Last month, when I wrote an article about how to remain positive during difficult times, I had no idea that the world would be in the situation it is in now because of the coronavirus pandemic. Students in Marblehead Public Schools have not had school since March 12th and will not return until at least May 4th. People across the world are being told not to leave their homes unless it is absolutely essential. Grocery store shelves are empty, and there is no toilet paper to be found. Now, more than ever, is a time that we need positivity specific to social distancing.
Staying in touch with others is especially important. Meeting up in person is off the table right now, but there are still many ways to talk with friends and family. Most people have probably been on a Zoom call by now, and it is a great way to connect. Why stop at just a video call though? There is an endless list of games available to play with others on the Internet, so pick a few of those and invite a friend to your Zoom call. You can even have Zoom open on your phone and the game open on a computer so that you can play and talk at the same time. While you could just send a friend the link to a game you can play together, it is so much better to do it at the same time as a Zoom call because it provides a sense of normalcy in a very strange time. It’s not quite the same as actually being together to play a game, but it is probably the best that can be done right now.
Some semblance of a normal schedule is also helpful. If you participate in any group activities, such as sports, book clubs, or knitting groups, try to have at least somewhat regular meetings. Obviously, it will not be the same as before. You may not even do what your group would have done before the quarantine, but being able to gather and talk about what is happening right now is so important. Having virtual club meetings is just another way to distract yourself a bit from the current situation, and adding more structure to your schedule can definitely make you feel better.
As hard as it can be, try to take advantage of this time. Look into opportunities that you may not otherwise have. Many theatre groups are releasing professionally recorded plays, musicals, and operas. Scribd is offering a 30-day free trial, and most public libraries give members free access to eBooks, so now is a great time to read all those books on your “to read” list. There are also many free classes available online, so you could try to learn more about a topic that interests you. Maybe you prefer hands-on activities, which is awesome! Even if you do not have lots of supplies, there is almost certainly a craft that you can make with what you have in your house. If you like art, fear not, for many museums have online virtual tours. I personally really like Claude Monet’s paintings, so I took an online tour of the Musée d’Orsay. I really enjoyed it, and I got to see a lot of other beautiful paintings that I would not have seen if I just did an image search for Monet’s paintings.
I know that this is a really stressful time, and it can be really difficult to distract yourself. Everyone is handling this differently, and that is fine. It is okay if you keep the news on all day so you know what is going on, but it is also okay if you are not checking the news constantly to see the latest statistics. It is okay if you do not have the energy to take an online class. It is okay if you need to use this time to rest and not do your regular activities. You need to do what is best for yourself, and if this article helped you do that, I’m glad. If not, I hope you are able to find out how you can best handle this very soon. Good luck everyone, and stay safe.