COVID-19: LOCKDOWN GUIDE

*HOW TO MANAGE MY TIME

& EMOTIONS* 

(Portions taken from an article written by Aarti Gupta, PsyD at the Anxiety and Depression Association of America)

Who would have ever thought when this year began that we would be facing a global pandemic; let alone one that would shut down the whole world in a matter of weeks.  This is unbelievable!  We are making history, friends.  Some day we will be able to tell generations from now that we survived the great Covid-19 pandemic of 2020 and what a story that will be!

I know it has been hard, to say the least.  Being isolated under a mandatory quarantine can stir up a variety of unwelcome emotions.  You may feel alone, anxious, stir-crazy, lost, not yourself, afraid, or overwhelmed to name a few.  I want to challenge you, during this unexpected season, to make the most of your time of “waiting.”  Waiting for things to change and doors to open. Good things can happen while we wait!

We have all been granted a GIANT PAUSE… to reexamine our priorities, make the necessary adjustments needed, and possibly attempt to simplify our lives. 

This kind of opportunity is rare and it doesn’t come around every day.  If you take advantage of it, it can be life changing!  We have all been given a chance to alter the course of our lives and make a fresh start.  What needs to change?  What do I need to stop doing or start doing?  What should I  focus my attention on?  What matters most?  

What COULD happen if we took time to assess our lives and pray about it?  Are we where we know we should be?  Are we doing what God has called us to do?  If not, this is a great time to make some changes.

These uncertain times (living with so many “unknowns” that change by the day) can unfortunately trigger unhealthy emotions to rise up within us.  When unchecked, they can lead to toxic thoughts, reactions, and behavior.  Processing these emotions and surrendering them to God is key to experiencing His peace that passes all understanding in the midst of these crazy days.  I want to share with you some tools that will hopefully help guide you, as you endeavor to push forward with God’s help during these difficult times.

How can I manage my time & emotions...

#1 TAKE TIME TO FOCUS ON GOD DAILY

Start your day with God.  Before you do anything else each day, spend time with God. Share your heart with Him.  How are you feeling?  What are you worried about?  Who do you know that needs a touch from God today?  Tell Him… and then take time to LISTEN.  Listen to His heart. God speaks all the time, we just don’t always take time to listen.

Then after that, spend time in His word… the Bible.  The Bible is alive, active, powerful, and life changing!  It’s food for our spirits and a light that guides our steps.  When we read it, supernatural things happen!  If you have trouble being faithful to read your Bible, I encourage you to follow a Bible plan.  They have tons to choose from on the Youversion Bible app. (https://www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/).  You can even do this with a group of friends or family.  This option gives you the opportunity to have everyone share what stood out to them from what they read.  It’s very encouraging and a great way to keep accountable to reading daily.  

Another thing I would suggest you do during the day is spend time listening to worship music… you know, those songs you hear at church. I have noticed that when I play that kind of music (at home in the background throughout my day) that it feels more PEACEFUL in my house and inside my heart.  

The last thing I want to encourage you to do, when it comes to focusing your heart on God, is to write down a scripture each day. Choose a scripture that brings you peace and encourages you.  Find a special place to post them where they will be seen often.  This will help you focus your heart more on God when you are feeling anxious.  Here are a few of my favorites…Psalm 112:7, Psalm 62:1, Psalm 46:10, I Peter 5:7, Phil. 4:6-7, Matt. 6:34, Phil. 4:13, Rom. 8:28

#2 GET RID OF STINKING THINKING

Instead of thinking... “I’m stuck inside”, focus on the fact that... Now you have time to give more attention to your relationship with God, those closest to you, and those postponed needs of your home.

Whether you are working from home, doing school work, or managing your household, good things can come out of this frustrating season... if you change your perspective! 

Choosing to do one productive thing each day can lead to a more positive attitude. Set your sights on long-avoided tasks, reorganize, or create something you’ve always wanted to make.  Plan special family nights.  Play games, watch movies, and take walks. Get outside together and build memories that will last a lifetime!  Approaching this time with a mindset of feeling trapped or stuck will only stress you out more. This is your chance to slow down and focus on what is truly important.

When your family looks back on this season of their lives, what do you want them to remember about your time together?

