Many of us find ourselves becoming obsessed with what’s happening in the news. We watch it for hours and hours. While it’s important to understand what’s going on in the world, it’s not okay to watch so much that you find yourself having greater anxiety over the problems. If you know that you’re the type of person who can easily be effected by what’s going on limit what you watch or be sure to also include some shows that can uplift your spirits again – comedy, action, and romcom movies tend to help me.
5. Do your part – whatever that may be. Currently, when it comes to COVID-19, many of us can do our part by staying at home. If I could put it simply, It’s a lot easier to stay sane when you’re healthy.
6. Stay in contact with those friends & family who you enjoy being around. I’ve seen many doing virtual small groups through church, happy hours, and parties. This is a great way to still feel connected to those who help keep you sane.
7. The last and most important tip on maintaining your peace is to talk to Jesus, read, and study His word. He is literally known as the Prince of Peace. So, why not go to Him daily in order to maintain your sanity. Depending on where you are in your walk with Christ, this may or may not come natural to you. But really try to do this – Real peace and joy comes from having a relationship with Him. The things mentioned above work, but are temporary fixes or will still leave you feeling anxious if you don’t have Him in your heart.

I truly hope everyone stays sane in the midst of everything happening.

Xoxo,
Tierra

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