5 Ways to Keep Social Distancing from Bringing You Down
“Thought is an infection. In the case of certain thoughts, it becomes an epidemic.” -Wallace Stevens
For many of us, coronavirus started off as somewhat of a joke. I admit my friends and I downplayed its severity for the first few days, but I think that’s just mankind’s way of coping in hard times. If it can be laughed at, then it’s not that serious, right?
Wrong.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve felt the disastrous effects of a deadly virus taking over our businesses, our wallets, and even our social lives. I wish we could just pinch ourselves and wake up from this postmodern nightmare, but for now at least, it looks like we need to adapt and learn from our mistakes.
My immediate reaction following the initial news of the coronavirus outbreak was disbelief. I wanted so badly to pretend that everything was fine and ignore the warning signs of an impending pandemic.
Over the course of a week, though, I saw more and more news of the spread of the coronavirus and started seeing dramatic changes in my surroundings. Face-masks and gloves have become part of everyday attire, empty shelves and long lines keep popping up, and unemployment keeps rising, even after it’s reached an all-time high of 3.28 million.
Times are tough, heads hang low, and the future seems grim…
Which is exactly why we need to find ways to keep ourselves from falling into our own individual pits of despair. In times of crisis, it’s essential that we look for ways to motivate each other and keep ourselves from sinking.
Mental illness is no joke, and neither is social distancing. Google’s “Do the Five” campaign is important, there’s no doubt about that, but staying physically healthy is only half the battle. We need to do more than just sanitize and self-isolate to maintain our sanity. That’s why I’d like to suggest a few ways for you to make social distancing more productive, more enjoyable, and more satisfying.
1) Re-connect with your family and friends
Now that you have more time on your hands, why not use it to make the most of the precious moments you spend with the people you love? Taking a few minutes out of your day to go out for a walk with your family can be a great way to spark up conversation.
It’s perhaps the best time to do things that you didn’t have time to do before. If you’re anything like me, you might feel guilty about not Skyping your grandparents, aunts, or uncles enough. Normally, I’d advise you visit them if you have time, but right now, it’s better to do it at a distance and keep them safe.
As the child of two incredibly generous parents, I have learned how powerful even the smallest gifts and donations can be. In times like these, it’s crucial that we support each other and lift each other up. If you have the resources, send out a care package to your loved ones full of items they might need or want.
For my international friends with family in other parts of the world, I’m sure you’re well-aware of how much other countries are struggling with the current situation. With the value of the dollar so high right now, it’s a lot more feasible for those who live in the U.S. to send clothes and other necessities to relatives who need help.
Another option is to donate protective gear you may have bought in excess out of fear to help your country fight off infection and save lives. The New York Times provides some excellent examples of places to which you can donate supplies.
2) Foster and grow new relationships
A few weeks ago, you might’ve gone out to your favorite restaurant with your friends or colleagues to unwind and relax during the weekend. Instead, you could try ordering takeout and FaceTiming them from the comfort of your living room.
Previously, you might have gone downtown to watch your favorite artist perform live. Fortunately for a lot of us, more and more artists are joining the trend of performing live concerts on Instagram and Facebook for their fans. Take a seat, pop some headphones on, and let the music transport you to another dimension.
Friends and coworkers are cool and all, but some of us might be looking for more than a friend. While your first instinct may be to put your dating life on hold until this crisis dies down, I say now is probably the best time to let sparks fly.
After all, with several employees working remotely and more time to have a real conversation, there’s more incentive to re-visit dating apps or say hello to that cute guy or girl you never had the courage to talk to before.
The best part is that you’ll immediately know if there’s a lack of interest on either side of the conversation. In a quarantine, if they don’t respond within a couple hours, chances are they’re not interested; or, if you’re hopeful, chances are they’re reading this article and going through my list of suggestions.
Regardless, keep your chin up. Failures make you stronger and better-equipped for the next time, as I mention in my article on craving rejection.
3) Develop new skills
Over the past year, I’ve learned how invigorating it can be to learn how to code and put your mind to work at full speed. It could be because I binge-watched every season of Mr. Robot, but I’ve developed a strong passion for coding in the past few months.
My ability to problem-solve has improved and I am more resilient to bursts of failure along the way. I don’t know if I can go as far as to say that I see the world differently now, but I can say that coding has made me more confident in my abilities.
This is just one example of the plethora of skills you could work on developing in the coming months, quarantine or not. The important part is that you keep your mind occupied with conquerable challenges, instead of staying focused on all the global challenges you can’t solve no matter how hard you try.
4) Re-ignite passions
Music has been one of the passions in my life that has kept me motivated, even in my darkest days. Admittedly, I’ve never been outrageously gifted in playing instruments, but I’m not one to quit and playing music takes me to another world with less problems, less worries, and more happiness.
The piano has served as my spiritual salvation for years and I would gladly recommend that you look back and search for any forgotten passions you may have left behind as you grew up.
Your tool of choice could be a paintbrush, a pencil, a guitar, a keyboard, or even a hammer.
Anything that can help you gain momentum and inspire you to pick yourself up and dust yourself off is beneficial to your well-being.
You don’t have to move mountains or worry about filling stadiums with your creations. Rather, just focus on activities that keep your heart whole, your mind sharp, and your spirits high.
I can’t emphasize enough how vital it is to keep practicing and stop kicking yourself down every time you play a wrong note or brush the wrong way or write something that doesn’t gain a whole lot of traction. Punishing yourself won’t make you better. Practicing will.
This is a lesson I had to learn the hard way.
5) Re-vitalize your bones and muscles
While it’s worth exploring other activities, frankly, there’s nothing in my life that has made me feel the same way exercise does.
I know, I know. It’s on every article, webpage, and magazine cover out there:
“Working out will make you ripped and take away all your other worries. It’ll allow you to conquer every obstacle and help you find your dream partner. Exercise holds the key to eternal life and happiness.”
I’m sorry to break it to you, but it doesn’t quite work that way. Even though it may make you more physically attractive over time and help improve your quality of life, it’s not a miracle-worker.
You’ll still have most of the same obstacles as before, but the difference is that you’ll be more capable of overcoming them. Balance is essential because you don’t want to overdo it and cause tears, lesions, or injuries. The best advice I can recommend is for you to take it slow and don’t obsess on looking like the model of a magazine cover.
Do it as often as you can without hurting yourself. The goal is to make yourself faster and stronger than you were before you started. Use it as a means of enhancing your discipline and resiliency.
Increased stamina will make everyday tasks like walking the dog and bringing in groceries easier. Not to mention the added benefit of increasing your performance in the bedroom.
Improved strength will help you lift boxes and move around furniture with less effort. You’ll be able to give more piggyback rides to your loved ones (or strangers, if you’re into that) in the future.
Once again, don’t be too hard on yourself when you don’t meet your expectations. It’s normal to stumble and it’s alright if you’re scared of falling, but don’t let that fear keep you from continuing to fall until you get it right.
When you manage to complete all these steps and are practically a master at each one, I recommend you start over and do it all again. These are methods that will not only get you through this pandemic but make you a more well-rounded individual and make you more fulfilled.
Remember, the stronger you are for those around you, the better off everyone will be.
This is about more than just putting on a brave face and pretending everything’s fine. You need to get yourself to the point where you know you’re going to make it through this. Once you’re at that point, then, and only then, can you lift up those around you.
If you’re experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or believe you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus, contact a doctor or urgent care hotline, but do not show up unannounced at an emergency room or health care facility.
COVID-19 Hotline in Georgia: (844) 442–2681
If you or a loved one suffer from depression or suicidal thoughts and need help, visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or call 1–800–273–8255
