The Coronavirus: What I’m Doing

You guys, I’m all thrown off. I came down with a pretty awful cold last week, so that pretty much sapped my energy for anything other than just getting my work done. Then the poo hit the fan with the Coronavirus in Maryland. Starting this week, schools are closed for two weeks (possibly more). People are hoarding toilet paper, many offices are going to telework schedules, and people are being encouraged to stay home as much as possible.

As my friend Anna says, THIS IS BANANAS.

Needless to say, I’m stressed out. My shoulders have been living up around my ears and I have a constant ache in my neck. So, being the planner I am… I’m trying to reduce my stress by being super organized.

So, in case it helps some of you, here is what I’m doing to prepare/stay sane:

Cancelling Meetings & Appointments

Basically, any work meeting that would have taken me into the world (outside of the office) has been rescheduled for April. Non-essential appointments, like Jack’s orthodontist follow-up have also been rescheduled. Travis and I were supposed to have a weekend away at a Virginia hotel this month… cancelled. I’m still waiting to find out what is going on with my job and whether I can telework more.

Limiting Exposure by Quitting Public Transportation

I typically take the metro train to and from work each day, it’s an inexpensive and convenient way for me to get into and out of the city each day. However, for the next few weeks I’ll be driving. It’s going to cost a ton more money for me to park in the office garage each day, but it’s worth it to keep away from people and germs.

Stocking Up on Food

We typically order Home Chef deliveries every other week, but I bumped it up to every week through the end of March. Since we will be staying away from restaurants for the next few weeks, this is a nice way to be prepared without having to buy out the freezer section at the store. We do have some freezer options too, just in case. I also stopped by our local Aldi on Friday and stocked up on our normal breakfast/lunch/snacks food too. We should be good to stay at home for a while.

Scheduling Delivery Options

Once we go into what I’m calling ‘introvert lock down mode’, if we do need to buy something I’m planning to either use Amazon for a straight-to-our-door delivery, or the pick up service at our local grocery store. That way, we can reduce our contact with other people as much as possible. Social distancing is my jam.

And of course, we are washing our hands. A lot.

Do you have any recommendations for me to add to my list?