Finding the Joy in Staying Home
As we all do our part to social distance and help stop the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), we’ve been given a unique opportunity to spend more time at home. While our routines have been temporarily disrupted, we’re staying positive and finding the silver lining in the situation. In just a few days, we’ve realized how much we have to be grateful for.
The Wonderful People in Our Lives and Contact Lists
Glen Lennox is full of amazing neighbors who are checking on one another and helping each other out with groceries and errands. Our grassy areas have been a welcome space for neighbors and acquaintances to mingle and get some much-needed social interaction while staying six feet apart.
Technology is also making it easier for us to connect. Apps like FaceTime and Skype are enabling us to virtually hang out with friends and family whether they’re across town or in another country. Online video conferencing software has been a lifeline for businesses to keep in touch with their teams and keep serving their clients despite not being face to face.
Time to Care for Our Health
This unexpected break may have caught us off guard, but it’s arriving just as spring is ushering in longer days of sunlight and pleasant temperatures. We can easily escape cabin fever with a walk or jog around the community while soaking in lots of vitamin D.
With gyms closed, local fitness companies are helping us break a sweat in our living room. Planet Fitness is live streaming free classes daily on their Facebook page and the YMCA of the Triangle is offering on-demand boot camps, yoga, barre and weight lifting classes.
Not having to commute to the office daily has left us with more time to squeeze in these workouts, plus we’re getting more precious hours of sleep. Our pets are happier than ever—enjoying the extra bonding time with us that our new schedules afford.
An Excuse to Get Crafty and Organized
Sticking around the house has afforded us more time to engage in our hobbies and try new ones from the comfort of our homes.
In the kitchen, we’re stretching our culinary skills by improvising with what we have on hand and testing out time-consuming recipes like making pastas and breads from scratch.
And if there was ever a year for spring cleaning, 2020 is it! From organizing photos and filing systems to cleaning out closets, this outbreak is the perfect excuse to tackle our to-do list around the house and chase out all the dust bunnies under our furniture.
School May Be Out but Learning Carries On
North Carolina students will be learning from home while schools are closed until at least May 15. But there are resources aplenty to keep our minds stimulated whether we’re students or adults. The Chapel Hill Public Library has an extensive collection of E-books and E-audiobooks that can be borrowed on your phone, tablet, e-reader or computer.
For families with kids, the North Carolina Museum of Art has made free lesson plans and activities available. Scholastic has also opened up its educational resources to everyone during this time. When the kids are ready for a break, take a virtual field trip to the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, or the Carolina Tiger Rescue in Pittsboro where live streams are broadcast on its Facebook page daily.
Spring is one of our favorite seasons in the Triangle, and undoubtedly, this one has been different. We feel fortunate to be surrounded by a supportive community, innovative local business owners and technology that is helping us hunker down while we do our part to stop the spread of Coronavirus. We might have to stay six feet apart for a while, but we’re definitely in this together!
