Hello everyone. I know it has been so long since I’ve written. I do apologize, but I’m sure I am not the only one who has been having trouble coping due to the recent world events. (I promise this post won’t be too negative about COVID-19, as I know reading about it over and over can be stressful and very anxiety-inducing!) In my last post, I talked a lot about health and wellness, and how things were a bit crazy even at the beginning of March for me. Unfortunately, things continued to escalate and got to a point where I needed to take a step back from many aspects of my life, including writing here and engaging in other social media spheres. In other words, my March was an absolute shit-show. Anyone else??

The past month and a bit has felt like a complete blur and so much has happened in that time, it is difficult to piece it all together. I find we have these moments in life, where something big happens and it is so utterly life-changing that when we look back on it, it is hard to believe that one moment or those few events could be the catalyst for so much change. But it can be. And it is important that we continue to move forward along with these changes.

Things weren’t going very well for me even before COVID-19 blew up big time. Work was beginning to ramp up into one of the busiest times of the year, I was still attempting to sort out a routine that emphasized work-life balance, I was sick at the beginning of March and had to take more time off work than anticipated, and I was in the midst of dealing with a situation at home that was causing much more stress and anxiety than I had anticipated. The anxieties surrounding COVID-19 were continuing to grow, and once it started to hit really hard and it became a reality that I was going to be working from home and wasn’t really allowed to leave the house, I felt like I was being buried under 100 layers of anxiety.

It was at that point when I decided I needed to take a step back from everything because it all felt like too much. I stopped writing for awhile and took a break from social media. I did not look at the news for any updates regarding COVID-19 because that only made it worse (hence why I am trying not to be too negative about it in this post as I know first-hand how anxiety-inducing it can be to hear about it over and over). I tried my best to focus on work, my health, and sorting out my home situation into something that would be more positive and less stressful and anxiety-inducing.

Thankfully, I had a support system at this time that helped me get through it. Work was flexible and colleagues were checking-in with one another, especially due to new working from home arrangements. Considering everything that is going on, I am tremendously grateful that I am even able to keep working during this time, and that I have the support of colleagues to lean on as we navigate this situation. I winded up moving to a new place and had a generous friend offer to help me out, which was much appreciated. Staying off of social media and other news outlets in general was also tremendously helpful for me at this time. Even social distancing and staying home to focus on work has been beneficial for me, though at times it can feel a bit isolating to be the only one at home. Talking to close friends and family members through non-media related sources has also been great to continue to foster connection during these times.

And the good news is, things are slowly starting to get better. Many days it might not feel that way, since we are still social distancing and it is difficult to be away from the ones you love. But we are working towards flattening the curve as they say, and it is so important that we all continue to do our part. Though I am still feeling many of the emotions I felt last month, as we continue to be in this unknown situation and it is still one of the busiest times of the year for me work-wise, I am hopeful that we will make it out of this. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and though it might be a ways away yet, it’s still there. And that’s what matters.

Until that light gets closer and closer and we are out of this, I am hoping to continue to find ways to surround myself with positivity and ease stress and anxiety during this time. Much of what I have done for the past month or so I will be continuing to do, including limiting time on social media and other media outlets, focusing on work, and connecting with close family and friends. If you have any more suggestions for ways that have been helpful for you to cope with COVID-19 and its impacts, I would love to hear them in the comments.

I hope you get the chance to connect with your loved ones this weekend in whatever way you can. I recently finished a Zoom meeting with all of my relatives that I can’t see right now due to COVID-19 concerns, and it was a great way to connect with everyone. I hope you find your own forms of connection that work for you. Sending love and health to all of you! We will make it through this.

xo, C.