Tag Archives: quarantine

Apr17

Top Four Ways To Protect Yourself From The Wider Effects Of Coronavirus

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Top Four Ways To Protect Yourself From The Wider Effects Of Coronavirus

Coronavirus is sweeping the globe, and it doesn’t matter who you are, it affects you. There is a lot of advice out there for the obvious ways to protect yourself and how to deal with symptoms, but what about all of the other things coronavirus is responsible for? Check out our list of the top four ways to protect yourself from the broader effects of coronavirus:

Claiming what you’re eligible for:

Whether this is through work or the government, make sure you know precisely what is out there and whether you can claim for it or not. If you are eligible, claim! Don’t hold yourself back because you think someone else might need it more, or because you don’t want to be a burden. If you’re entitled to it, ask for it.

Disability insurance:

Disability insurance can be a great way of covering yourself throughout a pandemic, like coronavirus. Coronavirus (or COVID-19) is included in some disability insurance policies. Go through your paperwork and ensure your provider will cover you. Some kinds of insurance policies will cover you through the death of a loved one. Out of all the deaths caused by coronavirus, 1% is of people under 50. If you have to take care of someone seriously ill or go into isolation or quarantine, this can create a need to claim on your insurance.

Mental health:

It’s not just your household’s physical health that you need to look after. Being in quarantine or on lock down has a massive impact on your mental health. It can cause depression, anxiety, and stress, as well as creating frustration and irritability. If you’re cooped up with family, roommates, or even just pets, you’re likely to get cross with someone eventually. Trying out calming techniques like meditation and mindfulness can really help. It’s also worth encouraging discussion of your emotions as a family. Frequently remind your household that everyone is tense because of lock down, and if someone does snap, everyone else should try not to take it too personally.

Balance your consumption of the news:

Following the news has never been more critical. You need to know what the government is currently advising and what the latest updates are, but you don’t need to know every last detail if this upsets you. Obsessing over the news won’t help you, but locking yourself in a bubble is not the way to cope, either. Limit yourself to checking a reputable news source once or twice a day — coronavirus news doesn’t move much faster than that anyway.

Avoid sources that are not major news providers or your government. It’s best to stay well away from the speculation on social media. If it keeps appearing on your dash, block the keywords or tags, or unfollow whoever is posting it. Use social media to stay in touch with friends, family, and colleagues, and to pass the time in a fun and pleasant way.

Stay safe and follow these four tips to get through the coronavirus pandemic.

Featured Image By: congerdesign

Apr17

Quarantine Team Guest Bloggers Wanted

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Quarantine Team Guest Bloggers Wanted

Hello! Looking for something to do to kill an hour or two in self-isolation? How about guest blogging on lifewithlilred? In this Quarantine Team Guest Bloggers Series you can share all of your entertainment tips, must reads, must watch, must eat recipes as well as any quarantine chic MOTDs or OOTDs. I’m also not picky, so if you have an idea – run it by me at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com

Your post will be the featured article on my page for the day and I’m looking forward to seeing what all of you come up with! Much love. -Sarah

Apr16

Things I’m Looking Forward To

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Things I’m Looking Forward To

Hello! Sometimes the best way to keep yourself sane during these difficult times is to just plan ahead and think of all of the exciting stuff you’d like to do once stay at home orders have been lifted. Believe you me, I have quite a few locations on my list as soon as I can safely go but with safely being the key word! When I am feeling down and out about the current situation, I just think about spending time at the following:

TJMaxx:

Lol, obviously TJMaxx is going to be number one on my list! Had I known that the last time I went shopping at TJs was the literal last time, I would have gone much harder. So, now, I look forward to a future massive haul filled with warm weather clothing, skin care, accessories and whatever else my heart desires. Hell, I earned it after months on end of being in lock down!

Elysian Nails:

When I first realized I wasn’t going to be able to go for my monthly fill at Elysian Nails, I was really upset. I know this sounds petty but that is the one thing I look forward to every month like clockwork. To me, there is nothing better than that hour or so of pampering and I always leave the salon feeling so good about myself.

I couldn’t imagine being without my acrylics so, until those salon doors open up, I bought myself an at home acrylic kit so I can attempt to DIY them. There will be more to come on that later when the kit arrives in the mail – we’ll see what happens. 😀

The Shear Shop:

I have to tell you all, I do feel quite lucky because a few days before the stay at home order was issued in Ohio, I got my hair cut and my nails done. But, Lil Red is going to be making a drastic change to her locks once this order has been lifted and I am absolutely itching to get into the salon chair. Look out for a brand new me!

