The Personal Benefits of Shelter-in-Place
My last article was about the nice things I’ve seen happening around the world in response to the pandemic. This article will stay a little closer to home.
When the coronavirus crisis first made its way to Dallas, I wrote about how to make the best of a bad (a very, very bad) situation. All this is easy in theory, though, so now that we’re firmly planted in a shelter-in-place situation, it’s time for a mental check-in to see how all this is actually being put into practice.
First, let me admit that all the productivity activities I wrote about mostly have yet to happen – and that’s ok! We’re in the middle of a global crisis. I think we can all forgive ourselves if we haven’t read through half the stack of books on our nightstands or set up emergency preparedness kits that would make a Girl Scout proud.
Luckily, however, there have been some small, personal upsides to this tragedy. And, in my humble opinion, sometimes you just have to scale back your expectations to realize that, in a crisis, small victories can result in major physical and emotional rewards.
Let’s start with my beauty regimen. Like many women, I would always take time in the morning to do my hair and makeup and take time every night to make sure I was applying the proper products to keep my skin healthy and minimally wrinkled. Turns out, all I needed was to stop touching my face! Because I’ve been leaving my face more or less alone since shelter-in-place, it’s developed a healthier glow. The same goes for my hair. Because I’ve been washing and styling it less, it doesn’t get as oily and damaged.
Of course, this improvement in my appearance might also be attributed to better eating. Now, let me clarify: I’m not on some Whole-30, vegetarian, Keto kick. I am, however, paying much more attention to what I eat, and when I eat it. With shelter-in-place, we’re doing our best to minimize our contacts with the outside world. That means putting more thought into our weekly menus so that we don’t run to the store if we forget something. We are taking a more thoughtful and holistic approach to our meals, and as a result, I’m learning how to be more resourceful in the kitchen, trying cooking and baking techniques and recipes I had never known existed, and making an adventure out of meal prep every day.
Speaking of adventure, did I mention that I’m also trying great new wine? In an effort to contribute to small, local businesses, we’ve been buying from our local wine shop. They’re much more knowledgeable than the larger liquor stores and take a much more personal approach to their recommendations. The wonderful oenophiles I’ve met have taken me on trips to New Zealand, Chile and the Rhône Valley, all from the comfort of my couch.
Good food, good wine, good friends – all the necessities for a happy life. I’ve already covered food and wine, and as for friends: I’m building stronger relationships as a result of shelter-in-place. My friends, family and I are making more of an effort to check in, and when we do, we really listen. Gone are the days of distracted Bluetooth phone calls while sitting in traffic. We make a point of setting up our Zoom rooms and celebrating each other’s small victories (“You did laundry today? That’s great!”) while also holding space for our collective fears and anxieties. I don’t think I’ve felt this supported in a long time.
This feeling also extends to my work colleagues. With work-from-home in place, we’re a much more supportive and collaborative bunch. Don’t get me wrong – I have always appreciated my team and am constantly impressed by the great work they do – but this time around, it seems like everyone’s a lot more forgiving. Because of various domestic issues that we don’t encounter in the office (most notably, responsibilities with kids or live-in elderly parents), we’ve had to embrace asynchronous communication. If someone’s not at their computer or late to a meeting, well, it happens. The definition of “urgent” is not the same as it used to be.
All of these benefits, it seems, spring from one central source: letting go of my anxieties. This pandemic has only reinforced for me that control is an illusion. Coming to terms with that idea on a more profound level is an impact that I hope will stay with me long after this disaster ends.
What have your personal upsides been? Please share them in the comments.
#OnlyJoy