  

#3 STAY CLOSE TO YOUR NORMAL ROUTINE

Try to maintain some semblance of structure from the pre-quarantine days. For those individuals with children, sticking to a routine might be easier for you with managing their school days.  However, for those that work from home, it could be very tempting to become lethargic and unmotivated.  This can open the door to negative thinking. A suggestion would be to wake up and go to bed around the same time each day.  Eat meals, shower, adapt your exercise regimen, and get out of those PJ’s. Do laundry on the same day as usual and continue to do the necessary household chores. Sticking to your normal routine will help keep you active and make it less likely for you to spiral into unhealthy behavior.  Not to mention, this will also help you be ready for when you are able to return to your previous commitments.

#4 AVOID OBSESSING OVER ENDLESS CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

Freeing up your day from work or social obligations gives you plenty of time to obsess, and if you have a tendency to consult Google for every itch and sneeze, you may be over-researching the pandemic as well. Choosing only certain credible websites (who.int or cdc.gov is a good start) for a limited amount of time each day (perhaps two chunks of 30 minutes each) will be in your best interest during this time.

#5 KEEP A TIDY HOME

With all the uncertainty happening all around us (outside of our homes), keeping the inside organized, predictable, and clean can bring a sense of calm to the crazy. Setting up mental zones for daily activities can be helpful to organize your day. For example, try not to eat in bed or work on the sofa (just as before), eat at the kitchen table and work at your desk. Loosening these boundaries just muddles your routine and can make the day feel very long. Additionally, a cluttered home can cause you to feel uneasy and claustrophobic in your own surroundings. Keeping your home tidy inside and out can relieve stress and bring a calm to your heart.

#6 START A NEW QUARANTINE RITUAL

With your newfound time, why not plan something special during these quarantined days?  You could start a daily journal to jot down thoughts and feelings to reflect on later. Or you could take a walk every day at 4 pm. Plan special video calls with your friends, family, or church group each week.  Or maybe you could start a weekly game night or fun competition. Having something special planned during this time will help you look forward to each new day.

#7 GET HELP IF YOUR ANXIETY BECOMES UNMANAGEABLE

Telehealth is an option when you need to talk to a professional.

Many licensed therapists are offering options over HIPAA-compliant video chat platforms. One such company I highly recommend is Pendleton Counseling Services.  They offer excellent quality counseling and addiction help. They just opened a new office and are currently taking appointments online.  Please see the additional resources listed below for details and assistance.  If your anxiety is reaching proportions that are unmanageable without professional assistance, please reach out for help.

We are in this together friend!  YOU are not alone! You got this!!!

Living to leave a legacy,

Julie


RESOURCES FOR ANXIETY & ADDICTION

Pendleton Counseling Services 

(765) 221-9495

Kelly Ricer, LCSW 

Lindsey Lawrence, LCSW, LCAC
https://www.pendletoncounselingservices.com/

Reclaimed Counseling

(317) 537-7906

(They offer individual, couples, and family counseling)
http://reclaimedcounseling.evrconnect.com/

National Treatment Centers

Call 1-866-745-2140 for IMMEDIATE treatment assistance. 

24/7, 365 days (confidential)

Find a treatment center near you on the site.

https://www.treatment-centers.net/

Aspire Indiana

24 HOUR CRISIS: 1-800-560-4038

Make an appointment: 1-317-574-1254

Division of Mental Health & Addiction: 1-800-901-1133

(Sliding scale fees available)

https://www.aspireindiana.org/

“I’M NOT OKAY… I’m feeling hopeless”

Does hope feel far from you today?  Does your heart feel in knots and your soul unsettled? Are you lacking PEACE and desperate for a change?   If so, I’m not surprised!!  Fear is relentlessly saturating the airways of our world by every means possible.  It is broadcast non-stop from our news stations. Have you heard the constant dings of news updates on your phone? It’s on the radio, in the newspaper, scrolling across our social media, in our “in boxes”, communicated in a multitude of videos, and topics of discussion with the rich and poor. It has paused our schools, jobs, social gathering places, and lives.  You can see it on the faces of the youngest to the oldest.  Our heroes (the medical professionals) work endless hours to silence it, but they can’t.  Fear is spreading like a wildfire!

FEAR IS A LIAR!  

It’s mission is to MAGNIFY the negative, defuse the positive, and create toxic images in our minds building up the worst possible case scenarios of our circumstances. Then fear feeds and breeds anxiety, panic, and hopelessness causing us to react to those “perceived” toxic images AS IF they were really going to happen.  

