10 Quarantine Problems & Solutions

I was not going to do a quarantine post. It is bad enough to live through; also writing about it seemed too much. However, as I was trying to cope with facing another day of uncertainty, I realized that writing about some of the ways that I have been coping with sheltering in place might actually be helpful.

Keep in mind that I am not expert; these are just my opinions. Please read my disclaimer for more information.

1. Financial Distress

This first problem I have been blessed to not be affected by. Like many others, I suffered a loss of income when my job as a reading specialist was put on hold, unexpectedly. Fortunately, it was only a part time position that was supplementing my unemployment benefits and life savings, which was a blessing to already be on considering the massive amounts of people overloading the system with applications.

There is no easy solution for this problem if you did not already have emergency savings, however, I would advice taking advantage of every resource available, especially if you have retirement savings. They are waiving the 10% penalty for early withdrawal, which I was not fortunate enough to avoid.

Most importantly, have faith. God has promised to provide all of our needs; rest in His promise and faithfulness and in thankfulness knowing that you will not be evicted or lose your home.

2. Boredom

Thankfully, this blog keeps me busy for much of the day, but it is still it is hard to not get bored being inside for days on end. I miss outside, but one of the ways I have overcome the monotony of being inside all day is by establishing a routine that includes getting outside for some fresh air and sunshine, daily. My patio has come in handy for this on days that I do not go for walks.

Of course, there is always Netflix for reliable entertainment. I think that is a great option for the weekend, however, I recommend learning something new for weekdays. For me, it has been my blog. Since it has been less than two months since I launched it, I still have so much to learn about maintaining a website and marketing content, let alone creating it. That and working out takes up most of my day.

3. Missing Necessities

I was never out of anything that I needed except Clorox or Lysol wipes. I improvised and made me own with a bleach solution and select-a-size paper towels.

Stores running out of things has been an inconvenience, but what has been the biggest help is my emergency kit. I am so glad that I took the time to create one and to order emergency backpacks. Because of those backpacks especially, I had masks and gloves, and bonus: I had an extra roll of toilet paper in my kit. I highly recommend preparing an emergency kit and a go-bag, if you don’t already have one. Replenishing mine will be on my list of things to do when this is finally over.

4. Stressful Shopping Trips

There are no more quick stops at the grocery store. I made the big mistake of trying to go shopping the Friday before Easter. There was a long line outside waiting to get inside. I decided I would make due with what I had already, but that led to the discovery that the Monday after Easter is the perfect day to go: no lines in outside or inside.

Lines aren’t the only problem with shopping these days. It has become such an ordeal. The stress of standing in long lines, not being able to find what you need, and then having to decontaminate everything you buy, and yourself, when you get home makes me not even want to go or regret having gone in the first place.

To solve this problem, I limit the times I go shopping by getting everything I know I will need. I make a comprehensive list now; no more going back for random things I forgot the first time. And for the things that I run out of before my next major trip to the grocery store, I go to our handy apartment complex neighborhood market. Even though it costs twice as much, it takes a fraction of the time, so it is worth it for a few items.

5. Dry Hands

I was already a major hand-washer before this quarantine from working with children, so dry hands, a pet peeve of mine, was already something that I worked on preventing.

I keep two giant bottles of Aveeno on hand so that I have plenty to reapply each time I wash my hands. I also apply coconut oil and massage it into my cuticles. You can also use petroleum jelly instead of coconut oil. If your hands are especially dry, an oatmeal bath might be a nice spa day treatment for your hands. Finely grind oatmeal and add it to a warm bath for your hands or your whole body. Read three ways to make an oatmeal bath here.

6. Too Much Alone Time

I realize for some, the problem might be not enough “me time.” I, unfortunately, do not have that problem. The solution for too much isolation seems quite simple: call friends and family, FaceTime, meet up on Zoom and the like are all nice alternatives to getting together in person, but what I have found most helpful have been the Instagram DJs. Joining in when a DJ goes live has really made a difference in feeling alone together.

For those who are sheltering in place with others, remember to take time for yourself. Take a walk or a bath, run an errand by yourself, something each day to recharge. Give yourself a chance to miss your family members and come back ready to spend time with them would be my advice.

7. Anxiety

This one is huge. Not knowing what the future holds is causing a lot of anxious thoughts. When will this be over? Will it ever? What is it going to be like when everything starts reopening? Are face masks and gloves the new normal?

Not having answers is hard, but what I find truly helpful is knowing that God does. I can rest in the peace of knowing that He loves us and is in control. That is not to say that I still do not get anxious about this because I absolutely do. It just means that when I feel anxious, it is just a reminder to revisit God’s promises, to trust that He is faithful, and to pray and ask for His peace to surpass the fear. There are many scriptures to turn to for comfort during these uncertain times; my favorite is Jesus’ promise to never leave nor forsake us in Matthew 28:20.

8. Inactivity

It is concerning that all there is to do most of the day is sit around watching TV and snacking out of boredom. I used to have to hike up hill to get to my car and climb two flights of stairs every time I came home, sometimes several times a day. Now that may happen once a week. I am compensating for this by working out five days a week.

Even with working out, I suggest getting in additional activity such as walking or riding a bike. And try to get involved in an activity so that you won’t be tempted to snack, mindlessly. Or prepare some healthy snacks to replace the tempting comfort junk food!

9. Keeping Things Tidy

I thought that being home all day would equal a completely organized space. It hasn’t. Apparently, being home all day just creates more opportunities for me to accumulate clutter. Packages that cannot be opened for 24 hours, masks air-drying, and other items in various stages of decontamination; it seems like there is never a time when everything is put away. Normally, this would not be as bothersome, but since I am home all day, it is.

The only thing that helps is carving out time from my blogging schedule for daily cleaning and remembering to put things away as soon as possible. Still, I cannot wait for my professional organizer to be able to resume working with me because small spaces require proper solutions.

10. Sleeplessness

The uncertainty of what is coming next can make it hard to get to sleep at night. I find that having a bedtime routine is helpful. Mine needs some work, but the main thing that helps me most nights is drinking tea before bed. Chamomile has been the most effective, but there are other teas that help with sleep, too. Right now I am drinking chamomile with lavender because my normal chamomile with lemon was out of stock (see point #3 above). Lavender is also great for sleep, so I gave it a try. Once one of my student’s parents bought me an aromatherapy gift basket from Bath and Body Works called Sleep. All of the products–the bubble bath, the pillow spray, the wrist roll-on–were made with lavender. It worked very well, much better than I expected.

Prayer is also helpful and the most important. Letting God know what your concerns are gives Him the opportunity to replace it with His peace. He promises us sweet sleep (Proverbs 3:24).

What are some of the things that you are doing to get through the quarantine? Please leave a comment below and let me know.

Until next time,

Stay safe!

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