Shelter In Place Recommendations

Family is at the heart of everything we do, so as covid-19 continues to impact in our communities we’d like to share the following tips.

If you are affected by the shelter in place mandate, self-quarantining for any reason, working remotely, or just feeling anxious about having to do either of those things for a while, there are tons of little ways to prepare yourself that aren’t just buying up your grocery store’s entire stock of toilet paper.  We consulted guides, and crowdsourced tips online. Here’s some of our advice:

1. You can eat normal, tasty, healthy foods.
Just because you’re stocking up doesn’t mean you have to live on nonperishable foods and canned vegetables. That’s going to get tiresome real quick, and there are plenty of ways to eat the things you normally would.
Fill your freezer with fresh, flavorful soups. Keep pasta in your pantry and tomato sauce in your freezer. Think about the foods you would want to eat on a typical day; usually there’s a way to keep those around.

2. And remember that food isn’t just about staying alive.
You don’t just need well-balanced meals! You need Cheez-Its, peanut butter cups, popcorn, gummy bears…really whatever snacks you’ll be craving if you’re stuck inside for a while. There has never been a better time to have ingredients around to bake cookies.
On that note, don’t forget coffee and tea, if you drink them, and some booze if that’s up your alley. You probably don’t need to stockpile water, but I bought enough seltzer to tide me over for a while. Priorities.

3. Avoid being too isolated.
Being forced to stay inside might sound like an introvert’s dream come true, but when it’s in the midst of a worldwide epidemic and everyone is panicking, it’s not such a fun and chill time.
Check in with your people. Get on the phone or FaceTime and call your family and friends with some regularity — you’ll probably need it, and so will they.
And if someone you know actually gets quarantined, or gets infected with the virus, be there for them as much as you (safely) can. Call them, or just send a playlist, or links. And even if you can’t go hang out with them IRL, consider cooking them a meal and leaving it outside their door, which is safe to do.
“People [need to] know who to call if they do start getting symptoms, [and] know there is somebody who is going to check in on them, that they’re not just going to be isolated and forgotten about,”. “If you’re afraid you’re going to get sick, what you really need and want is to know that somebody is going to care for you.”

4. Get a little fitness in.
There are plenty of workouts you can do from the comfort of your own home, and doing so can seriously help your mental health.
Here are a bunch of exercises you can do without any equipment, and YouTube has tons of channels that offer instruction in everything from yoga to Pilates to strength training.
And if you can still go outside, nothing beats a walk. Just avoid big groups of people.

5. Clean your home.
Not only does it protect against the spread of illness, it also makes being cooped up in your home a lot more pleasant. Here’s a big list of spring cleaning chores you may have been putting off.

6. Go online, but beware.
When the SARS epidemic broke out in 2002, Facebook, Twitter, and even Myspace did not yet exist. Now, people are far more digitally connected, and the ability to keep in touch over social media and video chat can have major benefits on mental health during isolation.
But the internet also creates issues that didn’t exist during SARS — namely, the spread of misinformation.
Here’s a running list of misinformation about the coronavirus to keep on hand as you peruse social media. Also, be wary of those hawking fake cures online or trying to infect your computer with malware by sending you suspicious coronavirus-themed emails.

7. Plan out your entertainment.
Watch the news, for sure, but don’t just stay glued to cable news. “The worst thing people can do is sit around and watch TV or watch their screens and look for the hourly update of numbers”. “I think that just exaggerates the symptoms of fear and its effects.”
You know all those shows and movies you’ve been meaning to watch but never get around to? Make a list — yes, an actual list — of the titles, and you’ll never run out of things to watch.
But if spending too much time looking at screens is driving you nuts, shut it down.
Get out a bunch of books from your library. Pull out the board games and puzzles. Have some craft supplies on hand, if that’s your thing.

8. Seek professional help if you’re really struggling.
Whether you’ve been to a therapist before or are just realizing you might need to see one, seeking help with your mental health doesn’t need to wait till you can go outside again. Lots of therapists offer sessions over the phone or video chat. Here are a bunch of tips for how to find a therapist. There are also apps to help you with your mental health.

9. If you’re working from home, do it right.
Working from home sounds like the dream — pajamas all day, slacking off, working from the couch! — but it can get bleak and unproductive pretty quickly if it’s not approached the right way.
Actually seeing and speaking to people matters too. We suggest holding meetings over video chat — and actually turning the camera on for them.

10. Remember to stay healthy and practice good hygiene.
And perhaps the easiest way to stay healthy is to maintain proper hygiene. You don’t need a face mask (unless you’re sick), but you should be washing your hands regularly (and remember, soap and water is just as effective as hand sanitizer).
Once that’s done, just try to take it easy (and maybe order some dumplings to support your favorite Chinese restaurant). These are tough, uncertain times, and the best thing we all can do is be kind to ourselves and our neighbors as we all go through it.

Working together we will overcome this situation. The Lisa & Lisa team will continue to work hard for our clients to ensure you continue to receive the service and support as always.  Do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns, we are always here for you.  We at Lisa & Lisa Real Estate Consultant Group wish you the best as we navigate challenge together.

The following links provide more information for you:

CDC Website

Santa Clara County Public Health

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