Tips to survive staying home

I have a 17.5 YO daughter who has severe disabilities.  We spend every Oct-Apr (RSV season) at defcon 4 (on extreme precaution of germs).  She has had more hospitalizations than I care to count and I (Mom) stay with her isolated in the hospital the whole time, sometimes for months on end.

Now that the entire nation is at Defcon 5, I thought I would share some tips I have learned over the years to survive isolation...

(this post is adapted from my post "Tips for Parents to Survive while their child is in the hospital")

#1)You will need to find what works for you, don't feel like you have to do the things that I say.

#2) Rely on God.  Pray.  Spend time studying God's word daily.

#3) Breathe.  No seriously!  Focus on your breathing.  Slow your breathing.  Do relaxation exercises,  Deep breaths.  Cleansing Breaths (breathe out the bad energy/thoughts/stress).  And above all just remember to breathe.

#4)  Start a blog or journal to get out your feelings

#5)  Find a hobby you can do while at home.  Over the years I have done cross-stitch, digital scrapbooking, hand quilting, and reading.  Something to keep your mind and hands busy. Maybe you want to read a book that has been sitting on your nightstand for 3 years, hahaha.  Maybe you have 20 unfinished projects you can work on.  Maybe you can improve your yard or plant a garden.  Maybe you can work on family history.

#6)  Get up every morning and get ready.  Shower, do your hair, do your makeup.  Get dressed. It will help you feel better and have more patience. 

#7) Go on a walk or get some exercise every day.  Getting some exercise will help with your endorphins and mood.

#8)  Get some fresh air.  Open your windows and doors.  

#9) Which brings us to... get outside at least once a day.  Breathe some fresh air.  Look at nature. The air in your house will start feeling gross and germy...get outside!  You will feel so much better after doing it.

#10) Try to eat healthy. Stress can make your bowels bonkers, don't add to the problem by eating junk.  You really will feel better when you eat healthy.  

#11) Find something fun to look forward to.  Maybe you have a daily time that you facetime someone, maybe you make a special treat to share with your family.  Maybe you plan a game night.  Find things to do that are within your limitations.

#12) Focus on the present and find the blessings.  Do not think too much about the future.  Focus on the positive.  Maybe make a gratitude journal.

#13)  Split responsibilities if you have a spouse, kids or someone to help you.  This way the burden doesn't fall on one person.  Communicate about the responsibilities, do not assume your spouse knows what you want them to do.

#14) Find time to be alone each day.  Have a quiet time.  It gives you time to decompress, take a nap, have some time to recoup your expended energy.

#15) You can stress/cry/worry or you can laugh.  Try to laugh at the situation.

#16) Limit anything that is stressing you out...media, social media, people, etc

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See my other post about "How to Prevent the Spread of Germs"

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Those are my suggestions.  I would love to hear what helps you.  Please post below.