“We’re supposed to feel like toddlers in Square One, not knowing what the hell is going on half the time, and needing lots of naps. If you’re completely bumfuzzled and often tired, you’re doing it right.”

That’s what I wrote in last week’s post about the Change Cycle and how this global pandemic has smacked us into our next metamorphosis. We’re all preschoolers again.

It’s an uncomfortable feeling, this not knowing what the hell is going on. I’m finding it easier to stay in the present moment, the only refuge from what we can’t control or predict, when I care for myself like I’m a three-year-old.

You know how to care for a toddler. You give that child a structure that keeps them safe and supports their toddler work.

Here are some concrete practices for being simultaneously three years old and that three-year-old’s caregiver.

(Do you have a photo of yourself as a preschooler? Put it where you’ll see it often. Do the same for the other adults in your household, as a reminder that we’re all preschoolers now.)

• Sleep when you’re tired. Nap early and often.
• Draw something. Scribble and doodle, then add color. Finger paint. Mess around with clay.
• Go outside. Sit in the sun. Plant seeds. Take lots of walks. Stack rocks. Make a nature mandala. Pay attention to birds and flowers. Lie on your back and watch clouds. Gaze at the night sky. Cuddle with a warm, furry animal.
• Put yourself in water. Splash your feet in a river. Wade in a creek. Swim in a pool or lake. Take a bath
• Keep yourself comfortable. Stay warm. Snuggle up. Wear your favorite clothes.
• Dance and play.
• Pay attention to what interests you. Do what you want to as much as you can. Follow your urges. Be all in. “What doing, do.”
• Be intentional about screen time, and take a break from horror and violence. Give yourself screen-free days.
• Feed yourself healthy food, and a few treats. Drink lots of water. Limit intoxicants and stimulants.
• Give yourself structure: Put yourself on a schedule that nourishes your body, mind, and spirit.

Ask for help when you need it. Hold hands when you can.

Breathe deeply. Laugh often. Love with your whole heart.

For more on the grief associated with this global pandemic, see this post from the Harvard Business Review.