My wife is a teacher, and in the midst of all of this, we started to work from home. The permanency of it drove feelings of uncertainty. We had a grandbaby who was born during COVID-19, whom we haven’t had a chance to meet yet, which is tough. But this program forced me to do something my wife has been after me to do, probably since I first got a device, which is to get my phone out of the bedroom. Hers stays in the kitchen at night, and she’s always said, “You’re not going to answer it in your sleep!” But little did she know, occasionally I would roll over and check it. Now, I have started to keep it in the kitchen. I’ve also taken the advice of turning off the TV, finding something to read, and relaxing for 30 minutes before I go to bed.
We were pretty active outdoors before COVID-19, and some of that had started to slip. But now, the biggest thing that we are doing collectively is getting up at 5:00 a.m., weather permitting. Around here you could be pelted by hail, but we get up, go walk the dog, and don’t talk about work whatsoever. It’s time for us to relax and talk to each other. It’s not a long walk, just 30 to 45 minutes, but it starts your day in the right spot. Also, if you don’t get to work out that day or that night, it allows you time just to move and unwind.