The problem with this kind of thinking (and reacting) is that it 

leaves no room for HOPE or an opportunity to be rescued.

Psalm 34:4 says… 

“I asked the Lord for help, and He answered me.  He saved me from all that I feared.” (NCV)

Psalm 94:19 says… 

“When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed HOPE and cheer.” (NLT)

You know what?  I noticed something that I have never seen like this before the other night.  As much as FEAR is being thrown at us at every turn, PEACE is right there beside it… waiting.  Recently, I decided to limit my news intake to lower the stress of our present circumstances.  Instead of feeding fear, worry, and anxiousness, I tried to focus more on my family and God. One night (church night for most places) I decided to browse Facebook for some worship music.  I knew there had to be some church leading songs somewhere I could play while I worked on a few things at home. I was overwhelmed as I scrolled down the page on Facebook! There were more churches than I could count having online Bible Studies and worship services, a bunch of Christian music artists were having living room concerts in their homes sharing new songs, and friends were opening up their hearts to everyone on video trying to bring encouragement.  PEACE was all over the place. 

The internet isn’t just being saturated with FEAR, 

it’s being saturated with PEACE!!!  

More churches than ever are taking advantage of the internet and flooding it with the PEACE of God.  If you are feeling lost, afraid, overwhelmed, and fearful… look around for the PEACE of God.  It’s all around you. He is near!  Watch one of those videos I mentioned that may be there when you are scrolling down your social media pages, listen to a church service broadcast online, or take the time to hear a friend’s heart as they share boldly and attempt to encourage you.

You don’t have to walk in FEAR!  God offers His PEACE that passes all understanding.  When we work hard to focus our hearts MORE on God instead of our circumstances… we end up feeding our faith instead of fear.  Faith believes God for impossible things! Fear closes the door to HOPE.  The next time you feel afraid, “Put your trust in God” (Psalm 56:3).  I love the promise God makes us in Isaiah 41:10... “Don’t be afraid, for I am WITH you.”  We are not alone!  God promises to walk through all the dark, scary seasons with us.

There is a quote I heard years ago that has stuck with me to this day.  It’s another definition for the word FEAR. It’s a definition I like a whole lot better!!

F- ace  

E- verything  

A- nd  

R- ise

Are you feeling hopeless today, friend?  It’s time to RISE... above the fear and trust Him!  HOPE again!  The definition of hope is to “expect with confidence”.  Let’s expect with confidence that things are going to get better and that God is going to turn this horrible situation around to bring good out of it.  Do you believe it? He can!

If what I have shared has been speaking to your heart and you realize that you don’t just need peace, you need God in your life today, I want to encourage you to call out to Him right now.  Invite Him to do life with you for the first time or once again. Surrender your life to Him and ask Him to fill you with His peace. His presence in our lives makes all the difference! It brings PEACE!

If you surrendered your life to God today, please let me know so I can be praying with you.

If you are doing your best to walk in God’s peace and know of some websites, good online church services, or resources you have used to help increase your faith that could help others, please leave a comment and share below.

This Sunday (EASTER) is the perfect time to join a church service online.  His peace will meet you there! If you are looking for a church to check out, feel free to join ours online at the following link... Faith Church Online. Happy Easter friends!

Will you pray with me?

God, 

Thank you that I don’t have to walk in fear.  You are my rescuer!  You bring HOPE to hopeless situations!  Nothing is impossible for YOU!  Thank you that I don’t have to face anything alone. YOU are with me!  You comfort me, strengthen me, and carry me through when I struggle to go on.  Today, I lay my fear at your feet.  The uncertainties of life scare me and make me feel anxious, but I put my trust in YOU!  You have never failed me yet!  God, please help me to lay my worries down at your feet daily, so they don’t weigh me down and hold me back from all you have for me.  Let HOPE ARISE inside my heart to believe you for IMPOSSIBLE things… miracles for my family, my church, my city, my county, my state, my country, and the world.  Nothing is impossible for you God!  MY HOPE IS IN YOU!

Living to leave a legacy,

Julie

LET’S CHANGE THE ATMOSPHERE!

