It is Monday at 3 pm and day one of week one of homeschooling online during the Coronavirus ordeal.
My kids are typical kids. Yet they do love school and actually thrive on learning new stuff. But even my two girls who generally roll with the punches are done. I was a middle school math teacher in my previous life before having my children. And I, too, am toast right now.
Honestly, I know I shouldn’t be complaining and be happy that we are all safe hunkered down at home. But holy hell, I am on overload right now. I literally sat down defeated and want to simply cry.
Moreover, my kids are using Google Classroom to learn from home. Every damn time I hear the alerts of a new message or newly added item, my nerve endings are lit on fire. Seriously, I am an anxious ball of nerves just waiting to crack at that repeated sound.
So some not so choice words were said and then deep breaths were taken. Then, I took another moment to remind myself that tomorrow is another day and this too shall pass. After this, I decided to put myself to work. See as a writer, I usually will try to write to make myself and hopefully others feel better. Therefore, that is what I went to work to do. At this point, the world around me is quite frankly insane. But I still need to keep sane not only for myself but for my family, as well. I am betting you may be feeling similar and hopeful that this article will help you or someone else you love, who is struggling to keep sane.
5 Simple Ways to Keep Sane During the Most Insane Times
1. Take a coffee/tea break.
Ok, so the human brain can only process so much before it overloads. So, even just taking a moment to recharge by having a cup of coffee or tea can make all the difference. See the simple act of taking a 5-minute break to destress while enjoying a cup of coffee or tea is a great way to take the pressure off to keep sane in even the craziest moments.
2. Get your heart rate up.
Exercising is another way to reduce stress. even if you can’t get outside to do so, you can turn on your favorite upbeats music and have an impromptu dance session. If that is too laid back, there are plenty of Youtube videos to help get inspire you to workout at home.
3. Take a pic of something that makes you smile.
Most everyone has access to a phone on their camera. So, simply taking the time to photo something that makes you smile can make all the difference in reminding you that it is the little things that really do matter to help make you feel less stressed out.
4. Enjoy family fun-time.
Tune out all outside distractions and spend some quality time with those who mean the most. Play a board game, watch a fun family movie, or make a yummy treat together with your family. Trust me, just being together is what matters most during those insane stressful times.
5. Some Me-Time Is Essential, too.
Conversely, sometimes when all else fails some much needed quiet, me-time is needed. I mean when you are feeling like you are ready to crack at the seams, taking time to be alone is key. You can do so by enjoying the quiet, such as reading a good book or even catching up on streaming a favorite show. Believe me, alone time decompressing from all stressors is a huge help when all else fails.