Going On A Date:

Of course I love hanging out with my boyfriend at home and our impromptu date nights but I cannot wait to go on an actual night on the town with Johnny. Drinks on the patio at a bar, a dinner out – the works. I don’t care where we go and it doesn’t have to be expensive, just being in an actual restaurant and having a drink and dinner made for me is more than enough. And getting dressed up will be the cherry on top!

The Skating Rink:

It has been well over a month since I was last able to go for a lesson with my coach at the skating rink and I miss it dreadfully. Ice skating is not only my favorite form of exercise but it’s a creative outlet for me and it’s hard not to be out on the ice once a week. I’m thankful the weather in Ohio is clearing up so I can go for walks but nothing is better than a brisk skate on the ice.

Above are just a few of the things I’m looking forward to doing once it’s safe to do so and just thinking about it makes me feel a little better. What are you looking forward to? Where is the first place you’re going to go? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr15

Looking On The Bright Side

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Looking On The Bright Side

Hi! While things are so uncertain and the best course of action is to just stay home to help combat the coronavirus, it’s easy to feel down in the dumps. There’s nowhere to go, there’s nothing to do, and cabin fever could definitely be kicking in. And what’s more? The internet is filled with people telling their newsfeed to just get over it, making it difficult to decipher how to feel at all.

Well, I’m here to tell you that it is absolutely okay to not know how to feel considering we’ve literally never experienced anything like this before. It’s also okay to be disappointed about all of the events or occasions that have been cancelled due to the current state. I know I am and I have found that once I acknowledged that I was upset and allowed to be, I felt a whole lot better.

I know it sounds tacky and a bit too simple but, sometimes, the only thing that can make you feel better is looking on the bright side. So tip your cap in acknowledgement to your upsets and remember the following:

There is safety in being at home:

When you’re bored out of your gourd at home, remember that you are safe and that is a blessing. And, I know you are all sick of hearing that it’s time to learn something new… But try learning something new! Noticing little improvements every day you practice a new skill will make for some excitement and you’ll come out of this situation being able to do something you haven’t before. All of this from the safety of your home? Score!

There are things to look forward to:

I work with people with special needs and a lot of my clients are having a hard time understanding why I can’t take them out in the community anymore. So, I told all of them to come up with a special activity that we can do together once things open up again. Whether that be a favorite restaurant or going to the flea market, I wanted each of them to have something to look forward to as the days at home progress.

All of you can do this too! Come up with a perfect day out. Whether you spend it alone, with friends and family, or with a significant other make sure it’s something that you can think about and be excited for. That’s the most important part.

There are options:

Although none of the social distancing methods are as good as the real thing of sitting down next to a friend and having a chat – there are still options. Have a virtual drink over video chat with your friends. Talk to your neighbors from your porch. Visit your friend’s village on Animal Crossing. Yes, they are not the best options but they are there and are worth taking advantage of if you’re missing social contact.

And remember:

Most importantly, don’t stress yourself out about feeling like there’s nothing to do because we’re all in the same boat. There is nothing wrong with treating yourself to another Netflix bingeathon or a take out meal because we should be indulging in little things that make us feel good right now. Just remember to look on the bright side and all will be well. 🙂

What do you do to improve your mood during this crazy time? How do you look on the bright side? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr14

Outdoor Activities In Self-Isolation

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Outdoor Activities In Self-Isolation

Hello! Although I have been enjoying my time inside during Ohio’s stay at home order, I, like many of you, am looking forward to being able to go out and about like I used to. Despite most stores and restaurants not being open at the moment, there is still plenty to do in the great outdoors. Today, we are going to look at a few of those options in case you’re coming down with a case of cabin fever:

Go On A Walk:

Duh! I know this is an obvious one but it needs to be said. Take a stroll around your neighborhood or go for a brisk hike at a Metro Park – you’ll be amazed at how good you feel after a little exercise and fresh air! Turn on your favorite tunes, give a friend a call, immerse yourself in some social distance chats with your neighbors, or just take in the scenery as you take your walk. I think you’ll feel much better. 🙂

Start A Garden:

My dad has been working in his yard like a mad man now that the weather in Ohio is beginning to improve. He is busy preparing his garden for cool weather crops and I know how much he enjoys getting his hands in the dirt and helping something grow. Not ready for a full on garden? Start with some potted plants or herbs and go from there!

