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It’s not always possible to plan ahead for a shelter in place situation. If you have the opportunity to do so, however, getting supplies in advance can help the experience go more smoothly. Stock up on enough supplies to last you through the time you expect to be sheltering.  It’s hard to know for sure how long a shelter in place situation will last, but as a rule it’s a good idea to have about 2 weeks’ worth of food, water, hygiene and cleaning supplies, medications, batteries, pet food, and any other supplies you regularly use. Don’t buy up more supplies than you think you and your family will need. Doing so will only make it harder for other people to deal with the situation. You might be tempted to lie around in your pajamas and watch TV all day while you’re stuck at home, but having a sense of stability and routine is important in times of uncertainty. If you live with family, and especially children, it can be helpful to have a set schedule that everyone can follow. Write out the schedule and post it up someplace where everyone can see it.  Work together with your family to create a schedule that works for everyone. Discuss everyone’s needs, strengths, concerns, and expectations.  Your schedule might include things like having breakfast and other meals together, doing schoolwork, taking time for family activities, exercising, and doing household chores. Don’t forget to schedule in a little “me time” for everyone so you don’t drive each other nuts! Even if you’re alone, writing a schedule for yourself can help you stick to a healthy routine. When you’re not able to follow your normal routines of going to work or school, it can be easy for your regular sleeping patterns to get thrown off. Don’t give in to the allure of sleeping until noon and staying up until the wee hours of the morning. Even though you don’t have to be anywhere, make a point of setting your alarm and getting up when you normally would. Establish a regular bedtime routine and try to be in bed by your usual bedtime.  Aim to get 7-9 hours of sleep if you’re an adult, and 8-10 if you’re a teen. Getting plenty of sunlight can help you maintain a normal sleep cycle, so try to step outside for a few minutes or open your curtains first thing in the morning. Start dimming your lights 2-3 hours before you go to bed, and turn off any bright screens within an hour or so of bedtime.  Maintaining a regular sleep routine will improve your mood and energy levels and make it easier to manage the stress of being in lockdown for a long time. When you’re sheltering in place, it’s crucial to keep yourself informed of the situation so that you can be aware of any major changes or actions you need to take to stay safe. However, looking at the news too much can be stressful and scary. Give yourself a specific amount of time each day to look at updates from a reliable source.  For example, if you’re sheltering in place due to the coronavirus outbreak, you might stick to looking at updates from the CDC, the World Health Organization, or your local Public Health Department. If you watch or read the news, you might limit yourself to just 15 minutes a day or only 2-3 stories at a time. You know best how much you can handle before it starts to really stress you out! Be conscious of how others in the home are affected, too. For example, avoid exposing children to lots of frightening media coverage. Summarize what’s going on for them in a straightforward way, but don’t leave the TV on 24/7 so that they hear all the scariest stories about what’s happening. Self-care during a shelter in place situation is vital for both your physical and emotional health. When you don’t have to go anywhere, it’s easy to forget to do simple things like getting dressed, brushing your hair, and even eating! Make a conscious effort to do all the things you would normally do throughout a regular day, such as:  Eating nutritious meals and snacks at regular times Showering, brushing your hair, and cleaning your teeth Getting dressed for the day and putting on your pajamas at night Getting up and moving around While the idea of having time off from school or work might seem fun under other circumstances, it can be a major source of stress when you don’t have a choice in the matter. Keep in touch with your employer, teachers, or school administrators about what you can do to keep up with your regular work or study routines while you’re sheltering in place.  For example, you may be able to do work online or by video conference. If you have a job that can’t accommodate working from home, talk to your boss about what kinds of leave options are available to you. If you have kids, their teachers will probably develop e-learning resources and online lessons for them. Reach out to the school if you have any questions about how to help your kids learn at home. If the shelter in place situation is disruptive to your regular spiritual or religious practices, look for ways to keep them up at home. This can be a source of comfort during a scary and stressful situation. You may not be able to go to your church, temple, mosque, or other place of worship, but you can still find ways to practice your faith wherever you happen to be!  For example, even if you can’t go to services at your place of worship, you can still pray, study religious texts, meditate, or make offerings as you normally would. Some places of worship may offer videos or live streams of their regular religious services. If you have any conditions that require regular checkups or medical treatment, call your doctor to discuss what to do. They may be able to continue your checkups over the phone or by video chat. They can also advise you on what to do if it’s necessary to seek medical attention in person.  If you’re sheltering in place due to an infectious disease outbreak, such as the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, call your doctor right away if you start to experience symptoms. Don’t show up at your doctor’s office or the emergency room without calling ahead first, since they may need to take special precautions to protect other patients, themselves, and you.  If you take medications, call your pharmacy to ask about home delivery options.
Stock up on supplies if you have time to prepare ahead. Create a daily schedule for yourself and your family. Get up at and go to bed at your usual times. Set a regular time to check the news so you can stay informed. Take breaks to eat, exercise, and care for your hygiene. Talk to your boss or teachers about doing work from home. Maintain any spiritual or religious practices you normally do. Reach out to your doctor about remote checkups if you have health issues.