Some feel it more than others. The drain of staying isolated, as we get further into Stay At Home orders.

Depending on your home situation, and how much of an introvert vs extrovert you are, and whether you’ve got an essential business position that you have to report to in person, it may be getting to you already, even though it’s less than 4 full days into our Stay at Home orders here in Minnesota.

Watching my neighborhood traffic, there’s an awful lot of cars that don’t belong to our neighborhood being present. And cars from our neighborhood leaving.

I had a video conference tonight with a bunch of financial planners from around the country, and one of the topics we touched on was how many of them are single people, who other than a full daily load of virtual client meetings as clients are stressed in these volatile economic times, have no one else in their household to be connecting with. And they tend to live in big cities, so other than going for a run on the sidewalk, outside isn’t really an option. I had to reflect on how thankful and wonderful it is that I get to be “stuck” at home with my best friend and two of my other favorite people in the world, with a yard to play in, and for the last two days there’s even been marvelous sunshine to do our yard playing and yard chores in.

But maybe you’re one of those isolated people, just like the single financial planners in big cities. Maybe you’re far more extroverted than me. Maybe the minutes and hours and days are weighing heavily on you as your job has evaporated.

So it may be tempting to bend the rules, to go visit your Mom and Dad, or have a playdate for your kids with the neighbor kids down the street. But don’t. Please don’t. Find other ways to get the self-care and socialization you need. Play a board game on the phone with someone else who owns the same game. Work outside, and have a yelled over the fence conversation with the neighbor who is also doing yard work (unlike my neighbors, please avoid the chainsaws!). Plan your garden. Read a book. Go for a run.

And then remember we need to keep this up for months yet. So find some variety, whatever it takes to keep it sustainable. Just like investing, if you panic and do the wrong thing days or weeks or months in, you can un-do all of the work you’ve already painfully put in.

Take care out there. Or as Red Green would say, “Remember, I’m pulling for you. We’re all in this together. “