Now, perhaps more than any time in our lifetimes, kindness, empathy and grace cannot be optional…
THE STORY
…Let me begin by saying that I am in no way a professional in the field of mental health, I am however a professional human; I’ve been doing it for 55 years after all. The situation in which we all currently find ourselves is truly unprecedented. Every adult human on the planet is in the exact same situation at the exact same time; we are all sharing the same feelings, fears and concerns simultaneously and in real time. It can be scary and overwhelming if we allow it to be.
The phrase that is currently on the tip of everyone’s tongue as it well should be, is social distancing. The single most effective way to stop the spread of the virus is to not provide the kindling for its flames. Yes, washing our hands is crucial as is making a concerted effort to not touch our faces, but if we deny the virus the opportunity to spread in the first place then it has nowhere to go.
The struggle is though…social distancing is hard. It’s isolating. It’s frightening. It’s something that we as humans have never been forced to do. We are by nature social creatures, and being told that we can no longer be around one another is unthinkable. Yet here we are. Many of us are left feeling not only alone, but out of control because the situation is out of control.
“Social distancing does not have to translate into emotional distancing…”
Here is what is important to remember…You still control you; your thoughts, your feelings, your behaviors. No one controls those things but you. So it has to be a priority for each of us during this surreal period in our collective history to maintain our connection to ourselves and to the world.
- If like so many of us, your work is closed or you have to work from home, maintain a regular schedule for yourself, whatever that looks like for you. Get up in the morning and have your coffee. Take a shower and put on actual clothing. A pajama day is fine every once in awhile, but too much of a good thing can take you to a rough place mentally.
- Schedule your day in a way that makes sense for you so that you get things done. If it helps, write out your daily schedule in a planner, journal or even a sticky note. I find that writing things down makes a huge difference in my motivation to get things done.
- Keep in touch with your friends. Whether it be through text, dm, Facetime, whatever…don’t lose touch with the people who matter to you.
- Use social media for good and do not get caught up in the craziness. Do not follow coronavirus related hashtags; get your information from reputable sources. Unplug for awhile if you need to, but don’t unplug completely. Interacting with one another via social media, whether it be Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, whatever your preferred medium is, will help to keep us all sane. I truly believe that because we need to remember that we are all going through this together and we can all be someone else’s shoulder to lean on. Be the light that another human so desperately needs right now.
- If you have the opportunity to help someone in your real-life realm then do it. Run to the grocery store for your elderly neighbor…offer to babysit for someone who has to go to work, but their children are home from school…little things matter and they serve the dual purpose of giving us back a feeling of at least a little control.
- Continue doing things that you love (assuming they aren’t crowd related). Read, write, nap, work on your spring flower garden…whatever it is that you love, do that.
- Look at the extra unexpected time at home as a gift. Spend quality time with your family. Use the time for personal self-reflection and growth. Listen to your favorite podcasts. Binge on Netflix. Do that task you’ve been putting off for months.
- Make a conscious effort to focus on the present, the right now. Just like every other day, the future is an unknown so it is truly a waste of time fretting about it.
THE OUTFIT
I really do love a good slip dress and this reddish/orangish leopard slip dress is no exception. I have considered leopard a neutral for years, but a fun colored print like the one I’m wearing today or this pink lace trimmed cami are perfect options for mixing it up a little bit.
While we never really had a winter, there definitely have been chilly days and this day was no exception so I layered a graphic tee under the dress and a chambray shirt over top. Pairing slip dresses and graphic tees is one of my favorite ways to style them. You can also layer a graphic tee over a slip dress like I did with this vintage Harley tee.
I wasn’t feeling over the knee boots for this outfit and instead opted for my mid-calf slouch boots. Since it was chilly I added a pair of sheer tights for a wee bit of additional warmth to finish off the look.
THE TIP
If you are hesitant about adding a slip dress or two to your wardrobe, trust me, a slip dress will be one of the most versatile styles of dresses in your closet. Do not fear the sexiness factor! A slip dress can be sexy, however by adding some creative layering either over or under the dress you can make a slip dress appropriate for just about any situation.
Also keep in mind the dress details themselves…Is there lace? Is there a slit? How long or short is it? All of these factor in when you’re considering the sexiness factor. Fortunately, slip dresses come in a wide range of lengths and design details so you’re sure to find one that works for you.
If you’re going to take the plunge it’s a good idea to have a few slip dresses in basic colors like black, red or olive green. However prints are fun too and will make a bright happy addition to your wardrobe.
THE LINK UPS
Check out the weekly link ups I participate in for even more fashion and style ideas…
Dress: Nasty Gal (Similar); Chambray Shirt: Similar; Graphic Tee: Similar; Boots: Target (Similar)
**Disclaimer: Commission earned through shopping links in this post.
