Dealing with relative isolation at home.

[guillaumeb]

I live in a suburb neighboring Chicago. It is still cold, it was 42F today.

This week, we have walked 2-3 times a day. About 4 and 1/2 hours a day. It is better than watching television, or doing some of that dreaded spring cleaning.

My wife was talking to a friend who has anxiety issues, and she recommended walking, or other forms of exercise. I know that for some, there are physical limitations to walking, but any physical activity that one can tolerate is a good way to deal with the anxiety that we are all experiencing.

How are you coping?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. I'm by myself, plus cats, which is OK for now.

Not sure how crazy I'll be in a few weeks. When it gets warmer I'll be able to do some gardening, which will help.

[guillaumeb]

2. My daffodils are 8" tall.

My plan is to start cleaning beds next week.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. Too cold and muddy here. Nothing is coming up yet

but I hope there will be within the next three weeks.

[guillaumeb]

13. You are in Minnesota, correct?

In my home area, winter often lasts until late April.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

17. Yes, we could get several more weeks of cold temperatures.

It was 20 F this morning. I'd rather have a cold spring, though, than an abnormally warm one followed by a cold snap. That happened a few years ago and it just about destroyed the commercial apple crop. I usually don't plant much outside before May 1, except for lettuce and herbs in a raised bed.

[guillaumeb]

18. Agreed.

A cold winter and freezing weather inhibits the growth of soil pathogens. The new normal of less snow and milder temperatures is killing many plants and trees in this area.

[Pachamama]

3. Trying to make the best of it as we are here in SF Bay Area here on Day 5 of "Stay at Home" Order

I am actually okay with it and am trying to have a routine and walk the dog twice and cooking and gardening etc.

But I am feeling anxiety about it and have found myself crying at times.

The hardest thing is my College Age daughter who is upset and irritable and acting out and thinks I am being overly worried by asking her to not "go out" for sake of going out. For example - I tell her to walk the dog or go for a run. But she wants to run to CVS or the grocery store to meet friends. Or just go "driving". I ask her to not do that and she gets angry. Its been hard.

[guillaumeb]

4. I understand.

Some young people seem to feel that they are immortal. I too felt that way many years ago.

If she wants to drive, ask her to volunteer for meals on wheels and drive with a purpose.

[Pachamama]

5. That is a great suggestion about "drive with a purpose"

[guillaumeb]

6. Good luck, stay healthy, and I hope she takes that suggestion well. eom

[Steelrolled]

10. Sound just like my children when they were in college

I worried a lot, and there were many stressful times, but we got though it and things are so much better now. When things were bad, I always had to remember the positive sides of our relationship.

[hunter]

21. I have a nephew and a niece who were booted out of their university dorms on short notice...

... and told to go home and finish their classes online.

Unfortunately the switch to online classes has been a technical disaster.

And now everything is closed. They can't hang out with high school friends having coffee or fast food, they can't go to the movies...

I couldn't have imagined such a thing when I was in college, nothing short of a huge earthquake or nuclear war.

[The Genealogist]

7. In some ways, things are pretty much the same

I work from home already, so that is no different--yet. I have a feeling that at least some of my team is going to be laid off on Monday morning, so not sure if I am going to be out of work for a while. They may be laying off other people, though, and giving us their work. Someone is going to get it. Nothing like announcing a conference call on a Friday when things look bad to take place Monday to amp up a weekend of anxiety.

[guillaumeb]

14. Exactly.

Good luck on the Monday call.

[Ohiogal]

8. Getting outside, if you can,

Really does wonders for a person’s mental health and helps with anxiety.

I’m outside with my dog every morning plus I’ve been walking at the high school track several times a week. I can’t walk on the road I live on, (too much traffic, no sidewalks) so going up to the high school track is a great alternative. The surface is perfect for walking, I pop my ear buds in and listen to music or podcasts while I walk. I am not much of a television or movie watcher although on rainy days, it beats house cleaning.

[guillaumeb]

15. Everything beats house cleaning.

And I agree that exercise is vital to mental and physical well being.

[handmade34]

11. started my indoor seeds

tomatoes
peppers
squash/pumpkins
flowers, cosmos, moonflowers, etc.
trying some seeds that I harvested from my asparagus plants last fall

started growing microgreens again

as soon as the snow melts a little more, I think I will build a greenhouse (will need it since the pumpkins are already about 3 inches tall )

I go out and yell at my chickens when they get on the porch
putting together my hive bodies for the new bees coming next month

sewing

I have a treadmill in the house so I put the computer on it and watch while walking

to be fair, my life isn't much different now than it was a month ago I wish you could all come and help me build my greenhouse

[CottonBear]

12. I would help if I could! I am a gardener. N/T

[guillaumeb]

16. I already ordered my seeds and plants.

By early April I will start cleaning my beds.

[Phentex]

19. Feels like spring here...

We always walk our dogs but we've seen more people out walking than we've ever seen before. Whole families. Mostly keeping distance between everyone.

My anxiety is down because I'm not rushing to get everything done. I can actually take my time and it feels strange.

[guillaumeb]

20. That is a good feeling.

When I first retired, nearly 7 years ago, my wife asked if we should write a "to do" list. I said no, I had no intention of doing that.

My reasoning? Lists are fine as a gentle reminder, but I refused to accommodate what would have been a list that would only end, so to speak, when I was dead.

We agreed to list things that we would like to do, but with no time frame for doing any non-urgent things.

6 and 1/2 years later, it is working just fine.