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March 23, 2020

Social Distancing

It’s not a matter of if the novel Coronavirus will continue to spread, but when.  As you’re well aware by now, in an effort to “flatten the curve”, the CDC has recommended that we all stay in and practice social distancing.  (https://www.health.com/condition/infectious-diseases/coronavirus/flatten-the-curve-meaning) This means that we should not be closer than 6 feet to any other person outside of our immediate family.  Businesses, restaurants, bars, and schools have been shutting down.  How on Earth are we supposed to live? Eat? Work out? Work? Take care of our kids?  We do the best we can and follow these helpful tips and resources:

Work:

  • Set a schedule! This is especially helpful if you have kids at home.  One parent works while the other watches the kids.  Then flip.
  • Get dressed in the morning. It sounds simple, but just the act of getting dressed and keeping your normal morning routine will help you stay focused and keep you out of an unproductive funk.
  • Use technology. There are a million apps to help us keep in constant communication from our homes.  Zoom, Google Hangouts, Dropbox, Skype, Slack and Spark are all designed to help you focus, hold meetings, share documents and keep organized.

 

Distraction:

  • Ever wanted to go to the Guggenheim Museum in New York? The Musee d’Orsay in Paris? The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam?  Now you can take a digital tour of all these places for free!  https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours
  • Learn a new language. Apps like DuoLingo are free, and you can learn any language you choose.  Take a few minutes a day and practice.  You’ll be a pro in no time.
  • Take in some media: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney + and the list goes on. They’re all offering deals all the time.  Make a list of movies you’ve always wanted to see or share with your kids, and actually watch them.
  • Spring Cleaning: clean out one closet, one room or one cabinet at a time. Start small so it’s not so overwhelming.
  • Do your taxes!
  • Try a new recipe. There are so many local foodies you can follow for recipe inspiration! Check out Fit Foodie Finds or The Wooden Skillet websites or Instagram accounts!
  • Get outside! Minnesota is known for having vast trails and nature centers wherever you live.  Get out and enjoy!  The weather is slowly warming up, so throw on a jacket, pump air into your bike tires and get moving.
  • Take part in some of your community’s “hands-off” activities! Some might include social media contests, virtual Netflix party or start an indoor herb garden!

 

Shopping:

While businesses are closing, many are still servicing online orders, pickup, or delivery. Help support your local, small businesses by utilizing these methods and keeping out of contact with others!

  • Don’t feel like cooking? Almost all our local restaurants are still in business for curbside pick up or delivery! Help our small businesses stay open by getting takeout dinner a couple nights a week.
  • How to refresh your wardrobe for Spring: for the day we can get back to our regular routines, choose to shop local! Many of our neighborhood boutiques are taking personal orders to ship their items to your home! Check their websites or social media for more info.
  • Grocery pick up: try to shop for your grocery needs (while social distancing, of course!) at local grocery chains like Lund’s and Byerly’s, Kolwalski’s or neighborhood markets and delis.

 

Workout:

Don’t have the option anymore to get to the gym?  Have a gym but can’t use it because all the SSM fitness centers are currently closed?  Try one of the following apps (all are cheaper than the gym):

  • Peloton Digital: 90-day free trial, $12.99/month after
  • Nike Training Club: free for over 200 workouts! Premium membership is $15/month which includes more workouts and nutritional and wellness help as well.
  • FitOn: Free
  • Daily Burn: 30-day free trial, $14.99 after that

 

School:

There are SO many resources out there to help your kids learn from home.  All are free or have free trials going on now.

 

Stay home, be productive, and keep a positive attitude.   This too shall pass.