Hello. I'm Emmie, and my pandemic hobbies include:
- Changing out light fixtures
- Started decorating our basement. Thinking of more spaces in the home to change up
- Feeling horrible impostor syndrome and inadequacy around nearly everything
- Internalizing every setback or frustration as a failing of my capabilities and not the result of a worldwide health pandemic
- Masterfully procrastinating on all the things I said I would do if I had extra time. Write a book! Blog more! Organize my closets! Weed the garden! Workout in the basement! Pitch myself! Get to inbox zero! Start a podcast! Go through all the MasterClass library! It's all a big nope.
- Making face masks. At first to donate, but now I'm also selling some to fund more materials to sew and donate. I set up an shop section of my site and sold out of my first launch in 72 hours. I was happy people wanted them! Sewing keeps me off my computer or phone, so it's a very welcome task. To sign up for an email alert for the next order window, use the form on this page.
- Kept up with a skincare routine
- Said repeatedly: “I don't know what I want to do with my life!”
- Way too much scrolling on social media. It's impossible to stay off it entirely given my work in digital marketing, but I'm now leaving my phone in other areas of the house when I really need to concentrate on a task.
- Contemplating putting up the Christmas trees in early November. (I think about this way too much.)
- Listed some of my clothes for sale on Poshmark. Made a small dent, but need to do more. You can see what's available here.
- Steve and I have cooked a lot. We're down to about 1 meal per week that we get carryout.
- Started Leadership Kentucky, which has been a wonderful experience so far. Our first session was virtual, second was in Louisville, and last week we were in Paducah. It's really the only outside interaction I've had with people since March. It's helped me combat a little of my impostor syndrome, though I also look at the fellow participants and wonder how in the world I got selected. Yay self-doubt.
I share all of this because I know I can't be the only one feeling like a ball of “meh” for the past several months. When I'm in a super funk, I keep reminding myself to take my own advice I'd give a friend.
It's not personal, it's the pandemic.
- These are abnormal times and it's necessary to be kind to yourself.
- Are the feelings you're having fact or fiction? What is the actual situation, and why do you feel this way?
- There are very few people who have been able to achieve a masterpiece or huge project during this time. The only one I can think of is Taylor Swift, because folklore is everything. Taylor Swift is an anomoly.
- What's one small thing you can do today to feel better? Answer 5 emails? Sew a mask? Write your friend a snail mail note?
- Despite how it feels, you're doing the best you can right now.
How are you doing?