#BreakThings: A Positive Result

11.13.20

We’re all reaching a place where, eight months into the pandemic, our mental health is suffering. Prolonged social isolation, even for introverts, is not healthy. So the night before Halloween, my husband and I decided to take a calculated risk and visit a few of our friends.

Like us, our friends had been staying home and wearing masks, so we booked one of those outdoor plastic igloos that so many bars and restaurants are installing. We stayed for about an hour-and-a-half, and then headed home, feeling a little lighter and little better for getting out of the house.

Four days later, we all started feeling sick.

My husband had a bad cold. No fever, no cough, just terrible congestion and some mild stomach issues.

I had a light sniffle, but was so exhausted that I could barely pull myself out of bed. A simple task, like taking a shower, required 20-minutes of recovery time.

Our friends had moderate flu-like symptoms. One felt fine except for a rash on her arm that didn’t seem to want to go away.

In the days that followed, all of us tested positive for COVID-19. Luckily, none of us had been around anyone else in the days prior or the days after.

It’s been two-weeks since we were exposed, and I should be feeling better, but I’m not.

Today, out of nowhere, I developed terrible shortness of breath and lost five points on the pulse oximeter that’s been glued to my finger since last week. But all the doctors’ offices are so busy, the urgent care facilities so full, that I can’t see anyone until Monday.

Frankly, the whole experience just reinforces the reality that there is no safe group activity right now. We chose friends who hadn’t been out that week. We visited a place the boasted of the sanitizing protocols it was using to keep visitors safe. We even took turns keeping our masks on while drinking and eating. But we still got sick.

And with so much about COVID-19 and its longterm side effects still unknown, the fear of catching it is now replaced with the fear of the unknown.

So wear a mask. Socially distance. Don’t take unnecessary risks.

Whether worrying is old hat to you (Hi, it’s me! 🙋‍♀️) or if 2020 has brought worrying into your life anew, The New York Times has some tips on how to worry mindfully. Their advice might help you make time for your worries without letting them take over your life.

You will not believe how many famous movie lines were not in the script, but instead ad-libbed by the actors. Check out the list of the 20 most famous ones, here.

Whether you need work attire, sweaters, winter boots or a new coat, the J.CREW Friends and Family sale is worth your time. 35% off everything for non rewards members, 40% off for those in the club.

Trying to quit social media, but can’t give it up? You’re not the only one.

Self offers nine tips for managing social media’s impact on your life and your mental health. Let’s just call it scrolling responsibly.

Totally bored of your running playlist? Looking for any excuse to get back to it? This service lets you be a secret agent in a spy story or a fighter in a Zombie apocalypse while you’re just out for a morning jog.

This Dermapore Extractor is not one of those fly-by-night beauty tools that will wind up collecting dust in a drawer. If you have acne, blackheads, or just want your serums to absorb more deeply into your skin (because those miracle liquids are not cheap), give it a try. I love mine for keeping the skin around my clog free.

Harvard Business Review offers parents concrete tips for addressing the current pandemic parenting crisis. I sent this article to a couple of friends with kids and they all found at least a little bit of the advice helpful. I know parents are struggling right now, and I hope it offers you a bit of hope too.

{this post contains affiliate links that may generate commission for the author}