I saw a hilarious meme the other day about how we’re all overeating during quarantine.  It said, “Forget the freshman 15 lb., welcome to the COVID-19 lb.”  

Consumption

When we feel terrible, our normal response is to consume.  COVID-19 gives us plenty of opportunities to feel negative emotions like; uncertainty, boredom, stress, overwhelm, disappointment, resentment, frustration and more. 

Food isn’t the only way to consume—newsfeeds, Netflix, podcasts, Facebook, YouTube, shopping all give us plenty of opportunities to consume.   

My family has definitely been glued to the news feed, eating more treats and watching more TV than normal during this time at home.   I’ve even found myself surfing the web for endless ideas to keep my kids learning and entertained at home.  

The reason we consume is because it feels good.  We get a dopamine release in the brain when we consume these things.  Dopamine feels much better than negative emotion—temporarily. 

The problem is the more we consume, the more we want to consume.  But, consumption doesn’t solve the problem.  In fact, consuming often ends up making us feel worse because now we have to deal with; extra weight, lower bank account balance, wasted time, or lower confidence.  

Creation

What’s the alternative?  Creation. It feels amazing.    It takes a bit more effort up front, but it feels so much better now AND later.  

Creation can look like so many different things.  A friend of mine, Emilee Tikalsky, taught my girls a Zumba class through zoom last week. My sister-in-law Anne Creek is sewing masks for medical professionals even though she doesn’t feel well most of the time.  Another friend of mine, Rachel Shumway, who was in quarantine for several weeks in Shanghai has been doing Face Book videos to share tips on how to survive it.  My sister Annie helped take meals to an elderly neighbor.

My Dad who owns a company with many employees is making a huge effort to keep his employees on the payroll even though some of their clients scaling back during the virus.  My sister Annie, has helped bring meals to an elderly neighbor.  

I loved reading about some flight attendants on WestJet Airline who threw 4 graduating college students a mini-graduation on the plane since their ceremony had been canceled.  I was impressed by a family who had to cancel their bat mitzvah celebration and sent all the prepared food to people in quarantine in New York city.  A woman in Singapore saw Elderly people in line at the pharmacy and had a friend in Vietnam bring masks so she could hand them out outside the light rail.  

I wanted to help my kids contribute something during this time too.  We are living in temporary housing right now and don’t know our neighbors.  We want to respect our state’s stay-at-home order.  So, we are working on sewing masks for medical personnel who don’t protective equipment, and making Bears for Hope—little animals for refugee children who are having difficulty adjusting.  As we’ve been focusing on creation instead of consumption, our whole attitude has shifted.  

Creation to Consumption Ratio

There’s nothing wrong with some consumption. However, if we’re consuming to avoid negative feelings, those feelings come back when we stop consuming.  So we’re just delaying feeling our feelings.  In addition, consumption often causes us more problems.   

As humans we are wired for creation.  It is a lasting anecdote for feeling terrible.  Consider trying to increase your creation to consumption ratio. Ideally you’re creating more than you are consuming.  

The World Needs Your Contribution

This is your moment.  Your family and the world need your contribution.  Here are a few small ways to contribute instead of consume.  

Create space: Listen well when someone talks.  
Create a calm: Turn on peaceful music in your home.  
Create love: Write a thoughtful text to a friend.  
Create Surprise: Clean the bathroom.
Create joy: Stop what you’re doing a play a game with a child.
Create relief: Give a shoulder rub.
Create connection: Remember someone’s birthday or call grandparent.
Create value: Provide more work than expected at your job or offer your professional service to others for free.
Create service: Offer to shop for someone who is elderly or compromised.
Create growth: Master a new character trait.
Create a little grace for someone: forgive.
Create more health: exercise.  
Create faith and solicit heavenly help: Pray.