There’s some crazy shit going on in the world right now. Ironically, not so soon before news came out about a contagious virus in Wuhan, China, I started reading the apocalyptic book Station Eleven, which is about the collapse of society due to a lethal flu that spreads across the world. I swear these kinds of coincidences happen to me ALL THE TIME.

That being said, normal Kate would probably be flipping her shiz right now. How are my husband and I going to keep our businesses afloat? How are we going to pay down our credit card debt now? (I’ll take all the Dave Ramsey tips I can get). What about our mortgage? How will we work and take care of our children at the same time now that school and daycare are closed? What if we run out of toilet paper? And obviously, will we or more importantly our loved ones, like our Boomer parents, get sick? Or worse? Yes, this is not our golden hour right now. And I know we are not alone in these thoughts.

But somehow, if I’m being honest, I feel noticeably calm and dare I say optimistic- and it’s not because I’m in denial about what’s going on. I truly understand that we face a dangerous and economy collapsing pandemic right now. But how will freaking out solve anything? And what kind of example am I to set for my girls?

I truly think there are few things that are helping me not get caught up in the scariness is this all right now, so I thought I’d share.

1. I take CBD oil every day for anxiety and have been since the fall. And I am absolutely positive that my reduced level of stress and increased level of sleep I now enjoy about a month after starting my daily dosing is no coincidence. I have suffered for years, after losing my baby, with (at time crippling) anxiety and bouts of insomnia, and very little helped me overcome these challenges. From my own experiences, I can tell you that CBD is not a placebo. My husband literally said this to me the other night when he described how well he’s handling his stress (aka business fears due to Coronavirus) now that he takes it regularly, and that he KNOWS it’s making a difference because when he fell out of the habit a few times recently, we both noticed a drastic negative change his behavior that only corrected itself after he resumed his dosing. I am not a medical profession, but I think it’s logical to believe that the nature provides us with solutions to biological problems, and CBD oil is a natural way for me to treat my own mild to moderate anxiety and insomnia. I mean it, this stuff is a LIFE CHANGER. I’m so grateful it exists.
   

2. Read books that lift you up and remind you that you are in control of your thoughts and that what you focus on is your reality. I totally understand the severity of what’s going on and I’m committed to doing my part to keep my distance from others, but at the same time, I just can’t allow myself to wallow in despair. I’m re-reading You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero right now and EVERYTHING SHE WRITES HITS CLOSE TO HOME. You are only a victim if you let yourself be one (metaphorically speaking here). You can change the course of your life with how you approach the world and your problems. Attitude is everything. I recommend that you find books or movies or shows that reinforce your sense of self, worthiness, and control over your thoughts.
   

3. TAKE A BREAK FROM THE NEWS. And DO NOT CHECK IT FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. Listen, I am an avid news reader, but during the 2016 election, this habit nearly broke my spirit. Now that a pandemic is in full swing, you better believe the news is nothing but ominous. Stay informed, just don’t go down the rabbit hole of shock and hyperbole. Whatever you need to know can be neatly summed up in the morning and evening news stories, which you can read, process and discuss with another, and then move onto other ideas/projects/people in need of your attention. 
   

4. In the words of Mr. Rogers, look for the helpers. Honestly, I’m so moved by how many literary and public figures are taking their celebrity to give back to the world, namely by facilitating eLearning experiences or reading bedtime stories each evening. My daughters spent most of their morning doodling along with Mo Willems today. Yes, there’s a mess of paper and creativity debris ruining my living room, but they’re content! If there’s any silver lining to take away from crises, such as pandemics, it’s that it brings out the best in a lot of people.
   

5. Think of this self isolation as an opportunity for hygge. I am a huge hygge fan, especially now that I live in the land of seemingly endless winter. Make fires. Read books. Play games. Enjoy warm tea. Do some yoga or meditate. Listen to some music (here, I made you a playlist of some of my favorite songs). Look out the window and enjoy the silence. Snuggle with your kiddos. Do some more yoga! Let’s be honest, being forced to stay home could be WAAAAY worse. What if we were being forced to separate from our children? No thanks.
   

6. Finish the projects you’ve been putting off for the past forever. Paint those walls! Organize that closet! Start your garden! Go through your wardrobe and get rid of half of it. Dump out your junk drawer. It’s almost spring anyhow. 
   

7. Enjoy your friends virtually. I actually have a Zoom happy hour planned this evening and am thinking about setting up another virtual book club too. Technology is your friend! Or it at least allows you to still have some.

Ok, I’ll step off my soapbox now. I hope this post proves inspiring as opposed to patronizing. We are all suffering, some more than others, but how we respond to it says a lot about our character and respect for ourselves and each other. Stay safe, and if you want to drink wine and Facetime, write a comment below!