You are social distancing; you are living in a sort of quarantine. You know the risks posed by this virus. You’re washing your hands and cleaning your home. But how do you survive this time of social isolation?
Technology
We need to interact with others for our own mental health. Technology can be a great help to connect us with others. Telephone calls and video conferencing are great ways to stay connected during this time. Conference calls via Google or Zoom allow you to connect many people at once. Get creative and play an on-line game together like Kahoot for questions/trivia or a drawing games like Skibbl.io while on your conference call.
Many businesses are making resources available for free. Audible is offering a select number of titles for free. And museums and national parks are offering virtual tours. The San Diego Zoo has a bevy of animal cameras where you can watch the animals in their habitats:
Also consider a non-technological way to connect: letter-writing. Writing to others, sending newspaper articles, poems, or encouraging quotes is a great way to connect with people.
Community
Consider setting up a window art or window walk event in your neighborhood. People are decorating their windows with art to provide some encouragement during social distancing. Some neighborhoods have a theme for the art, like shamrocks for St. Patrick’s Day, silly faces, or rainbows for hope. Other neighborhoods are creating artwork on fences or windows for passers-by to enjoy.
Look around your neighborhood and see who needs help. Which neighbors might need to avoid going into stores? Email or phone them (or leave a note if you don’t know how else to contact them) and offer to pick up items when you go to the store.
Plant something! Get your garden ready for spring. Don’t have a garden? You can order seeds online and start a small garden in pots. Find time to make something grow. Plants growing, blossoming and producing fruit is a hopeful endeavor.
Spirituality
If you are religious, your church/temple/mosque may have live-streamed services. Many yoga practitioners are offering free yoga and meditation sessions.
Physically
Exercise!! Get outside. Vitamin D is an immunity booster, and exercise is so good for reducing stress. Find time to walk around your neighborhood or in a local park and enjoy the arrival of spring. Or, if you prefer indoor exercise, try a new form of exercise through the many videos available on-line. Dance classes, boot camp workouts, pilates, yoga–the choice is just a Google search away. If you have a Fitbit or other wrist tracker, use the “friends” feature to set up healthy competitions with friends and relatives near or far.
Finally, limit your intake of the news. Definitely check in once or twice a day, but avoid the constant drone of news throughout your day. Your mind needs a rest from constantly wondering what will happen. Focus on the time you have now, and creating the calm environment you need in your home. Remember, staying home will help save lives!
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