COVID19 Work

Day 5: Seeking Comfort

March 20, 2020

Will I keep titling the posts “Day ###” when we are in the 20s and beyond?

I guess I will have to make that decision down the road.

I do feel like I am documenting some journey — one that will hopefully END — so there is something I like about the numbers.

(They are probably terrible for SEO but I am also terrible at SEO).

Yesterday was not a good day. Obviously, I cannot share details. But it is notable that difficult personalities definitely seem to become more difficult in a crisis situation. Stress makes people show their true colors. BUT, for now, all I can do is move on.

I can continue to work (remotely when possible) and try to do the best I can.

I can stick to my principles to the extent possible.

I can treat others with kindness even if I don’t feel showered in kindness myself.

On a more practical note, I can name 3 important things to accomplish each day and attack them with gusto. If I finish early, I can spend some extra time with the kids.

For those of you who are podcast listeners, we did record a bonus episode. We will try to do this weekly if we can. The other eps are mostly pre-recorded. Some of them we’re probably better off saving for later. Others still feel relevant. Working on it! To the extent that we can right now.

COVID19-life updates mini-episode

Some personal journal-style blogs that are posting frequently right now that I find comforting to read:

Those of us that find comfort in writing are hitting “publish” more often now. I like reading the personal stories; I feel less alone. Please share your favorites — who am I missing?

13 Comments

  • Reply Shelly March 20, 2020 at 8:06 am

    Thank you for posting so often. And I whole heartedly agreed with comments yesterday that you are allowed to feel all the feels. Sad, frustrated, and let it be that one day at a time we do our best.

    I’m at home now changing the courses I teach to start with online delivery. But earlier in the week there was a lot of confusion before the directive came down and my department boss and coordinator were often giving us conflicting direction and were very curt. It was the stress so I tried to meet all the craziness with as much kindness as I could muster. Some moments were better than others.

    As of last night I have package from the kids teachers so I can be more directed with some learning for them. I would be embarrassed to add up the amount of screen time they had yesterday. I wish you a good day.

  • Reply A. March 20, 2020 at 8:31 am

    What is happening in USA is so sad. I hope it gets better. Trump will not be re-elected, that is for sure. Good news in all the bad ones? Good luck with everything.

  • Reply omdg March 20, 2020 at 9:54 am

    I’m not feeling so inspirational today myself, so I apologize for doom and gloom in this morning’s post! Thanks so much for the link, I feel really touched. 🙂

  • Reply Taryn March 20, 2020 at 10:09 am

    Thanks for recording the bonus episode! I know it’s a really tough time right now, but I always look forward to listening to you and Laura. I thought I would share a link to an article my supervisor was interviewed for about managing mental health during this pandemic:
    https://www.healthing.ca/diseases-and-conditions/coronavirus/mental-health-tip-on-keeping-it-together-during-covid-19
    I hope it will be helpful for some of you.

  • Reply Dawn Burke March 20, 2020 at 11:27 am

    This is really great podcast about emotional regulation and how we talk to ourselves during this time. All evidence based science. It’s a good listen! https://www.happinesslab.fm/

    • Reply Dawn Burke March 20, 2020 at 11:29 am

      the episode is “How to Coach Yourself through a Crisis”

  • Reply Mary Alice March 20, 2020 at 11:42 am

    I’ve never commented but tis the season to try new things! I just want to say thank you for continuing to blog over all these years. I’m finding with everything going on that I’m choosier about the pods I’m listening to and the content I’m consuming but your blog and your podcast with Laura are still on that list. You are incredibly relate-able, reasonable and genuine and I’m valuing that more than ever. Thank you, thank you! Hang in there!

  • Reply RKK March 20, 2020 at 11:51 am

    Not only are you ALLOWED to feel all the feels, it is so important that you are SHARING them with us! I know you are sharing your vulnerability with us and I am so grateful because so many of us are going through these very same ups and downs. THANK YOU for continue to post, keeping it real, and giving us comfort xo

  • Reply Kelsey March 20, 2020 at 4:25 pm

    I really appreciate your updates, Sarah. It is just comforting to be reminded that we’re all in this together and that I’m not the only one feeling anxiety and figuring life out day by day (sometimes hour by hour). Thanks so much for the mention of my blog. I feel even more compelled to record/process this time and connect with others right now.

  • Reply ErinH March 20, 2020 at 6:04 pm

    I just wanted to chime in that I’m appreciating the podcasting and posting. Hang in there!
    ErinH – mom of 2 teens, currently working at home (DH also working at home) in NW Ontario Canada where we are still in winter and have snowstorms!

  • Reply Irene March 20, 2020 at 7:47 pm

    I’m sorry Sarah. It is hard for so many people right now and I appreciate you putting yourself out there during a time so many of are feeling isolated. And terrified that we are still at the beginning of this whole thing!

    It must be an incredibly hard time to be a physician right now. I worry a lot about my 62 year old Mom who is still actively working and probably getting exposed.

    My kids are finally settling into a somewhat new normal which immediately made me concerned about when we revert eventually to the old normal – school was not going great already for one of my kids and I have no idea how returning after an extended period out will go.

    It’s just so much and I don’t even have the financial concerns so many people are facing. It’s just all piled on top of all the things that are a struggle- especially my 2 year old who just will not @&$!! Sleep! I can’t work after my kids are asleep if one of them is averaging 9 hours or less a night!!!! Well I can and I have but I’m just so tired….

  • Reply rose March 21, 2020 at 10:46 pm

    THANK YOU for writing and please post as often as you can. Thank you for the list of other bloggers, I added one to read and know several of the others. Not A Wasted Word is amazing I strongly support her. Honest, reality grounded, deep subjects often examined, and quite fabulous.
    Wishing you health and hoping so much that the shutdowns have an impact and the curve is flattened. Touched personally today by two in the 30-49 group who will not be here for Easter. Please, all, be super careful.

  • Reply CNM March 22, 2020 at 12:06 am

    Yes yes and yes. I am really appreciating your posts. I am thankful that I am not on the front lines of medical care nor am I or my small children in a particularly risky group.
    However, the shut-down has been hard for me, too, and the “aspirational” posts I see on social media are really just making me angry. Who can do yoga in the morning, bake fresh bread, declutter the house, go hiking and read a book when I am supposed to be working from home AND taking care of a baby AND homeschooling your 2nd grader AND worrying about how I’ll be paying my staff in the upcoming months?!? This is not a vacation for me! I really just need to take a step back and figure out a new normal and then I’ll feel much more at ease. I hope.

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