Living in Tulsa 'Tine: Grieving, Healing, and Connecting on Socially Distant Tulsa Time. Episode 1: This Feels Crazy Hard!

April 06, 2020 By Emilie Smith, LPC

This whole quarantine thing is challenging. It just feels crazy-hard! Some days I’m not even sure that it’s real. It feels more like a Sci-Fi movie than reality! But it is real. And every morning I get up I remember that my life has changed. No getting ready and going to work, stopping at Starbucks for a morning coffee, and going in to the office and saying hi to everyone. No sitting across from a client and listening to them, maybe shaking hands, patting on the shoulder. Because now I work from home. I sit in front of a computer and interact via phone or video. And I talk to my friends and family in messenger, Facebook, phone, or video chat. My physical companions are my husband and my cat. And I have friends who don’t have anyone. They live alone! Maybe that’s your situation too. So it can get pretty lonely. And it triggers grief. Grief for our lives before COVID1-19. This is crazy-hard!

So how do you take care of yourself and function when there is this mandate for Social Distancing? We’ll be exploring this and other things to help you get through this strange and frightening time over the next month or two.

Today let’s look at 5 ways to take care of yourself:

  1. Set yourself a schedule. With typical routines disrupted or impossible, create a new one. Get up at a scheduled time. Yes. Set your alarm clock. It doesn’t have to be early, because sleep is important for your immune system, but pick a time and stick to it at least 5 days a week. Schedule time for other activities (see below).
  2. Take a shower, get dressed, comb your hair, put on makeup, etc.. Take care of yourself as if nothing is different.
  3. You may have to maintain physical distance, but be sure you keep contact with people. Schedule time to touch bases with at least one person a day. Call, Skype or FaceTime, do a Zoom meeting, or have a conversation on messenger. Spend at least 30 minutes a day connecting with people.
  4. Get out of the house for at least 30 minutes a day, if you can. Even if that means sitting on your porch, balcony, patio, or walking around your yard. Especially if it’s sunny outside. Spending time in the sun is good for your immune system, and your mood!
  5. Move! Get up and walk around your house, create a walking course even if it simply involves doing figure eights around two chairs set apart from each other. Or walk around the block or to the corner and back. Be mindful of other people and remember to keep your distance. Make and wear a mask. Here are some easy instructions for making a “no sew” mask.

I hope that these ideas can begin to get you thinking about some ways to take care of you.

Remember.

This is TEMPORARY.

You CAN do this.

The things listed in this blog are simple. Sometimes the simple answers are the best. And they can help you manage or reduce any signs of depression or anxiety. Hang in there. You are not alone. And if you need more, call us at 918-587-1200. We are here to listen, to encourage, and to help you get through this crazy, hard time.