How to Cope with Social Distancing

I’m sure I’ve never thought that I would be writing about social distancing or how to cope with being quarantined, but this is reality.

By the way, when I told a friend about this blog, he suggested that another title might be, “How to live with your children all day without going stir crazy.” I laughed and then realized he was serious.

Beginning last evening, the state of Louisiana was asked (actually ordered) by the governor to stay at home. Over the past week, we have had the fastest growth of the virus anywhere in the world. We obviously need strong measures to slow the growth of the virus.

How do we cope with such stress-filled, difficult days? Let me give you some coping mechanisms that fit this crisis and those to come.

First, establish structure and give yourself a schedule. This is especially important for children. Schools have rigid schedules and children function well with those schedules.

Even if you live by yourself, you need a schedule, with a time to go to bed and a time to get up. You need to know what is coming at what time. We simply do better with schedules.

Second, get outside. In Louisiana we’re having a wonderful spring. Staying at home still allows us to get outside. I’ve been running again. My running fights my stress in two ways, I’m outside and I’m getting physical exercise.

If possible, sit in the sun for a few minutes and let the sun “heal” you (Malachi 4:2).

Three, accept the reality of our situation and do your best to be flexible with your circumstances. Basically, you can’t change much of anything. As a friend says, “it is what it is.” Therefore, we have to be able to handle reality and make the most of the situation.

While running yesterday, I saw a young dad who is also a coach and teacher. He and his wife have an infant. He said, “Now I have time to be the dad I want to be.” Try to be flexible and see how God can bring good out of this.

Fourth, find people who need you more than you need them. It’s always a blessing to bless other people. Anytime I seek to bless others, I am blessed. Being blessed in that way makes everything in life look better.

Fifth, make your lockdown a time of knowing God better. Seek Him and take the opportunity to get closer to God. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8).

You will be blessed when you get closer to God, and your situation will look and feel better.

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4 Responses

  1. Thanks for these words. All you have said are important things to making these times less stressful. We all have to do our part. Some of the younger generation still doesn’t get it. My son, who is a was off from work yesterday, told me he would be taking his dogs to the vet to get their teeth cleaned. This was just wrong in my eyes. First, I grew up on a farm and we did not take dogs to the vet for teeth cleaning. And most of all, this is not a responsible thing to do in these times. I told him, “you are young and strong and will survive the virus. And you might be a carrier today and not know it. What about that 80 year old lady that you pass in the doorway of the vet’s office. She won’t survive it. Please don’t do that!”
    Thankfully the Lord and I prevailed. He mowed the grass yesterday and the dogs still have dirty teeth. Amen

  2. Thank you, Waylon. The Lord helps you to know what we need to hear when we need to hear it. After 6 years away from La. Hal and I still read your posts!

  3. So well said, Waylon. We thank God we have you for your willing gift of leadership and inspirational words.

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