Get Your House In Order: How to Prepare for the Inevitable Coronavirus Lockdown
Wow.. what a difference a week makes! The total number of coronavirus cases is now close to 300,000 worldwide, tripling in just two weeks and causing over 11,000 deaths. All major events and sports leagues have been cancelled, restaurants, bars, gyms, and even churches are closing their doors, and global financial markets are struggling to stay afloat. If it hasn’t quite hit you yet, let me be the one to share the news, it’s the end of the world as we know it…
If this week’s working arrangements are any indication, coronavirus, and as a byproduct social distancing, is ushering in a new era of life, society, and parenthood! With more and more companies asking their employees to work from home, or laying them off altogether, schools and daycares closing indefinitely and state and city officials instituting increasingly stricter lockdowns, things are suddenly very different from the norm. It’s critical that we work with our partners and families to prepare for what’s to come.
If you’re anything like me, you’re constantly plagued by the burning question: “What are we eating?” This question is hard enough in normal circumstances, but in the age of coronavirus, it’s become even more daunting. So, to set yourself up for success, focus on ‘what’ your family needs over the next few weeks/months and ‘how’ you can meet those needs.
What: When planning your grocery list, think about the key areas you need to shop for such as food, medicine, cleaning supplies, etc.
Food: You want versatile, nutritious foods that are easy to cook, multi-purpose, and allow for large servings, particularly if you’re accommodating a larger family.
Non-Perishables: Soups, canned goods, dry beans, and rice are my go-to non-perishables. Additionally, things like oats or cornmeal can go a long way. Get several boxes of Jiffy cornbread and freeze your favorite meats so you can whip out your crockpot and make hearty dishes like chili, chicken tortilla soup, and cuban black beans and rice.
Fruits and Veggies: Don’t forget the fruits and veggies! Invest in your favorite fruits and vegetables in all forms: frozen, fresh, canned and dried. The good news is that frozen fruits and veggies can have just as many or more vitamins and nutrients as their fresh alternatives, so pack your freezer with fruits and veggies you and your family can enjoy.
Frozen Items: Grab some meat and freeze it. Also, get some frozen meals that will take the pressure off of you to cook each meal from scratch. Some of my favorites include frozen bag meals, frozen lasagna, and frozen breakfast foods like waffles.
Spices and Common Condiments: While you’re buying all these groceries, make sure to grab some spices and condiments to make your food even more delicious, so you’re more likely to eat it and enjoy it. Examples include salt, pepper, garlic powder, sugar, honey, BBQ sauce, and soy sauce. I’m a firm believer that condiments are the unsung heroes of food, so make sure not to forget them.
Bottled Water: I’d stick with tap or filtered water for now, since there are no current concerns with our water supply or quality, but I’d recommend having at least 2-3 cases of bottled water on reserve just in case the situation with our water supply changes.
Kid Stuff: From birth to adulthood, moms will agree that kids require a ton of stuff. Make sure to have an adequate supply of the items your little one (or big one) needs. See examples below:
Babies: diapers, formula, baby wipes, and food pouches if they’re transitioning from milk to solid foods in the near future
Toddlers: diapers, wipes, and non-perishable snacks like apple sauce packets and goldfish
Kids to Young Adults: quick meal and snack components like bread, sandwich meat, and peanut butter and jelly. If it works for your family and your budget, don’t be afraid to check out some of these kid- and adult-friendly meal delivery services.
Medicine: If you haven’t received the memo, the effects of coronavirus are going to have our supply chains and healthcare system in shambles. Health staples we’re accustomed to having may be in short supply, and hospitals could be overrun, so it may be difficult or impossible to be seen for things that aren’t life threatening. So be proactive:
Fill Prescriptions - Make sure you have at least a 30-day supply (90-day is better) of your family’s prescriptions.
Stock up on Over-the-Counter Medicines - Medicines like pain relievers, antacids, cough and cold medicines, vitamins, and fluids with electrolytes may soon be in short supply, so plan ahead and get the things your family typically uses or might need.
Don’t Forget First Aid Supplies - First aid supplies will also be important. Grab a first aid kit or two, or at a minimum, get some basic first aid items like bandaids, gauze, and ointment so that you can handle small to medium medical issues at home.
Cleaning Supplies: Coronavirus can be killed by many household cleaning products if properly used, so, keep it cute, and clean and make sure to stock up on products like soap (bar and liquid), hand sanitizer, dish soap, disinfectant and laundry detergent. Also, if your local and online stores are fresh out of hand sanitizer, make your own!
Other essentials: Don’t forget other personal items you and your family will need like deodorant, tampons, lotion / moisturizer, and toothpaste. Also, as you’re likely well aware, everyone’s clamoring for items like paper towels, facial tissue, and toilet tissue. So if you can’t get certain items, look for and consider using alternatives. While it may be old-school, a single use washcloth with soap and water works just fine in lieu of toilet tissue. You can also use wet wipes and wet paper towels, as long as you dispose of them in the trash rather than the toilet. Finally, since we’re going to be stuck in the house with our kids and significant others for the foreseeable future, don’t forget the wine!
How: Remember, safety first when purchasing groceries or other goods. If you can, order online and get your items or groceries delivered. If you have to visit a store in person, wear gloves and a mask and don’t touch your face. Consistently wash your hands, and come prepared with a grocery list to minimize the amount of time spent at the store. Also, if you’re getting meals delivered, stick with places you know, limit human contact, and exercise caution when handling delivery containers.
This is not a drill. I repeat. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. As seen over the last few weeks, life is rapidly changing in unexpected ways right before our eyes, but this isn’t a time for panic; it’s a time for plans and action. So, get your house in order and make sure you have the items you need to intentionally prepare your family to thrive, or at a minimum survive, whatever the future holds!
If you enjoyed this post and would like more information on being intentional with your motherhood, check out my posts on value and goal-based living, intentional self-care, childcare and development, and relationships.