By Kim Fernandez

My family has been home nearly every minute of every day since March. I’m terribly blessed to have them and love them more than life itself…and they’re driving me just a tiny bit crazy.

You too?

It’s hard to work with so many bodies and a near-constant flow of interruptions, intentional and not, in the house. Understanding that we’re very lucky to have a house and jobs and each other, and being more than a little terrified to send my college student back to school in a few weeks, this introvert finds herself pretty overwhelmed and in need of a little while of silence and solitude by late afternoon. The thought of months and months more of this isn’t  something I can dwell on for very long.

So I get up early–ridiculously early for working at home. I walk dogs, get dressed, pour a cup of coffee, and vanish into my office for a little silence before my talkers awaken (it’s not a whole lot different than when I had babies and toddlers, honestly). Sometimes I get a jump on work. Sometimes I catch up with friends on social media or texting at an hour that would have been rude a few months ago. Sometimes I read the news. And sometimes I just sit and breathe and exist all by myself. That golden bit of time gives my brain a little space even when I can’t physically get it and it’s centering–and no matter how much too-much the day gets later. I always know I’ll get a little bit of just-me the next morning. It lets me smile and be present for everybody else in between.

We’re all doing what we can do through this year, holding on to whatever keeps us going until we get our real lives back. I’d love to hear about your coping strategies or the habits bringing you happiness these days–let me know in the comments.

Kim Fernandez is IPMI’s director of publications.

By L. Dennis Burns, CAPP

Among the many unexpected aspects of living through these unusual times, one that has emerged for me is an enhanced appreciation of the small but critically important aspects of day-to-day life, family, and community that can often be neglected when we are fully engaged in our busy lives.

During these past few months, we have all seen our worlds contract somewhat. At first, there was frustration at not be able to go about our normal routines. Then came a sense of social isolation. Eventually, new routines evolved, governed by COVID-driven constraints and community health imperatives.

As time has passed, I have grown more reflective. The pace of day-to-day life seems to have slowed. The number of people we get to directly interact with has shrunk. Virtual communication has become critically important to maintaining social connections.

Getting out into nature has been part of my new routine whenever possible. This often involves playing disc golf or taking photographs at our Desert Botanical Garden. I like the meditative calmness that comes from being in the natural environment. When you allow yourself to slow down and be in the moment, you see and experience things that might previously have been missed.

I took the photo above while playing disc golf last week while on vacation. Getting out early and enjoying one of our beautiful parks, I was taken by the simplicity and beauty of a few drops of dew on a leaf laying on the ground. On a normal day, I might have not even noticed this small bit of natural beauty, but on this day, it was an unexpected delight. I’m glad I did not miss it.

Other COVID survival strategies that have made it into my new routine lately include early, early morning dog walks, rock painting, and cooking with my wife. There is a silver lining to every cloud if you look hard enough.

L. Dennis Burns, CAPP, is regional vice president, senior practice builder, with Kimley-Horn.