How To Handle The Stress Of A Full House During The Coronavirus Outbreak

You love your family and want nothing more than for them to be safe during the coronavirus pandemic. However, if you’re honest, having a full house is driving you nuts. Somehow, you have to figure out how to adjust to working from home, tend to the needs of your kids 24/7, engage with your significant other, complete endless household chores, take care of the pets, and some adults are even caring for their elderly parents, which adds another layer of stress.

You may have welcomed all of this family togetherness in the beginning, but as the weeks turn into months, you may be unsure of how you will get through it all. While you may dream of going on a vacation by yourself right about now, here are some more practical ways to handle the stress of a full house.

Prioritize Health And Happiness

Though it may be a bit more challenging to put yourself first with everyone around all the time, your health and happiness must remain a priority. Here are some ways to master this:

• Create a Morning Routine: Before everyone else gets up, start your morning off right. Meditate for a few minutes, drink a cup of tea while watching the news, read a few chapters of a book, go outside and practice yoga, or listen to some upbeat music to uplift your mood.
• Take Breaks Frequently: You’re only human (though the rest of your family may believe you have superpowers). So, make sure you schedule breaks throughout the day. Step away from the computer and stretch, make time to give the kids some much-needed attention, and take your lunch break outdoors to enjoy the beautiful weather.
• Wind Down at Night: With everything you are handling during the day, your nerves are likely on edge by the time the sun goes down. After you have had dinner, put the kids to bed, and handled the household chores, it’s time to wind down. You can take a relaxing bath or shower, read a book, watch something funny on television, and then get to bed at a decent hour.

Manage The Kids

To your children, this can feel very much like a summer vacation. Lack of organization will essentially lead to boredom, which can cause sibling fights, tantrums, and other negative behaviors. To get things under control, consider this advice:

• Create a Schedule: Maintain a routine for your kids so they don’t lose the structure and discipline that comes with it. Make sure they’re getting up at a reasonable hour, eating healthy meals throughout the day, and completing their school work.
• Find Activities: Boredom and cabin fever are common for kids who have been in the house for weeks. Find some fun activities for them to indulge in including arts and crafts, educational programs on television, and family time.
• Get Them to Pitch in: Kids want nothing more than to please their parents. If they’re old enough, you can give them household chores so they are doing their part. Whether it’s feeding and walking the dog or cleaning up after themselves when they’re done playing, it gives them something to do and makes them happy to help.

Tend To Aging Parents

Being a caretaker to your aging parents, although noble, is a very stressful job. Here are some way you can ease your frustrations:

• Create a Space for Mom and Dad: Select a room in your home where your parents can live comfortably. Make sure the space is set up so they can be as independent as possible. Remove any obstacles that could cause a tripping hazard, make sure snacks are readily available for them, and include entertainment options like television, games, and other activities.
• Utilize the Internet: You could spend hours on the phone trying to resolve issues for your aging parents. From scheduling doctor’s appointments to locating information on healthcare coverage, there are a lot of tasks that can be handled in just a few minutes by using the internet.
• Sign-Up for Senior Services: Cut down your to-do list for your parents by signing up for senior services. From having a home health aide visit the home for a few hours a day to getting prescriptions and hot meals delivered to your front door, there are plenty of services available to seniors during the pandemic.

Without a doubt, it is very stressful to deal with a full house. This is especially true when you are limited to because of the social distancing requirements. During the coronavirus pandemic, you can reduce your stress while tending to all these new responsibilities and keeping your family happy and healthy by following the advice provided above.

How are you managing the stress in your household?