Quarantine Life: Day 72, Thriving vs. Surviving in Lockdown
Remember when the lockdown first began and we thought about sheltering in place as the perfect opportunity to pursue aggressive goals and projects? Maybe you planned to learn a new language on your phone, renovate your guest room or get washboard abs for a shocking post-lockdown reveal. I have some friends and coworkers who are doing phenomenal things in their free time, like producing podcasts, cross-fit training, and learning how to dance ballet. If you’re kicking butt on your lockdown goals, then you deserve congratulations and a hearty (virtual) handshake.
I certainly have my own ambitions about making the most of my lockdown time. I want to read more, write more and Marie Kondo the heck out of my closet. To a degree, I have been able to do a lot of these things. Still, I sometimes have this nagging feeling of needing to do even more than that. I should have piles of books read by now, several novels written and not a single item in my wardrobe that doesn’t spark joy. That’s not quite where I am, and for a while, I couldn’t figure out why I felt that dissatisfaction about progress on my quarantine goals. It wasn’t until recently that I reflected deeper on what I expect from this shelter-in-place experience. Maybe it’s ok not to tick off every single item on my ambitious list. Maybe it’s ok just to veg and binge watch series after series (I’m looking at you, Netflix, Hulu, Starz, and Prime). Maybe this time at home isn’t necessarily about thriving, but surviving— focusing on wellness and being kinder and more forgiving toward ourselves and others. That shift in perspective has helped me adjust my expectations. I have my health and wellbeing. If I can accomplish a few goals on the side, then that’s icing on the cake.
This daily blog post series is our way of sharing our experience with you, our readers. We’ll talk about our daily routines, adjustments to working from home, recipes based on limited ingredients and any other topic that comes to mind. It’s our way of connecting with the “outside” world, while also giving us the opportunity to look within and reflect on what we’re experiencing and how we’re feeling. Thanks for your interest in sharing this journey with us. Stay tuned and be well.
