I’ve mentioned here before that I have anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder. And as is pretty common with OCD, germs and sickness are a trigger for me. Over the last few years, especially since being out of school, I’ve come along way with curbing compulsive habits, but the Covid-19 pandemic has certainly effected them. As confirmed cases reached counties near ours and schools began shutting down, the chances of it reaching my family and friends seemed to go from being a possibility to an inevitability. 

I know I’m not alone in these feelings, and that I have people who follow me that deal with anxiety as well. OCD, in particular, can make it hard for you to determine whether your response is a rational or an overreaction. How much handwashing is too much? How often should I really wipe down all the surfaces in my house? Is it safe to go anywhere at all, or is it bad to only stay at home?

And as a disclaimer, I’m no expert other than my personal experience and things I’ve learned over the years to help with my own irrational fears and compulsive issues, but I feel like this information can be helpful for anyone else dealing with anxiety over looming sickness, taking caution for elderly family members and immunocompromised friends, and staying home more with school and business closings for the foreseeable future.

(Note: None of the links in this post are affiliate.)

Handwashing and Cleaning Household Hotspots

These tips are especially helpful when dealing with compulsive tendencies. I find that the biggest help with keeping OCD fears from controlling you is to put yourself in control. Using expert guidelines only (not what your brain/worry/fear may be telling you), make a system for yourself and tell yourself that once this is followed I’m done and everything will be fine. This limits you from worrying about it incessantly, as OCD is all about having a false sense of control. Also, if possible, see if someone else in your household can help out to give you a bit of a mental break, such as taking turns wiping down surfaces every other day. In our current situation my husband is still leaving the house each weekday for work, so most of the daily cleaning is my responsibility. Here’s what I’ve been doing:

1. Handwashing: Since the outbreak of the novel corona virus, I’ve tried to wash my hands before I eat, after I eat, and anytime we get home from being out somewhere, whether that’s the grocery store, picking my son up from school, or to a friend’s house. It’ss recommended to wash your hands for about 20 seconds each time and then rinse thoroughly before drying them off. It’s also important to take care with how you are washing your hands. Illustrator Lucy Knisley has created a cute and fun rhyme, as well as helpful illustrated guide for proper handwashing techniques. This guide can also help your kiddos make sure they’re remembering all the proper handwashing steps. 
   
   Handwashing with soap and warm water is best, but there are situations where having hand sanitizer might give you some comfort. As far as when we leave the house, my husband and I already try to keep some hand sanitizer in both of our cars (mostly because we have a young child who doesn’t yet fully grasp why it’s not good to crawl in the floors of restaurants or put his hands in his mouth after riding in a shopping cart), so we happened to have a bit before people overbought. We haven’t had to do this yet, so I haven’t personally tried making it, but I have relatives who’ve made their own hand sanitizer following recipes like this one. We’ll use hand sanitizer anytime we get back in the car from going into a store, restaurant, etc and then wash our hands first thing when we get home. 
   
   
2. Cleaning and Disinfecting Household Hotspots: I’ve personally been hitting all the hotspots in our home with Lysol or wipes once every day or two. Hotspots are places and items in your home that get a lot of hand and touching traffic, such at light switches, doorknobs, phones and keyboards, remotes and gaming controllers, etc. My method is to go through our house room by room and look around each room for those hotspots. You can also make a master list of these if it helps you. I also wipe down any commonly used surfaces, like our kitchen island and the end table in our living room area. Here is a list of EPA-approved cleaners. We’re also cleaning our phones and keys after getting home if we have used them heavily while out.
   
   If you are having trouble finding cleaners in stores, I saw a tip from someone to check in stores you might not normally think of, like pet supply stores or hardware stores.
   
   
3. Washing Blankets and Bedsheets: Keeping linens and blankets clean is especially important if someone in your home is sick, regardless of what they are sick with, but it’s also helpful for keeping illness at bay. Especially if you are stuck at home on self-quarantine, making a laundry schedule might be helpful. Keeping a structured washing system will help keep those mental, obsessive cleaning worries at bay. Since I work from home already, I’m pretty good at keeping a clothing laundry schedule, but we tend to wash blankets and sheets on more of an “as-needed” basis. However, right now it’s important to be proactive, so I plan to set aside a day or two a week just for washing bedsheets, blankets, etc. For any laundry, follow given guidelines for washing, but try to use the highest water temperature setting as possible. Then dry the items completely.
   
   These guidelines go for towels and handtowels, too. I recommend changing out any handtowels used often whenever you do your hotspot wipedowns.

Tips For Dealing With Anxiety And Worry

As more and more cases of the virus are confirmed around us and schools, businesses and community events close or postpone, things can become scary and overwhelming. It can feel scary to even go outside your house, and like the illness will strike at any moment. 

1. Manage Trips Outside Home In A Healthy Way: Anxiety during stressful situations like our current one can often lead those affected to begin to be agoraphobic, but it’s important to not let ourselves feel trapped.As long as you and anyone you live with are well, you can still go places. What’s important is that you follow the proper hygiene guidelines above and try to avoid places that have larger crowds, if possible.
   
