Time to restock the pantry
Hello, friend.
I am here, at the other end of this internet connection of ours, trying as best I know how to be of service to you and to encourage you to make life easier for yourself.
Today, that looks like writing about groceries.
Photo by Maria Lin Kim on Unsplash
Like so many of you, I’ve been keeping an eye on the news. Not just the hubbub surrounding the election, but—more importantly—the state of the COVID pandemic. As predicted by so many epidemiologists earlier in the year, the COVID numbers are rising in the fall. And that’s before flu season really gets started.
Dr. Michael Osterholm opined this weekend that the next 6-12 weeks of time may be the darkest period of time during the COVID pandemic, in part due to the number of people spending time together indoors, and in part due to the number of people who have refused to do the basic things necessary to avoid community spread, which include wearing a mask, keeping your distance from others, and washing or sanitizing your hands often.
A doctor on the local news, Dr. Carolyn Cannuscio at the University of Pennsylvania, is concerned because our infection rates now look like those in April—only in April, people were super cautious and self-isolating, and nowadays people are mixing and mingling with others, and are out in public, which means our rates are likely to rise significantly. Gatherings and parties are the primary causes of spread, which is why so many doctors are recommending against gatherings during the upcoming holiday season. It’s one of the things we will be discussing and planning for inside ALL IS CALM: Simplify Your Holidays, which launches on Sunday.
While I am hoping we will avoid further shutdowns, one thing is a clear to me: as COVID transmission rises again, spending time in crowds of people, especially indoors, is becoming even less desirable. The colder it gets, and the more we are driven indoors, the worse things are likely to get.
Which is why I am recommending that you start to restock your pantry.
Right now. This week.
Image by Nadia Pamenova on Unsplash
Why restock your pantry now?
Well, right now the stores are pretty well-stocked. So shopping may be a bit easier while things are available. But there are still things that can be difficult to find, or that are only in stock sometimes. And I’m not positive that we can count on the stores remaining well-stocked as the holidays come closer and health issues (both influenza and coronavirus) start to soar. So stocking up now makes sense in case there are shortages ahead.
Stocking up now on things you know you will need means that when virus levels start to spike near you, you can minimize the amount of time you need to spend inside the grocery store or your local Target or Walmart. If all you need is fresh fruit and veggies, milk, butter, eggs, bread and meat (if you eat it), then a visit to the store requires far less time in the aisles, and far less time in close quarters with other people (who may be ill or at least contagious).
Finally, the holidays are coming, and those can mean a strain on your budget. So stocking up now on pantry goods to see you through the holidays makes fiscal sense as well. It’s one less worry once the holidays arrive.
I have created a PDF download for you to fill out, or at least to get you started in the way you are thinking about things. It’s entitled Pantry Essentials, and it will help you figure out what you might need to stock up on, from plastic wrap (got some today) to shampoo to oatmeal to cans of beans. And don’t forget yeast, and all the rest of the baking supplies you might want to have on hand for Thanksgiving and other holidays!
If you want help and support in planning for the holidays this year, and in reducing your stress levels, please join me in ALL IS CALM: Simplify Your Holidays.
This program starts on Sunday!
