COVID-19 Self-Quarantine Life

We got home from vacation on Friday the 13th, a few days earlier than we really needed to be. When we scheduled the vacation, the days off had already been preapproved in a way that could not be changed. But we had no plans set. For one, I was waiting for my passport to arrive, which meant we couldn’t book that cruise to the Mexican Riviera. Second, the COVID-19 situation was only starting to ramp up for us in the US and we decided not to take the cruise after all. We felt that the safest option was a staycation a few hours north.

On our return, LA seemed to have undergone quite a change. It was one thing to read a few snippets in twitter posts, but it was definitely an eye-opener to travel to 3 different groceries only to find out that it was near improbable to find parking without nearly killing someone or getting into a minor car accident.

But since then, we seem to have adapted fine.

For official statements and guides regarding COVID-19 during this time of crisis, please check out World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Always double check rumours and screenshots you see online. Fact check before sharing with others. Misinformation can hurt.

Working From Home

On return from vacation, I spent exactly one full day at work before volunteering to work from home the very next day.

I actually had no issues going to work since it was so close to home that I can walk or bike there. However, it was realising that I live with someone who works in the ER, possibly coming into direct contact with COVID-19, and did not want to possibly expose anyone else. Adding to that is that my boss and his wife are expecting their 3rd child and that was not going to be on my hands.

So, I’ve been working from home since. My new coworkers are a bunch of attention-whores that eat all my food and do not follow the 6ft social distancing rule. They also have a habit of licking my face, but I’ve learned to accept it as compliments on my hard work.

Grocery Shopping

The first weekend back, as mentioned, was a little bit of a storm. I could’ve been making too many assumptions at this point as we didn’t even bother going inside the groceries. At each parking lot we saw come into chaos, we simply didn’t want to keep circling around for parking. Given how the situation looked outside, we also didn’t feel like we’d have a better time inside. Luckily, we had enough food at home to eat well.

We waited a few days after that before trying to visit the groceries again on their off-peak hours. Given that people were starting to work from home, these hours no longer apply. However, quickly, the lines lessened even as stock was still not always to full capacity, and the crowds became more manageable.

At more popular groceries, some have started a COVID-19 procedure with a queue allowing only a set number of customers inside at a time, keeping the inside population to a certain amount.

During this time, there were still plenty of food available.

Most things gone were frozen foods like pizza or complete dinners. Canned food was also half its usual amount, but for some reason liver wurst and SPAM were readily available and I was more than fine with that.

At my most recent grocery visit, the store was a normal level of quiet calm, but with more people wearing masks and gloves than before. Still, it was otherwise normal. However, the shelves for bleach were VERY empty.

Aside from that, bread flour and yeast were hard to find. Yes, I’m one of those people that wanted to bake bread at home, but this had been a lazy ambition of mine for about a year now and only during my vacation did I find a moment to seek out some recipes I wanted to try at the same time COVID-19 hit. Oh, well. Maybe later.

Staying At Home

I’m truly not finding this stay-at-home rule as hard as most seem to be. It doesn’t deviate much from my regular life aside from the work-from-home aspect. It’s allowed me to make more organised attempts at figuring out my home life.

I’ve been cleaning the office

Since it’s been largely abandoned because I now have an iPad and need the desktop less and less. But working from home requires a dedicated work station, especially on the days when I’m not the only one home. Also, I find it difficult to work in clutter.

Rebooting my habit tracking

I’ve been doing these activities, but now that I have more quiet time to pursue a bullet journal, I can start actively tracking again. I’ve chosen:

• 30 min Yoga – 2x a week
• 30 min Weights or Resistance Bands – 3x a week
• 2 Laps on the Stairs and 10 pushups – 3x a week
  • Yes, 10 because I am a weak-ass and I accept it while trying to upgrade it.
• Meditation – 2x a week
• Walking the dogs – 3x a week

Something else I’m attempting to pursue, but not track because it’s just too much pressure is to draw daily on Procreate. If this is something you’re into, you may wanna check out this FB group: Making Art Everyday // Bardot Brush

Please help to spread the word on fact-checking any COVID-19 information you receive that is from supposed reliable resources! Misinformation is dangerous and has caused deaths. Let’s take care of each other.

‘Visiting’ with Friends

Before the COVID-19 lockdowns began, I was missing many friends whose lives had moved on to other states and other stages. It was hard keeping in touch because lives diverted. Somehow this has brought some of us back to each other.

We remembered FaceTime dates that we never set a time for. We remembered the plans we definitely won’t get to cancel now that we can’t even create them. We have time to chat more now. Likely this will all revert back once life is normal again, but having these moments are really nice, even if temporary.

The seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic has also brought out a lot of truths that were just lingering beneath the surface with some friends. This has been in discussion with a few people I know and it seems that some relationships will also crumble under the situation. There are just some things you can’t unsee or unhear even with the longest of histories between friends.

Exercise

As mentioned above with my bullet journal, I’m trying to start a habit of this. It actually has not been that difficult as the lack of having to be anywhere on time really makes for an antsy mind and antsy body that’s ready to be put to use.

With that in mind, it also allows for longer, lazy strolls with the dogs. I’m not trying to do anything extreme as to have ambitions of coming out of this lockdown with a hot body. I just want a joyously functional body. One that doesn’t spasm when you get up or bend and unbend too fast. One that doesn’t creak as you squat or walk up and down the stairs.

Keeping Calm

For now, I’m just taking it day by day. I’m living on the assumption that I will not have my job for long, that we may be living like this for a few months before things go back to normal, and trying to keep pursuing some small ambitions that I may not only have time for now but maybe necessary during these times.

How about you?