Eat Outdoors:

If you have a patio set or simply a few lawn chairs and the weather is nice, try eating outside. It will feel like a little private picnic! Make your favorite sandwiches and a pitcher of lemonade, bring out a good book, and spend an afternoon in the sun instead of sitting on your couch. Don’t forget to take your jigsaw puzzles, word searches, or even just the level of Candy Crush you can’t beat onto your porch, too!

There’s nothing like opening the doors to let some fresh air into your house or apartment, either.

Start A Tradition:

In Ohio, a lot of families have put teddy bears in their windows so parents can take their children on walks to the tune of the nursery rhyme “Going On A Bear Hunt”. Create your own fun tradition to get your neighbors involved like Where’s Waldo windows or a neighborhood game of I Spy. It will be nice to hear excited children participating in the game and it will sure feel good to spread a bit of joy in your neck of the woods, to boot!

Try Some Crafts:

There are plenty of great crafts you can make outside or create with materials you found on a walk so give it a shot! Create a self portrait with side walk chalk, pick some flowers and make a crown, or try your hand at painting or building a birdhouse. There’s nothing like a fun craft to pass the time and it will feel even better to have made something beautiful in your own backyard.

If you’re feeling increasingly bored during your stint with a stay at home order, get outside and participate in the ideas above!

What do you enjoy doing outside? What is the weather like in your area? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr12

Celebrating Special Occasions In Self-Isolation

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Celebrating Special Occasions In Self-Isolation

Hello! Ohio has a stay at home order in place until the beginning of May – as for right now. Unfortunately, special occasions don’t just stop because we are practicing self isolation. So, if a loved one has a birthday coming up, it can certainly feel like a bit of a bust. Thankfully, there are still ways to keep communication alive from the comfort of your own home. Use some of the following tips if anyone you know is celebrating their big day:

Order Them Takeout:

If a friend or family member is celebrating a birthday, you could do the social distancing equivalent of a birthday dinner by sending them over some takeout. Pick out a delicious meal from their favorite restaurant and Door Dash it on over for a birthday surprise. And, how surprised and thankful your giftee will be when he or she finds out that they don’t have to cook dinner!

Special Delivery:

Online deliveries are, for the most part, still a thing. How about sending your giftee a quarantine kit to help keep them entertained? Assemble a care package filled with adult coloring books, board games, books, or movies with the promise of a game night/late celebration once the stay at home order has been lifted.

Have A Virtual Drink:

Virtual drinks and happy hours over video chat has become a new trend as of late and my boyfriend and I are so there for it. We have participated in a few rounds of virtual drinks with our friends and it is always a blast. Call up your friend or family member on FaceTime or Skype who is celebrating a big day and toast to them. And, of course, real life drinks at a later time goes without saying!

Plan Ahead:

If all of the virtual mumbo jumbo isn’t your style, send your loved one an email or some snail mail inviting them to a celebration hang out at a later time. Your giftee will be 1) tickled that you remembered and 2) excited to have a fun event to look forward to. Plan an itinerary for an afternoon or evening on the town with the person celebrating and don’t forget to mark it in the calendar!

Don’t let your loved one’s special day go uncelebrated with the tips above and happy happy days to those celebrating during a stay at home order! ❤

How have you celebrated a special occasion during self-isolation? Will your birthday take place during the stay at home order? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr11

Reader Map DIY Craft

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Reader Map DIY Craft

Hi! One of the things that I love about blogging on WordPress is how they tell you what countries are reading you every day on your stats page. When I first started lifewithlilred, it was always exciting to get a new country reading me and it still is. So, I decided to pin a world map to a bulletin board and placed a thumbtack in the designated position for each country that I had readers in:

E33F4607-C302-4807-9E12-E976D901CE47

Over five years ago when I began my reader map, my dad and I spent an entire afternoon locating each country so I could place a pin to start keeping track. It was a fun and downright educational way to spend some time and I thought that it was a great craft for my blogger friends to work on, especially when we all should be practicing self isolation.

Dig up an old map from your school days or print one out for yourself and you will get a visual representation of your blog’s global klout by the end of the project. I love having a reader map and the best part? Adding new thumbtacks to it as new countries start reading me! My most recent pin being in Seychelles. 🙂

What have you been crafting to help pass time in quarantine? Which DIY project that you made are you most proud of? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr7

April 2020 Funky Time Jams

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April 2020 Funky Time Jams

Hello! We are officially one week through April and what feels like one thousand years in self-isolation. So, music has definitely been a big part of helping to make the time go faster. There’s something about playing a familiar song while tucking into a good book that is so comforting – especially when it’s so easy to feel unnerved even in your own home. This is the music that has been keeping me company as yet another day in quarantine passes by:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a66clRobKI

^^^ And, as always, I have no rights to these songs or videos!