   Just getting outside can help relieve anxiety, even if it’s just to sit on your front porch. I try to get to the park with my son on days he’s home from school and the weather is nice, because it’s fun for him and helpful for my mental state to feel a breeze on my skin and see trees growing, to look at the clouds and feel the warmth of the sun. For now, any days we have where it’s not raining, we will go outside in our yard at least once, even if it’s just for a few minutes. In the next section, I’ll share some outside, kid-friendly activity ideas.
   
   
2. Limit News And Media Consumption: When you have anxiety, it can be easy to get into a habit of over-checking the news, trying to read every article to make sure you have all the latest facts. While the intention might be well-meaning – wanting to stay informed so you can keep yourself and your family safe – it can easily become consuming and heavily effect your mood or mental state. One somber-toned article can completely take your focus from reasonable care to overwhelming worry. If this happens to you, it can be helpful to limit the times you look at news articles, or even how much time your spending on Instagram, or looking at blog posts like this. Some people set timers on their phones to help limit their news consumption time. Once your allotted time is finished, let yourself focus on things that bring you peace, taking care of family, reading a favorite book, drawing, knitting, watching a favorite show, etc. Yes, staying informed and up to date is important, but it doesn’t mean you have to be thinking about it and consuming it every hour of the day. which leads us to the next tip…
   
   
3. Give Yourself Time To Enjoy Things That Make You Happy: The other night after things started getting serious in our area – confirmed cases had begun building up and school closings were imminent, and the world had begun to feel so scary and suffocating – I was scrolling Instagram before going to bed, trying to relax. I follow a lot of outfit posters because ootds are something I enjoy and find inspiration from – I do design clothing, after all – and I realized in that moment that I could stop and let myself feel joy. I had done everything I could do that day as far as the corona virus was concerned – cleaning and disinfecting, reading up on the latest information, getting my child home safely from school and tucked into bed that night, my husband was safe and home from work, and we were all being extra diligent about washing our hands and trying not to touch our faces – and I didn’t have to carry that worry with me all the time. It was okay to take a moment and do something normal, that gives me peace and inspiration. It was okay to still feel happy about a thing.
   
   With anxiety in general, this can be a hard thing to remember, because worrying about something means you’re being active and in control, right? It’s hard to ever really, fully let go of what’s making you anxious. But in overly stressful situations, especially when you are forced to stay home more, it’s really important to remember that good things do still exist in the world and in your life, and you are allowed to enjoy them. I saw someone on Instagram share that they were trying to make sure and do one thing a day that brings them joy, like silly dancing to a song they like. I made a list for myself to reference if I need to. It includes things like –
   
   – having a warm cup of tea
   – baking banana bread with my son
   – drawing some new clothing design ideas
   – if in a particularly stressful, anxious moment, singing an old hymn quietly to myself
   – sharing silly memes and videos with friends
   
   This list making was actually an “assignment” of sorts that my counselor had me do postpartum, when my anxiety issues were starting to make my world very small. I wasn’t even trying to do little things that brought me joy because it seemed like I could never accomplish them with a fussy baby around to care for. Try making a list and doing one thing a day from it, and in the moment when you do, allow yourself to thoroughly enjoy it. Trust me, worry can wait. 
   
   
4. Exercise: Keeping you body moving and growing stronger is a great way to help yourself physically and mentally, especially when you are forced to be at home for long periods. I actually workout from home most often, since it fits with my typical daily schedule. While my son is in his room after lunchtime for naptime/quiet time, I do a workout and then eat my own lunch before getting some design work or general household chores done. Try to find a time in your day that works best for you, and if it works for you maybe even get your kids to join in.
   
   Currently, I’ve been following Heather Robertson’s free 12 week program on Youtube (heavily modified, because she is a beast. I’ve done quite a few of her workout videos over the last couple years, so I knew what I was getting into.) Her workouts are intense, but she’s so sweet and encouraging and also has a few videos showing appropriate modifications. It’s also worth checking out her other videos if you need a shorter workout. 
   
   In the past, I’ve also followed Bodyfit By Amy’s workout videos. She’s also very encouraging and a lot of her workouts are pregnancy and postpartum friendly. 
   
   If you’re looking for something calmer, I have a lot of friends who enjoy Yoga With Adriene.
   
   
5. Make Sure You Are Eating Regularly And Drinking Lots Of Water: (Note: If you struggle with disordered eating, or have in the past, please feel free to follow or disregard these tips at your own discretion. You know what works best for you to eat safely and healthily.) This one can be tricky, especially if you are not used to working from home/being home all day, or if you’re prone to stress eating. Especially if you have kids at home, it might be helpful to have a mealtime schedule. This doesn’t have to be super exact, but it will just help you make sure everyone is fed. I tend to eat three smaller meals a day with a snack in between breakfast and lunch, then another between lunch and dinner. These meals and snacks don’t have to be anything special, and you can even use them as an opportunity to use up random things you may have in your pantry. You can try to keep them healthy, but I think a little indulgence in favorite desserts or comfort foods is okay, especially in a situation where cabin fever could easily set in. Just make sure you’re keeping it balanced. The most important thing is that you eat enough, and often enough, to help you stay healthy and energized while stuck at home. 
   
