If you are like me, I have my good and bad days with this quarantine. The days when it is warm and sunny are easy to find things to do. We live in the country so we go on walks, find yard work to do or play sports with our children. Now, the times when the weather is cold or rainy, that is another story. It is easy to get depressed or down, stress eat, become cranky or various other feelings but I wanted to tell you some of the ways I have been overcoming the hard moments of this lockdown.
1.Calling a Friend or Family Member
When I am down, calling to talk with a loved one has really helped. We are all in this together and your call may brighten someone’s day as well as your own. I try to reach out daily to friends or family members. It is so good for my soul and my mental state.
2. Exercise
I know, I know, of course I would say this but it is TRUE!! Exercise helps you release those happy endorphins to better your mood and your attitude. It can change your day and make everything not seem so bad. Add in 10-minute little burst of exercise throughout the day or join me for virtual workouts (info below) to help you stay in shape and sane.
3. Try new games with your family
As a family we enjoy games but with three active boys, they can only stand so many board games. Therefore, they have showed us some games they do in P.E. class or we make up new games. We like Sardines, Hide and Seek Tag as well as Ellen’s Heads Up game (which is an app you can download). Try something fun and new with your family today.
4. Get creative in the kitchen
This is a great time to try new recipes. You can have your family join in on the cooking with you or put the kids in charge of dinner one night. Here is one of our family favorite recipes.
Stinson Family Pork Tenderloin:
2 lbs. of tenderloin
1 bottle of Italian dressing
1 TBSP olive oil
Cut your pork tenderloin into chunks and put in a large bowl. Then top with enough Italian dressing to cover the meat. Add olive oil and cover with a lid. Let it marinate overnight in the refrigerator. Grill until the meat is done. We like to serve this with sautéed green beans and fresh fruit. It is a great meal for the entire family!!
