self quarantine

disclaimer: we're not going to talk specifics of COVID-19 here. if you're looking for some information, head to the CDC website for updates, general information, etc.

since sunday afternoon, i've been doing my best to self quarantine: not leaving the house, staying away from other people, and not losing my mind; but let's back up further than that. about a week ago, the united states learned about the virus, it's origin and the effect that it was having in italy. this was when italy was in the beginning stages and about 100 people were getting sick each week. then everything got a lot worse a lot quicker than anyone expected, COVID found it's way to the usa and to a town very close to where i live and work. my job did not close, we were still operating with the mindset that this was very similar to the flu and unless immune deficient or challenged, or elderly, that the majority of people would be okay if they got sick. the flu is very common and although there are many deaths every year from the flu, we have information and vaccines already; coronavirus on the other hand we know very little about, spreads quicker and easier, and has no vaccines or cures.

information is the best and worst weapon we have. when we don't have information about a topic it inspires fear and fear impacts our thinking and decision making in negative ways, leaving us susceptible to intense emotions and impulsive reactions. fear is what spread like wildfire the minute COVID made it's way to westchester county: it's residents fleeing to the grocery for all sanitizing products, doctors masks and gloves. in addition, the media is where most of us get our news and during this time it has induced fear because there is a lack of concrete factual information being expressed. i fell victim to this on saturday when i was watching what had happened in Italy, learned about the overpacked hospitals, and how quickly this virus spread. then i remembered the facts and information we do have re: COVID-19 is solely on the CDC website. it is the only website / media source i am continually going to for information and updates because the site is actually helpful. i went online, read everything i could about this new virus, and made the decision to self quarantine anytime i was not at work.

thankfully for the sake of our medical staff and ICU availability, Cuomo did shut down schools, gyms, movie theaters, etc. and said that gatherings should be less than 50 people. this will help slow the spread and minimize overloading hospitals with sick patients. other countries like Austria are taking even further precaution and limiting social gatherings to 5 people.

this was sunday evening, the same evening robb and i went into full lockdown mode. we decided that for the sake of our family members, the elderly and the immune deficient, that it was our responsibility to take this much more seriously than we had been. and thus we have been inside our home and away from others as much as possible.

we have been checking the CDC website when we wake up each morning, sending prayers to nurses and doctors, and avoiding news platforms as much as possible to prevent any unnecessary panic. but what does one do at home all day in an apartment that's only about 800 sq feet?

deep clean your home

the first true day we were both home, we cleaned the entire apartment. i don't mean the standard weekly let's vacuum, swiffer, change the sheets cleaning... we moved furniture to clean underneath couches, beds, nightstands, and consoles. we thoroughly wiped down every surface including the shelves in pantries, the refrigerator, clorox-ed any door knobs, dusted books, vases, and other various nicknacks, scrubbed the shower and toilet, did laundry, and this took about 5 hours. keep in mind we have a small space, so with a house or bigger apartment, cleaning will take up more time and possibly more than one day.

organize your pantry

let me tell you, you will find things in there you didn't know you had, things that expired so long ago you don't understand how it hasn't gotten tossed, and products that you have multiple of that are all somehow opened at the same time.

in my home, we're big on superfoods: chia seeds, hemp hearts, mac powder, cacao, and i like to organize them into glass containers and jars with labels. this enables us to buy in bulk and keep our foods fresh and sealed. however, you can do this with more than just superfoods. we have jars of almonds, cashews, other nuts, beans, lentils, pasta, rice, chocolate chips, pretzels, cookies etc. all labeled in glass jars. our pantry is small and is comprised mostly of drawers however for my aunt's pantry she bought stands at ikea and on amazon to create levels. this enables her utilize the full space of each shelf in her pantry, as it essentially creates shelving inside of shelving.

this is a good time to make a list of anything you may need. spices that you are running low on, canned foods or soups etc.

organize junk drawers/ under your kitchen sink / bathroom storage

to go along with the above: organize your cleaning products, the junk drawer that is barely closing, beauty products, anything in these storage spaces. we use these areas all the time, and thus they never stay organized for long. again, you'll probably find a lot of things that are expired or can be tossed along with items you thought you had or need to replenish.

prep meals!

as most know, i strive to be an environmentalist and try my best to limit our use of resources which includes gas and electric. therefore, most weeks we cook meals and foods in bulk to last the next 3 days. most people call this meal-prep, whatever you call it, it's a great way to stay on track with your health and also reduce our carbon footprint. when we're stuck inside, it's easy to grab for already made foods, typically these are your junk food options like frozen dinners, chips, cookies, trail mix, but when you pre-make salads, wraps, buddha bowls, breakfast muffins, then these healthier options become your go-to.

start a new book

i cannot sit in front of the television for hours, screens make me crazy, which is exactly why i work in fitness! we did the whole movie marathon the first night - watching all the harry potter movies. but then i realized that i cannot sustain that for weeks of isolation. if you are a movie buff or do a lot of work on your phone, iPad, or laptop, i highly recommend getting some blue light glasses. however, for those who don't want to get into a pattern of movie watching everyday, start a new book. i just began reading the namesake by jhumpa lahiri. and i'm looking for an online book club, so if you know of any please comment it!

learn something new

youtube is an amazing place. there are so many tutorials on anything you'd like to learn, like making your own body scrub, or learning how to take pictures, draw, sew, anything you'd like to know.

if there is work you've been putting of, like i have, then this is the time to do that. i have certifications i'd like to get for my fitness career and will be taking the next two weeks to start these programs. i've also thought about having rosetta stone sent to my house so i can finally learn spanish! although learning a new language will take much longer than a couple weeks, creating the habit doesn't.

puzzles + board games

on one of our trips we bought a puzzle, one i know will take forever to do. it's thousands of pieces, and until now i've ben afraid to open it for that reason. but with all this time at home, we'll likely start putting it together soon. puzzles are also a great way to keep little ones busy.

robb and i are huge game fanatics; mostly chess, poker, and backgammon but we love board games too. monopoly is one of the games that takes longer if you're looking to pass sometime. we also love charades if you have a few people to play with, or twister!

workout at home

most fitness facilities are offering online, at home workouts for their members to do while we self quarantine. so if you are a member of a gym that is closed, then go to their app or website to see if your favorite instructors are putting out e-versions of barre, pilates, etc. if not, then youtube is great for free workouts. there are also subscription sites like get stoked with kira or melissa wood's at home workouts available to you.

at home spa

this is one i'll be doing today. take the time you normally don't have to do a hair mask, exfoliate, face mask, jade role, anything you'd like. maybe make yourself a bath and let your mind wander off, or listen to a podcast / read etc.

get some air

yes you are avoiding humans, and that is the point. but if you have a yard, balcony or porch, get outside. go for a walk in low traffic areas, maybe get lost in your neighborhood or lookup a trial hike. there is such thing a nature therapy and we all require it.

this time has given me the opportunity to talk with people i haven't in a while, to create new vegan recipes, to meditate and stretch, and to spend time with robb since we usually are on totally different schedules. it of course, has also cancelled our traveling plans, cancelled weddings and other events, forced us to live more simply since our income is now only coming from one source (robb's). but just as with anything there is good and bad. focusing on the good is what is going to get us through these next couple weeks.

and a special thank you to those who are still working, especially the nurses and doctors who are more susceptible to contracting the virus through their work by to helping those who are sick. thank you to those making sure our stores are stocked, to those chefs and restaurants still offering takeout and delivery, to everyone working together to make sure lower income families have meals for the kids that are no longer in school for the year. if you have the financial capability to support local business and to donate food, you are keeping this economy a float during a scary time for us all. thank you. <3