Happy Monday friends, how you holding up? Yesterday I said to my husband, May 15 feels really far away right now (that’s the current projection for us to be out of quarantine). We all know that life can change in a moment, but when it does, we don’t always know how to process it. Now for those of us that are just being required to stay home, it’s not necessarily a hardship. It does bring disappointment and maybe some challenges, but it’s mostly understandable. For those that are out working in the essential jobs, like medical staff, it’s a constant emergency situation. It’s hitting us all differently.

So as I adjust to teaching my classes in cyber format and the 24/7 family-in-the-house scenario, there are a few things helping me and that maybe will help you too!

Cook, because you can! You actually DO have time right now. In the last few days I have done sun tea, fresh bread and a dutch baby pancake (among many other meals). What is it that you want to cook that maybe you haven’t tried? This is the time to try it, if you have the ingredients! I would not recommend special trips to the store for ingredients. I actually love cooking but hate dishes, so I usually try to cook or bake with the least amount of dishes possible! **Update this image was included in a New Journal Article on Delaware families baking at home, check out the article here.

Google the recipe for Ayesha Curry’s One Hour Bread Recipe (it’s usually prettier but I was talking on FaceTime while making this one :)

Just google “Dutch Baby Pancake” recipe for this one! Serve with syrup and a side of berries, YUM!

2. Listen to podcasts and good music while doing tasks! I am currently hooked on any music by Maggie Rogers. My husband has actually met her, as she is an alumnus of the board school where he works. She did a surprise concert for the students last year! As for podcasts, you all know I am always listening to different ones. (For the Love with Jen Hatmaker has an entire quarantine series, The Lazy Genius has some survival tips and my daily bible reading goes along with the Bible Recap to keep me grounded and take the long view of life.)

3. Rest. Simple….Rest…..but I have struggled with this. My enneagram 3 personality sees open time and fills it with projects. While I do think that this is a great time to tackle a project, it’s also important to take it slow and rest a bit! I will be forcing myself to rest a bit too this week. Part of rest can actually be play, so play with your kids or pets to lift your spirits also!

Social Distancing in the great outdoors…because we need to move our bodies!

4. Walk….go find an outdoor trail or your neighborhood and just walk. Make sure you can comply by social distancing, but it’s still super important to move your body. Nature has so many healing properties of its own. I think the sun itself has super powers! The combination of moving your body and fresh air is good for you soul.

5. Read….this can even include an audio book! Audio books TOTALLY count! Check out my hashtags #emilytroutmanreads on instagram if you need particular ideas but here is the book I am reading right now while in quarantine.

And remember…..you can do none of this and still be fine. Every day is not going to be awesome. It’s going to be full of NORMAL stuff that fills days like meals, dishes, laundry, sibling fights and homework. There’s so many different expectations that are on all of us right now, especially as parents we are trying to hold it all together for our families. Don’t feel the pressure to do any of the above if you can’t….just look at the time at home and ask yourself, “when I look back at this time, what will I want to remember?” Hope you have a great week wherever you are!

Emily Troutman Photography