How to De-Stress in a Pandemic

As I write this, it’s a beautiful day in Dallas. I’m sitting on my patio, enjoying the springtime breeze and mild weather. Everything around me is the same as it’s always been – the same trees, now with fresh blooms. The same sky, although a little more of it since we lost trees in last October’s tornado.

It’s hard to believe that outside this little sanctuary of my home, Dallas isn’t the same as it once was. It’s now that blink-and-you’ll-miss-it time of year when the sun stays out, while the weather remains pleasant. By now, the office types would be filling the patios for their after-work happy hours. Traffic would be at a standstill. Students would be at their after-school practice sessions, playing tennis, swimming, you name it.

The pandemic has changed all that. Instead of interacting with our colleagues, friends, family and neighbors, we’re stuck in our homes. I’m not complaining. I love my home – it’s not a bad place to be stuck.

But, I have noticed that what really gets to me is the monotony. Normally, I’m always traveling, working, meeting friends, playing golf or tennis (especially during this time of year) — and I can’t do any of that now. All of my go-to de-stressors are out of reach. And with a pandemic going on and work that still needs to be accomplished, I’ve definitely been experiencing my share of stress, which is why I’ve chosen to sit and reflect in my backyard.

And after some reflection here’s where I’ve landed: Productivity makes me feel good. Accomplishing a to-do list, whether it’s reviewing a contract or planning a trip, lowers my stress levels. So, in order to maintain my sanity when the traditional forms of productivity aren’t readily available, here are the tasks I plan to accomplish.  

Organize the Problem Spaces

I do my best to stay organized throughout the year. Truth be told, I’ve never been much of a spring cleaner because I always tend to clean up after myself regardless of the season. Clutter drives me nuts, and I can’t focus in a mess. 

That said, even the most diligent organizers have that spot in their house that needs editing. Maybe it’s the under-the-stairs closet that’s become a black hole of old Christmas decorations and sports equipment you never used. Perhaps it’s a cabinet full of canned goods, spices and tortilla chips that expired ages ago. For me, it’s the laundry room, where we keep various cleaners, detergents, bug sprays, etc. Now’s the time to (ethically) dispose of the empties and organize the rest. 

Participate in Cross-Country Happy Hours

I’ve already done a few of these with my friends around the city – since we had to stop socializing in physical spaces, we’ve started socializing in virtual ones. However, I will consider it a major accomplishment when I can convince my friends, who are scattered across the U.S., to participate in some virtual happy hours together.

My friends from law school and from my first few jobs in NYC are all wonderfully accomplished women. As a result, they’ve moved all over the country to pursue amazing careers. We keep in touch, but not nearly as much as we should, so my goal is to get all of us together to “share” some wine, reflect on our friendships, and plan a girls’ trip together that, with any luck, will come to fruition once this pandemic ends.

Listen to Enriching Podcasts

Everyone is sharing recommendations for Netflix binges, and while mindless TV watching is fantastic, I’m going to try to take this time to learn something new. I’ve heard of many interesting podcasts over the years, but until now, have never had the time to listen to them. On my list is “You Must Remember This,” which recounts stories of classic Hollywood through a contemporary lens; “Historical Figures,” audiobiographies of lesser-known events of history’s most extraordinary participants; and “Invisibilia,” which tells stories of how inexplicable forces impact our lives.

Finally, my one word of advice (to myself and my readers): if you create a to-do list, but don’t accomplish a single thing, don’t beat yourself up. The point here is to feel good about yourself, and sometimes, you just need to sit in your backyard and do absolutely nothing, which, the way I see it, is an accomplishment in itself.