Staying in your own home or contemplating “aging in place” has taken on a whole new meaning these days. Being asked to stay at home could very well be a preview of what is ahead for you.
Whether you are staying at home because of the new virus edicts, because you want to, or because you have to, is beside the point. You are learning today what it is like to be isolated from the rest of the world. How is that going for you?
How are you spending your days? Are you ordering everything in or donning a mask and going out for groceries? What else are you doing for exercise and entertainment?
A friend wrote that she had taken to staying in her pajamas all day. Expert’s frown on this behavior. They are all quite emphatic that for the sake of your own self-respect, productivity, and sanity you need to get up and get dressed every morning.
Whether you work from home or are housebound because you have to be amounts to the same thing. Getting dressed signals that you are ready to start your day and that you have things to do.
Keep to a routine even if you are not doing anything special. We have been discussing all sort of projects to get involved with; by now you should be quite proficient at entertaining yourself.
Let’s practice:
• Establish a routine. Get up, get dressed, have a good breakfast and take a walk. When you return you can get busy: straighten the house, kit, crochet, make masks, write in your journal or take an on-line class.
• Take breaks, whether this means listening to a book on tape, watching a soap opera, or having a cup of tea.
• Maintain relationships: write a letter, answer e-mails or call a friend.
What do you think? If you have opted to age in place, you can’t just sit in a rocking chair or doze in front of the television. Approach each day with a sense of purpose. Before long, you will be looking forward to a day at home.
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