Social media right now is FULL of ‘shoulds’. People posting their amazing homeschool adventures, starting gardens, doing impressive home improvement projects, sewing 509 masks, making sourdough everything, and having precious family time… and meanwhile you are trying to get the slime out of your daughter’s hair while your other two are calling each other poop breath. Or, your anxiety is at the point that getting out of bed feels like a major accomplishment.

This is a time that is loaded with SHOULDS. Things you should be doing, thinking, feeling. Give yourself permission not to be perfect during this quarantine, and just do what you need to do to get through the day. Every person is different, and every person has different coping skills for the emotions that are bubbling up right now. Some people get busy. Others get overwhelmed. No matter who you are and how you were dealing with this, give yourself the grace to be yourself, and not somebody else.

And if you are really struggling with depression, anxiety, or other overpowering emotions, reach out. You don’t have to do this alone. We are all in this together.