I know it’s crazy and scary right now. There is enough news coverage on all platforms on the COVID crisis that you could saturate yourself with it all day long. News is good and it’s important to be informed, but this new daily habit can be dangerous and toxic for your soul. This kind of atmosphere can fill our hearts and homes with anxiousness, fear, and worry… emptying it of all HOPE. I want to challenge you during this season to purposely do things to change the atmosphere in your homes for good.

Unfortunately, at this time we may not be able to change our circumstances, but one thing we CAN do is change our attitude.

Our attitude affects our atmosphere!

We can walk in an attitude of thankfulness for what we do have, thankful for what we can do, thankful for those serving selflessly to keep us safe, and thankful for those we have close to us to share in it all… or we could fill our minds and hearts with negativity, anxiousness, anxiety, fear, doom, and gloom. 

One attitude brings PEACE, while the other leads to hopelessness and despair.

Let’s focus during this season on being people that “CHANGE THE ATMOSPHERE”!

There are people around you in your circle of influence that NEED you! They need you to speak HOPE, they need you to be agents of PEACE, and they need you to show them Jesus in how you respond and walk through these unprecedented times. Jesus brings peace to the storms of life. I know this first hand. If you don’t have a personal relationship with Him right now, I encourage you to seek Him. His personal presence in our lives changes the atmosphere of our hearts and minds!

Take time to seek God FIRST before you check the new reports or get all the updates. Read the Bible and spend time feeding your spirit. Spend time talking to God for you and others. Crank up the worship music and soak in His presence. Then... start your day with a new attitude that can change the atmosphere around you. Watch out, it's contagious!

Will you consider joining me on my “SMILE PROJECT” journey? Will you make an intentional effort to lighten the mood and create a pause in the crazy of these days to restore smiles, giggles, and memory making moments for those close to you.

Check out my latest attempt below (which was a HUGE success) ….

I started yesterday with “Christmas in March”. I decorated the house, played Christmas music, and woke some of them up with “Merry Christmas”. LOL. They were SO confused. There were lots of smiles, giggles, “You’re crazy mom’s”, and singing. It was fun!

We ended the day with a GAME NIGHT competition to see who gets to pick the family movie we watch tonight. We played RISK… a game I haven’t played in 10+ years. Guess who won? You guessed it, ME! Yay! I could have really made the boys suffer the loss with a girly chick flick choice, but instead we are watching Jumanji 2.    You can do this friends! “Take a moment to create a pause in the crazy to bring a smile to someone else’s face today.”

Do you have any creative ideas? Don’t be shy, please share. The mission, if you choose to accept it, is to restore the smiles and giggles of those around you. The repercussions could be life changing and life giving moments. Will you accept?

Living to leave a legacy,
Julie

CREATE A PAUSE IN THE CRAZY TO BRING A SMILE TO SOMEONE’S FACE TODAY! 

                                     

Can we PLEASE begin again?

Can we please begin again?  I NEED a do-over! Have you ever been there before, friend?  Maybe you are there now? Was last year a wash for you? Are you a little anxious about this new year?  Are you hopeful for a new beginning, a fresh start, or maybe a new page to be written in the story of your life?  I don’t know about you, but I am!!! 

Last year didn’t go as I had expected!  It started out well, but… life can get in the way of our best intentions.  I had goals I was processing, plans I was making, and things I was hoping to do.   I was laser focused on being intentional, purposeful, and so forth. My “WORD” for the year was RELENTLESS.  Word… What word?  Some of you may be a little confused.  Some people like to choose a word to focus on for the year to keep them moving forward toward their goals.  RELENTLESS was mine. “Relentless” can be described as this…

never ceasing, persistent, continual, unrelenting,
determined, unyielding, unstoppable, stubborn, and incessant.  

Yep, I guess now that I think about it,  that could describe my last year. No matter how many times I felt knocked down, I kept getting back up.  I kept moving forward. At times, I moved slowly, but FORWARD is the only direction I purposed to go. Why? Why did I not allow the seemingly challenging times I faced to paralyze me or turn me around in a different direction?  I believe it was God’s fault. I didn’t know any other direction to go.

When I look back across my life I see God’s fingerprints all over it.  He led me, guided me, comforted me, and encouraged me all along my journey with Him and continues to do so today.  I was never alone. Since the day I invited Him to become a part of my story, things changed and definitely for the better!  He wrapped me in His love and filled my life with HOPE. He gave me purpose, direction, and a reason to look hopeful toward my future no matter how bleak it seemed to others.

