Quarantine "Time Capsule" Writing Prompts for Journaling & Reflection

Zoom parties and virtual events have been all the rage during quarantine. This week I attended one of my past brunch attendee’s Arielle event for Quarantine Time Capsules and writing prompts to think about for journaling and reflection during this time. Nothing like this virus has ever happened before in our lifetime and before we know it we’ll be back to normal.

Besides the fact that I’ve been collecting physical pieces to add to my journal… receipts from my very large grocery shopping spends at the peak of panic shopping, receipts from gas - never being this low at currently $1.81/gallon, and dried dead flowers my husband got for me for our 9 year anniversary during quarantine.

These prompts were what we discussed on our call. It was so interesting to hear other people’s perspective on some of these points and explore their daily lives. We had one woman who is a pharmacist noting the increase in antidepressants she started to see. A nurse on the front lines where they converted her facility to ICU/ER. A mom with 3 little kids at home. Others furloughed from their jobs.

Writing Prompts:

• What have you been consuming, binging, cooking, people you’ve been following, podcasts, content, memes, virtual music/band sessions, videos?

• What are you missing during quarantine?

• What are you NOT missing during quarantine? (example: going into work, traffic, etc)

• What have you been struggling with? The most challenging part of quarantine?

• How did we all adapt online, with social media and technology?

• How has the relationship with your mind, body, self care changed?

• What would you like to forgive yourself for?

• What’s the silver lining in all this? What practices would you like to carry on after quarantine?

• Where are you traveling to after this is over? Where does your mind wonder to?

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A few highlights and insights I wanted to mention from the discussion on this particular question to get the writing juices flowing:

Q: What’s the silver lining in all this? What practices would you like to carry on after quarantine?

• Silver-lining - These virtual events, never imagined being able to connect with so many different people all over the world.

• Time - We’ll never be able to have this much time again with our families, between traveling, work, commuting.

• Making memories with family whether it’s having to be the teacher to your kids, new recipes, at home activities, watching movies together.

• Carrying On - Most said they’d like to carry on with their daily workout routines. I think the thing we’re all going to take with us is taking better care of our physical and mental health. We know this virus affects those with lung/respiratory issues, diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune disease; believe we’re all going to start putting health at a forward focus now.

A Guide to Working From Home (WFH) Life

I’ve been working from home since October 2018.

To be honest, it was extremely challenging the first month to get used to… It’s very isolating. It’s very lonely. It’s difficult not really being able to talk to people during the day except during meetings. Or even being able to “read the room”, or knowing when to “jump into” a conversation. It’s taken me a while to find my rhythm and routine.

Recently, my whole team has to work from home due to the coronavirus as many teams have begun to. And truthfully, I’m actually glad.

I’m indépendant worker. I feel I get so much more done without office distractions and love being remote. Don’t get me wrong the work/life balance and flexibility of working from home is AMAZING, my stress has dropped significantly because of it. My only hope is my team will see this new way of life from my perscpective and feel the challenges I face with not always feeling like “part of a team” because you’re not physically there seeing them everyday. I’ll admit my biggest challenge when you WFH is having to communicate twice as much and be so much more “visible”.

Remote life definitely has it’s pros and cons.

If you’re new to WFH, here were some of my tips that have always helped me:

✨Be visible. I can’t stress this one enough. You have to show up twice as much being remote. There’s no way around this. You have to communicate more clearly and effectively. You need to speak up in every single meeting and be that authority perspective in your given role. You also need to raise your hand 🙋🏻‍ on new projects/opportunities.

✨ Have a work buddy you can call or chat.

✨ Get moving - Stretch, Get up and walk around, go to the gym. One of my tips is saving a podcast and only listening to it on a lunch break walk.

✨ Since I can’t always chat with someone. I CRAVE knowledge. I’m always listening to podcasts, audiobooks, reading, online/in person classes, I’m always trying to learn something new.

✨ Cook healthy meals, either on your lunch break or for weekend meal prep. You’ll thank yourself when work gets busy or there’s a meeting scheduled near lunchtime.

✨ Respect “offline” hours. Just because you’re work life is in your home space doesn’t mean your need to be “always on”. Create boundaries and a set time everyday on when you’re clocking out.

✨ Weekly check in calls. Especially to catch up with your team.

✨ Get dressed and shower. Make coffee, breakfast, journal….Create a routine for yourself.