Quarantine Life On Hold Heading Back to Work

    On Friday evening, my boss called me and asked my to meet with her and my colleagues on Saturday regarding reopening the library to staff. During the meeting with my boss, she said that the library shouldn't sit and so nothing during this crisis. To that end, she directed me and my colleagues to be back at work starting on Monday. Although we will still be closed tentatively until Monday, April 13, we will be open to staff starting Monday.After the meeting on Saturday, I had to call the two employees I supervise and inform them that they are expected to be at work Monday morning.

     At this point, according to our county health department website, there have been 88 samples collected, 77 negative tests received, 10 people are being monitored, and 2 confirmed cases.Since the reality of things is that I'm going back to work, I'm praying daily that no one at my job is sick and asymptomatic and that when I get COVID-19, it will be mild and I'll recover.

     On the exercise front, I'm been really enjoying virtual runs on YouTube. Since the half marathon I was planning to do today has been postponed, I decided to complete a virtual half marathon at home and below is a photo from the race route. Since there's not a large place for me to run, this is a nice alternative.

          In other news, I've been making some headway in reference to completing the two books challenges I'm doing for the year. This is the latest book that I've read for the 2020 Popsugar Reading Challenge which is a wonderful read since it focuses on black women, the importance of seeing yourself reflected in books and the desire to create your own story when you don't see it represented in literature. I enjoyed this book so much, I'm planning to buy my own personal copy and plan to use this to create my own reading challenge for next year. I plan to create two new blog pages with the two 2020 reading challenge I'm currently doing so this can help others discover new books to read.

       

      Lastly, I had a nice convo with my mom today and was happy to hear her voice on the phone. It's comforting to know that even though I'm living on the other side of the country, my mom still thinks about me and prays for me, hubby and his family. Our conversation was good and mom said that she's using this current time as an opportunity to strengthen her relationship with God. I couldn't agree with her more and am also using this time to look back at the past by reading my old journals as well as reorganize home and throw old junk away. During this crisis, it's important to focus on today and not try to look too far into the future since it's uncertain. Stay safe & well!

Update during COVID-19 California Lockdown

     I have decided to no attempt to update my blog everyday but to instead provide updates as I get new information. Since COVID-19 has gotten more widespread, I've been checking our local county health department website for updates on how many samples have been collected, negative test received, how many people are being monitored and have many cases have been confirmed. Up until yesterday, our county and one other county (Mariposa County) has had no confirmed cases. Unfortunately, as of today, our county how has two confirmed case of COVID-19. According to the local ABC news website, one patient is a Kings County resident and is quarantining at how and the second patient is a non-resident but they're being treated in Kings County. Me and hubby were not really surprised by this news in that given the global reach of COVID-19, it's not a matter of if your county gets it but when it will get it.


     In reference to work, my boss has requested than me and co-workers send her a weekly write up of any work from home things we do (regular duties as well as covid related duties.) Luckily, I have been writing down everything I've been doing so this will definitely make writing the report easier. I am still scheduling social media posts for our seven Facebook accounts and one Twitter account. To create a better work/life balance, I have decided to do work during the usual hours when I would be at work during the week.In addition, I am still sticking to eating at my normal work lunchtime as well as taking a walk break everyday.

     Life wise, I have been doing well by keeping up a daily routine by exercising daily, writing in my journal then reading a daily bible devotional before starting my workday. Working out everyday has been a surprising godsend and have been extremely helpful with stress relief. While being quarantined at home, my and hubby have been taking daily walks to a nearby park or around the neighborhood. I have also discovered and rediscovered my love of YouTube exercise workouts. Below are three of my favorite Youtube workouts I have done lately from Jessica Smith TV, City Walks virtual walks and Phala B Fitness. Stay safe & well!

Day 5 of COVID-19 California Lockdown

     Yesterday was day 5 of statewide self isolation and me working from home. Started the day with doing a workout followed by getting a phone call from my dad calling in Alabama to check on me and hubby. It was nice to hear from him and how he's holding up given the current circumstances. He talked about how much he misses sports and he's annoyed cause he can't walk his dog due to rain.He's planning to have a family reunion in Texas in June and after talking to him yesterday, it seems as though he's still planning to make that happen.

     In reference to working at home, since I work as digital services librarian, I'm still working and my boss is keeping me busy by sending me things to post to our social media accounts in addition to posts I've already pre-scheduled.I'm working hard to balance working from home and not feeling stressed by all things my boss wants from me. Being candid, The stress from working at home has led me to revert back to stress eating as a coping mechanism. Although I have still been following a daily fasting schedule (14 hours fasting and 10 hours eating,) today I am recommitting myself to taking each day as it comes, taking breaks during the day and remembering that I can only do one thing at a time to the best of my ability. 

     Initially I was planning to write a blog post each day but since I haven't figured out the best time to do write posts or I feel like I'm not sharing anything new, I'm seriously considering reducing blog posts to once a week which doing the time that I'm quarantined but we shall see. Stay safe & well! 

Day 4 of COVID-19 California Lockdown

     Today, starts my first full week of state imposed quarantine and I am working towards maintaining a regular daily routine as well as creating a work from home schedule similar to my regular work schedule. I started my daily by doing execrise and since it was raining outside this morning, I decided to do a strength training video from the HasFit YouTube channel.

     After doing my workout, I have took a shower and got dressed for the day. I have decided the best way to establish a regular work at home routine with simple steps such as moving my laptop from my couch to the kitchen table as a way to change my mindset. In addition, I am also having my hubby help with establishing a regular work from home routine by having him make lunch at the normal time when I would have lunch. I think by making this two changes, this will assist with changing my mindset when it comes to working at home as well as provide some sort of normalcy in this abnormal times. Stay safe & well!