6 Ways to Kill the Coronavirus Blues
The current state of the coronavirus pandemic is enough to make anyone spiral. Here are six things you can do now to help yourself and others feel better.
The news of late isn’t great, and it’s natural to feel … less than alright about it. The truth is, many of us have been privileged to never in our lifetimes experience a situation like the COVID-19 pandemic currently engulfing the globe. Between travel bans, school and work closures, conflicting reports about mortality rates, worries about societal impacts, and concerns for the vulnerable populations among us, it’s no wonder so many people are struggling with how they should feel.
The general uncertainty plaguing us is aggravated by hard-to-answer questions:
- Should I take this seriously? Are people panicking for no reason?
- I can’t even buy toilet paper right now, should I be stocking for the apocalypse?
- Am I going to contract the disease?
- What can I do to protect vulnerable populations?
- Will I be able to pay rent if my job closes down?
- How are the long-term societal effects of this going to play out?
It all starts to feel like this gif:
Your personal answers to these (and other) questions are probably framing your state of mind at the moment. I can’t answer them for you, but I can sympathize with how trying to answer them likely makes you feel. So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, here are six things you can do to kill the coronavirus blues.
Note: These won’t kill the virus itself. Good old soap can do that for you.
Gather the Facts Without the Spin
The optimist in me refuses to believe that most people aren’t inherently good, but the realist knows there is fear mongering and political spin attached to a lot of the information circulating about COVID-19. The better informed you are, and the more you understand about the virus, the better equipped you are to deal with it. Gather facts from trusted, unbiased sources. Visit your city or town’s official website to find good local information and resources. Also, click here for the CDC’s Coronavirus info page.
And after you’ve done all your reading up …
Check Out for a While
Give your brain a break. Between the relentless news cycle, social media, and water-cooler talk, it’s tough to get away from COVID-19. You can’t close your eyes against the situation forever, but it’s perfectly okay to take a break. Read a book. Watch cute cat videos. Indulge in something totally ridiculous.
If you have Netflix, might I suggest Schitt’s Creek? Even if you’ve already seen every episode, I think it’s a perfect salve. It’s like Whinnie the Pooh for adults, where the biggest crisis ever is a super-windy day, and everything always comes up roses in the end.
Give yourself at least a half hour every day to indulge in something totally frivolous. Your brain will thank you.
Make a Plan
Ready to confront the issue again? Good. Take a minute to think long and hard about what you can do now to feel more secure later. I’m not suggesting buying out the grocery store, but would having a few extra boxes of pasta make you feel better? Great. Do it.
If you or someone you know/love gets sick, know how and when to report it. Keep your doctor’s number handy, and be ready to start there. Visit your city/town/state website now for specific local guidance. For instance, here in Massachusetts, we’re being asked to call ahead before going to a hospital with coronavirus symptoms. That way they’re ready to receive us while minimizing the potential of further spreading the virus.
Knowing how you’re going to respond in the event of sickness and/or quarantine goes a long way toward peace of mind.
Speaking of …
Plan a Project
If you’re asked to stay inside for fourteen days—particularly if you are not ill, or just mildly so—Netflix can only go so far. Have a light-duty project ready to help keep you sane. If things hit the fan, Brian and I are going to re-grout the kitchen floor. I’m going to work on some writing.
But it could be anything. Pull out all the jigsaw puzzles you never even opened and commit to putting them together. Decide you’re finally going to take a deep dive into German on DuoLingo. Go get a blank sketchbook and some colored pencils.
Think now about how you might keep yourself occupied for a longer stretch of time staying at home.
Focus on Things you can Control
Feeling like everything is out of your hands can be crippling. And it’s true: there is much about this pandemic we can’t control on a personal level. But there is also a lot we can do. Practice good hand hygiene. Stop touching your face. Most of us know these things already. But take it a step further.
At work and at home, fill a spray bottle with disinfectant. Take five minutes once or twice a day to spray and wipe things down—especially door handles, desks, and keyboards. Do it in your office and people will think you’re a hero. Do it at home, and you’ll have more peace of mind. Doing it at all is a simple way to take back a little control.
Without becoming alarmist, take responsibility for your personal health, and the health of those around you. Cover your cough. Stay home if you aren’t feeling well.
Whether you get sick or not, understand the societal impact of this pandemic is going to require some measure of sacrifice from each of us. Reframe that sacrifice from a personal tragedy to an opportunity to help yourself and others get through this. If that cancelled trip or event results in lives saved, don’t you think we’ll all decide it was worth it down the line, with a little distance?
Which leads me to …
Spread Joy, Not Germs
If you’re feeling uneasy, it’s easy to imagine the person sitting next to you on the bus is feeling the same way. During these wholly unprecedented times (and beyond), reject xenophobia and fear. A smile costs you nothing, but may offer everything to someone who needs it.
Do your best to laugh. Be kind. Ask others how they’re doing, physically and emotionally. Showing you genuinely care helps others feel better, and has the potential to infinitely lift your own spirits. There may well be dark days coming our way, so commit now to being part of the light.
Negativity does nothing but make a bad situation worse. So lift your head up as high as you can and encourage others to do the same. Yes, we must confront the surreal gravity of this situation, but it’s possible to do so while defying it. Float above.
Soar.
How are you dealing with the unease surrounding coronavirus? What strategies have you already employed to feel better? Share your thoughts, hopes, and fears in the comments below. Let’s talk about it and lift each other up. I’m here for you.
Thanks as always for reading (and WASH YOUR HANDS),
Gregory