When we surrender our lives to God, He doesn’t promise

us a life filled with rainbows and lollipops. 

Everything won’t be perfect from that moment forward (Even though I wish it would!).  His promise is that we will never be alone.  We won’t have to do life alone! He will be there to walk through the ups and downs of life with us. He will carry us when we don’t have the strength to push forward, hold our hand when we feel anxious, and pull us close when we are afraid. God has never abandoned me! He has ALWAYS been there for me in good times and bad.

Last year was disappointing for me personally.  Many things contributed to this...

I had ongoing health issues… I struggled with side effects from medication, I found out that I had bone spurs in both heels (which caused excruciating pain as I walked), and I got a concussion from slipping on water on my living room floor (causing migraines, light and noise sensitivity, trouble processing things, sleep issues, and so forth).  The concussion caused many limitations for me. I had to wear sunglasses all the time (inside and outside), I couldn’t be around noisy places or it made me feel nauseous (Going to Walmart was off limits… too bright and noisy for me. LOL), and I couldn’t sit in church during the sermon time, read, study, or watch any movies with any type of suspense in them. Basically anything I had to sit and think about or process triggered severe headaches. Needless to say, my time on my phone and computer was very limited too.

It was a very challenging season for sure! If that wasn’t enough, I had low iron issues which required minor surgery (lady stuff… TMI. Believe me, you don't want to know. LOL). Afterwards, as I was attempting to recover, I acquired a series of infections that lingered longer than normal.  Over the course of my year, I had meltdowns, emotional challenges, and frustrating moments. I was spent. My family was beyond supportive and encouraging during everything, but sometimes that isn’t enough. 

When life isn’t going the way we hope and it feels like everything is crashing down all around us, which way do we go? WHO do we turn to for comfort and support?

One thing I have learned along my journey is that even when my life feels very out of control, God has things under control.  He is there. I'm not alone.

When I don’t understand and things don’t make sense. I trust HIM! When I can’t see an end in sight to relieve my pain, discomfort, or emotional heartache, I trust HIM! 

I keep moving FORWARD toward Him. My pace may be slower or different (depending on the season or difficult time), but my destination is crystal clear to me. I'm moving FORWARD! I want to do my best to move closer to my greatest source of strength… My Savior!  

To say in the midst of all of this that I don’t struggle is an understatement.  I most definitely struggle. I just choose to struggle differently. I struggle through.  I push forward to the other side of my difficulty keeping my laser focus FORWARD on what God has ahead for me.   I do what I can at the time to stay connected to Him.  If I can’t go to church, I try to watch a service online or listen to sermons on my phone.  If I can’t read the Bible, I listen to it. If I can’t pray the way I want, I listen to worship music and soak in the songs of prayer being lavished on God.  

The point is this... don’t allow your struggle to become an excuse to walk away from God.   I heard a quote years ago that still resonates with me today...

“When you wonder where God is or why you can't hear His voice in

the midst of your trials or difficulties remember this...

The teacher is always quiet during the test.”

This is SO true!  Everything has always become more clear for me on the other side of my struggle.  Even though my year was not a stellar year in my eyes, God was there.  He met me in my moments of frustration (feeling helpless to fix things), He filled my heart with peace as I faced the next challenge ahead of me, and consumed me with His presence as I put one foot in front of the other attempting to move closer to Him (despite my obstacles).  As I walked in surrender (trusting Him with the outcome of my current frustration), He used each struggle or challenge I faced as an opportunity to open doors to expose His love to others.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 says this...

“My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you. So I am very happy to brag about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can live in me. For this reason I am happy when I have weaknesses, insults, hard times, sufferings, and all kinds of troubles for Christ. Because when I am weak, then I am truly strong.”

I have found that God is magnified MOST through me, when I surrender my struggles to Him.  In my weakest (surrendered moments), people see God MORE clearly through my life and are drawn to Him.  It’s not easy, but in the end God leverages all of our seemingly horrible moments in life for good. Nothing is wasted with God!

Are you struggling today as you look back over the past year?  Was it a year full of regrets and frustration over what could have been?  Let’s begin again, friend! Let’s look hopeful toward a new year full of possibilities.  I don’t know about you, but I need a fresh start!

Living to leave a legacy,

Julie