A random compilation, I know – but this has been such a random feeling time. Everything just seems so up in the air and I never know what mood I’m in. Sometimes all I want to hear is top forty hits all day. Other times, I want nothing more than to time travel back to the 50s and 60s as I eagerly await for the completion of another day.

While Ohio is under a stay at home order, I have been clinging to a schedule and normalcy. This means following along with my music listening times daily like when I’m in the shower or writing in the morning. It’s nice to hear something that puts me more at ease when I’m trying to relax or upbeat tracks when I need to get ready for work.

Familiar things are my friends right now and the songs above have all been there at some point during this whole ordeal. Whether that be to save me from boredom or to hype me up, there’s nothing better than some Old Faithfuls!

What have been your favorite songs lately? What do you play to fight the lock down blues? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr5

Having A Virtual Drink

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Having A Virtual Drink

Hi! It’s so crazy to think that just a few weeks ago, Johnny and I were participating in game nights with our friends over the weekend. Now, we are safely tucked away in my apartment after work and on the weekends due to Ohio’s stay at home order to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.

We have a pretty close knit group of friends and we miss them. So, over the weekend we had a virtual drink over FaceTime with a couple we are friends with named Kevin and Christine. It was so nice to chat with and “see” someone other than ourselves and I just had to tell all of you about it in case you are missing the homies, too.

Try scheduling a virtual drink with your besties while hunkering down is the name of the game. You will seriously feel so much better after you have a conversation with a friend that isn’t over text message and it can create a pleasant evening or afternoon if you are having difficulties figuring out ways to occupy yourself. Pour a glass of wine, sit back, and enjoy. *Virtual cheers to you* 🙂

How have you been keeping in touch with friends in self-isolation? What is the coronavirus status where you live? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr3

Self-Isolation Recommendations

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Self-Isolation Recommendations

Hello! With self-isolation still going strong and cabin fever officially setting in, I thought I would post about my recommendations to keep your day running as normally as possible – especially if you are working from home or not working right now. I am so thankful that I can still work but it is pretty boring because it’s not like I can take my clients anywhere!

I definitely have been feeling antsy lately because I just want to DO something. But, these little tricks have helped me keep some ounce of sanity during this lock down:

Get ready in the morning:

Towards the beginning of the stay at home order, I pretty much gave up on my morning hair and makeup routine and that was a big mistake. Wearing comfy clothes and a fresh face all day gave me zero motivation and it almost felt like an excuse to have a “lazy” day. So now, even if I am just staying home or hanging at a client’s house for the day, I get myself ready – even if it’s not my full routine. I still feel put together, a lot better, and it adds a renewed pep to my step.

Follow a routine:

Things feel so chaotic right now and when you have ample free time to fill with nothing to do it can be quite overwhelming. Routines always make me feel more at ease and it keeps my day running smoothly without the awkward pause of figuring out what to do next. Plan out what you intend to do for the day every morning while you’re getting yourself ready and see your day improve.

Set up a place to work:

If you are working from home right now, set up a place to work that isn’t the couch! We all know how easy it is to set the laptop aside and turn the TV on and that shouldn’t be a constant mental battle while you’re doing your job. Clean off a cluttered desk or work at your kitchen table and try to follow your normal work schedule as closely as you can – lunch and coffee breaks too!

Cook your meals:

I have had takeout a few times in self-isolation but I have been doing my best to cook the meals that I eat at my apartment. It feels good to see and taste something that you made and that can be a real high point of the day – not to mention all of the money you’ll save! Get creative with new recipes or make old favorites. And, no matter how your meal turns out, at least you killed some time. 😉

Don’t be a night owl:

I notice that it’s been harder for me to go to bed at night because I have so much extra energy that I haven’t done anything with all day. I understand completely how difficult it is to not give into the night owl temptation but I promise it won’t be worth it when you go back to work with a totally thrown off schedule.

If you’re having difficulty falling asleep, try going for a walk or working out an hour or so before you go to bed. You could also take a bath or read a book – whatever will help you relax and keep to your normal bed time as much as possible.

Although self-isolation is difficult, it is the best thing right now to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Use the tips above and keep your day running as normally as you can!

How have you been adjusting to self-isolation? What do you do to keep yourself from getting cabin fever? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah