How I’m Coping (so far at least) in These COVID-19 Days

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by Nancy Byerly Jones

Image of Nancy kissing on Jesse at the swing

Sharing a few of the things I am doing to help me cope with the stress, anxiety, isolation and trauma during a global pandemic.

Please, take a minute and share what you're doing for yourself in the comments below. We can all benefit from sharing our coping techniques.

  • ​​I have a daily purpose EVERY day - preplanned at least by the night before so that I wake up and know what my plan is for the day.
  • ​I keep a daily SHORT hot list of 3-5 (max!) priorities I WILL accomplish today (note - I can NOT just rely on my monster-size master list of to do's - for starters, it exhausts me just to look at it. Daily short lists help me celebrate my accomplishment of the day's few priorities vs. beating myself up for what I have NOT completed yet!
  • ​Exercising daily! I love and am grateful for walking which helps me sweep out the clutter in my thoughts, my mind - up to 5 miles each day. Soooo grateful for being able to walk because there was a time when I could not walk without the aid of a mobile scooter and canes and even with that, it was with great pain and fortitude!
  • Daily meditation via a series of mini-mediations practiced many times throughout my very full days (and coupled with deep breathing) - kind of like seasoning (to taste!).
  • Reading - Currently it's Michelle Obama's Becoming. What are you reading? Something I hope. I enjoy history and biographies too, but whatever your choice, please give yourself the gift of some good reading time each day (and not when you are dog-tired and will likely fall asleep within minutes!).
  • ​Being with and around our 4-legged family members - good for the soul, the attitude and always the heart.
  • Reaching out far more than before to family and friends - sending smiles, good wishes, news and all more creatively than ever in today's social distancing world. Already, we've shared some special moments online that we did not take advantage of before because -- well, I guess because we knew we'd be getting together soon. Online virtual togetherness is being done much more often these days.  It warms the heart and creates bright spots in our days and well -- it's just fun!
  • ​Wise food choices - for me that means 100% vegan and it's one of the best decisions of my life - just a zillion years later than I wished it had been - more energy, increased strength, my cholesterol went soaring down (132 points in must a few months no less!), more calmness and just dang felt great!
  • Time in nature (withOUT) our mobile devices - time to be still, to attentively observe the trees (notice all the different colors in bark no less), animals, a flower and even those weeds that sport their unique kind of beauty.
  • ​Stealing time for just me - alone - decompressing doing whatever that means to me - regrouping, re-centering, just being!
Image of the view from the Treehouse where I write most of my blogs
Image of one of Nancy's many four-legged family
Image of BBQ Jackfruit sandwich

​Vegan BBQ Jackfruit Sandwich

​10 tricks to coping in today's stressful "climate". Share yours as well?

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Image of the mommy and daughter dogs

​This is just a partial list, but hopefully will give you some reminders for things you might want to incorporate or re-incorporate into your days. Please share your de-stressing and keeping your sanity tools and as always, any ideas or suggestions on topics we could benefit from  discussing and sharing with one another. Mama Muckster signing off for now and heading out  to muck me some stalls - ahhhhh, the gift that really REALLY keeps on keeping, right?!

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About the author 

Nancy Byerly Jones

Nancy Byerly Jones and her husband reside on their mountainside ranch (“Little Hee Haw Farm”) with an energetic “family” of horses, donkeys (large and miniature), dogs and cats. Their favorite pastime is sharing the joy and fun of their animals and ranch life with their family, friends and clients.

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