   And make sure you are drinking lots of water! I have a big water bottle that I try to drink about 4 fillings of a day. You could also keep a reminder set on your phone to take a few sips every hour/half hour if that works for you. And if you really don’t feel like eating much, at least drink a bit of water instead. This will help keep you hydrated and physically energized, and also aid in recovery if you do get sick.
   
   
   
6. Pick Up A New Hobby Or Learn A New Skill: If there’s something you’ve been wanting to learn how to do and you’re now forced to spend more time at home, now’s your chance. Maybe you’d like to learn embroidery or how to do the splits. Or maybe you;d like to learn how to make your own bread or make logos in Illustrator. There are plenty of resources online for most anything you’d like to learn as well as online apps with access to thousands of books from your local libraries that would be worth checking out.
   
   
7. Keep Doing Household Tasks, But Don’t Beat Yourself Up Over Them: It’s important when dealing with anxiety that we try not to let our basic everyday tasks fall to the wayside, especially when quarantined at home for an undetermined length of time, but it’s also important to not let guilt over failing to get everything done consume us. I try to get at least one household task done a day, no matter how small. If I wind up getting more done, cool, but if I don’t, I don’t beat myself up over it. Setting a schedule for this may help you as well. Like I tend to load the dishwasher in the afternoons, when my child is done with quiet time and has a snack with some tv time. If your kids are an appropriate age for whatever task and willing to help out while being out of school, let them!
   
   

Resources And Ideas For Kids Stuck At Home

Some schools will provide homework packets or online teaching while students are out for the next few weeks, especially for older children, but there will still be plenty of extra time to get bored while stuck at home. Here are a few resources I’ve seen shared from other parents and teacher friends, as well as some links to craft ideas and recipes.

       Online Education

1. First off, some kids might be a little scared or confused about what’s going on. Someone shared this comic on Instagram the other day, and I think it provides a good guideline for talking to younger children about Covid-19 and how we can keep ourselves and other safe without seeming overwhelming or frightening.
   
   
2. Scholastic is providing free access to their online Learn At Home program. This seems like a really fun and informative resource, and is organized by grade level and interest
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3. Kids Activities blog is sharing a very comprehensive list of education companies offering free subscriptions during school closings. There are tons of subjects to choose from here.
   
   

   Baking

4. If you and your kids enjoy baking, here are a couple of my favorite and most used baked good recipes. Remember, you can always substitute ingredients to meet individual dietary needs (I often bake with Earth Balance and almond milk). – 
   
   – This banana bread recipe from Simply Recipes. I change it up a little by adding a teaspoon or so of cinnamon to the mix, and also coating the sides and bottom of the pan with a cinnamon sugar mix, also sprinkling some on top to create a yummy, crisp coating on top.
   
   – If you love a decadent, soft chocolate chip cookie, this recipe is for you. Honestly, any cookie recipe I’ve tried from Sally’s Baking Addiction has been amazing, but these have become a favorite among family and friends. If you don’t have access to caramel candies right now, just make a straight up chocolate chip cookie, it’s still so good.
   
   

   Crafts

5. Homemade playdough is always a win. There are tons of recipes out there with good results, but here’s a link to a playdough recipe that can be made on the stovetop or uncooked. In the post, she also shares links to a few playdough recipe variations, so you may have some options depending on what supplies you have available in your home right now.
   
   
6. If you have construction paper, there are loads of tutorials online on making paper animals. My son has actually been asking for awhile to make a paper dragon puppet, so we’ll probably be trying out this tutorial some time in the next couple weeks.
   
   
7. Keep things exciting while learning by doing some kid-friendly science experiments. This post from mommypoppins.com shares a ton that can be done using household items. Be sure to choose age-appropriate ones for your kids and always have an adult supervise.
   
   

   Other Activities
   

8. Make normal activities more fun by changing them up a bit –
   
   – have a movie theater night where you watch a movie together while trying to simulate the experience of going to a movie theater. Turn the lights off and make popcorn. Maybe add some fun seasoning or spices, like cinnamon sugar or ranch. Kids can help with snack making.
   – have a picnic in the floor or outside in your yard/on your porch or patio if the weather is nice. Kids can help pick out and prepare the food. I’d suggest either sandwiches or a combination of veggies, fruits, and whatever snacks you have on hand during isolation. It’s a great chance to get creative.
   – build a blanket fort. Use what you have on hand and make a fort or tent. This one’s pretty self explanatory, Let yourself get creative and have fun with this one as well.
   – if the weather is nice, set up a nature walk/nature scavenger hunt around your neighborhood or or own yard. You can make a checklist for kid’s to use, or just see what you can find.

9. I know these are just a few suggestions, but it’s a good place to start.

We Can Do Hard Things

I know this is a long post and I hope it has been helpful and not too overwhelming. Remember, you are not alone right now, though we may feel so isolated. Keep up communication with friends through texts and calls, find those little pockets of joy and feel them to the fullest, take a deep breath, and remember that we can do hard things. I’m praying for anyone reading and your families. We are in this together.