Be kind to yourself — whatever you’re feeling while in quarantine is OK

Contrary to what Instagram bloggers, productivity gurus, and my targeted Facebook ads have been trying to convince me, here are a list of things I have not felt since being in quarantine: productive, creative, active, or empowered.

What have I felt? Frankly, the majority of the time I’ve been anxious, exhausted, numb, and scared, and it’s important to recognize that this is OK.

Hustle culture tells us we need to use this time to achieve something great. My email inbox is full of brands I’ve interacted with at one time, encouraging me to take an online language class, learn to knit, or at least make a decent focaccia. The keeners remind us that Shakespeare allegedly wrote King Lear while on lockdown, while Newton invented calculus and discovered gravity while a quarantine was in effect. Well done, chaps, but I don’t intend to keep up.

Though it might feel discouraging to see others staying active every day or creating beautiful works of art while you curl up on your couch for the third night in a row, try not to let guilt overtake you. Be happy for the folks who are thriving in these circumstances but resist the urge to compare yourself. Move your body because it feels good, not because you need to check a workout off your list.

Read, write, paint or cook because it makes your heart happy, not because you’re wasting time if you don’t.

But remember that what we share online isn’t always a reflection of what’s happening inside. Check on your friends, even the ones who seem to be coping extremely well with all of this. And share the good things that happen in your day, no matter how big or small.

Did you perfect your mom’s best pasta recipe? Did your boss pat you on the back for working well from home? Did that new Netflix original make you laugh out loud? Share it! We need to highlight little wins to balance out the tough information we’re faced with day after day.

For me, hearing that my coworkers had time to play with their kids in the yard is enough to put a smile on my face and can even change my outlook on the day.

So, take time to highlight the things that make you smile. You never know what could help someone else along the way.

For many of us, this is one of the most stressful and confusing times we’ve ever lived through, so it’s perfectly okay that we each cope in our own way. If that means running a 5K every morning, great! But if it means practicing self-care by putting on your favourite PJS again and throwing on an old movie, that’s great too. Now, more than ever, be kind to yourself.