How are you feeling right about now? I don’t know about you; but when all this started getting serious a little over a month ago (here in Connecticut), I didn’t think it would last this long. I hopefully thought it would pass in two weeks or so. I realize now that I was in denial…..as part of the grieving process.

So many emotions - fear, sadness, anger, loss, and yes, grief. Has it been this way for you, too? In some ways it’s been like a long hard winter all in one month for me. With ‘Seasonal Affective Disorder’ I used to struggle through New England winters. I’m finding that I’m using the same coping mechanisms lately. As the weeks pass, I’ve found these things help me a lot:

1. Keep a routine to maintain some ‘sense of control’ - even if it’s just keeping your familiar breakfast habits to start your day. (for me it’s a big glass of lemon water and a beautiful mug of herbal tea.

2. Move your body - DAILY! Don’t succumb to the computer slump. If it is sunny, get outside; if it’s cold and sunny, bundle up and go anyway - your brain needs that Vitamin D from a walk outdoors. Change it up if possible. Bring and wear your mask if you are in an area frequented by others.

   If by chance the weather is too cold, too windy & windy, too anything - there is YouTube! I’ve been getting in 30 minutes of vigorous exercise with some of my new favorite exercise gurus. There’s gazillions of teachers out there - so there’s highly likely something that will suit you!

   Some of my friends have been able to continue their area yoga classes on Zoom. If exercise sounds daunting right now, set the bar really low. Stephen Guise, author of “Mini-Habits for Weight Loss” turned his health life around starting with “one push-up a day.” Once he had begun, many days he’d go past that ‘just one’ and do a few more…until it became a mini-habit. I set my mini-habit as “7 minutes of exercise” per day. Which doesn’t sound like much, but most days if I have on the exercise clothes - I’m hanging in there for way more than 7 minutes! But if 7 minutes is all I have time for- I get it done and still feel like a success! And that leaves me looking forward to the next day, excited to do more!

3. Feel the emotions & acknowledge them - It feels crummy and weird and awful because it IS crummy and weird and awful. Once you’ve acknowledged this, feel those feelings…and then allow yourself to move on.

4. Let go of what you can’t control - So many artist friends (myself included) have had shows and events canceled or delayed. Which is income lost. Do consider using this time for other activities - including planning new events, alternative events online perhaps. Also consider online learning, reading, or even new hobbies. Have you always wanted to learn another language? (I recommend Duolingo online). Learn to paint? (I’m now teaching online!). There are so many tutorials online that enable you to try out new things - whether they are hobbies, pastimes, or even learn new business skills for work.

5. Flowers - Perhaps it sounds ridiculous or frivolous - but those are some of the things that make life wonderful. If at all possible, bring nature in to your house. Whether you’re able to buy flowers or maybe are growing them in your yard, bringing in a few sprigs of things reminds us that Spring is truly here.

6. Keep the connections - True, there’s nothing like being together in person, but the next best thing is to meet on a platform like Zoom . Our book club has been able to keep meeting together this way - and it is such a delight to see each others faces and be together. My family has had a few weekend “Family Happy Hours” where we are finally all together (virtually) and just chat and catch up. I love it! Other friends of ours host neighborhood Trivia Nights!

7. Do something purposeful/helpful if you’re able - A group of women from our church (and many others in our region) are sewing masks for health care workers and others who need them. they are filling a truly higher service.

   I ended up taking my in-person studio classes to the online Zoom platform in order to keep our group of painters together. This activity is meaningful to all of us. I’m thrilled to be able to continue these creative classes for others!

   I’m heartened when I see stories of people doing what they do best…and finding ways to keep doing it - even if it is differently.

   We are all learning to be nimble, spry and ‘go with the flow’, so

8. Be patient and kind with ourselves and others. We will get through this together.