Right now, Going Outside is one of the Few Things we Have Left
Why going on walks is one of the best ways to cope with COVID-19 isolation
If you’re reading this post in March of 2020, you don’t need a reminder of what’s going on in the world right now. You don’t need me to list the number of businesses that have closed their doors, state governments that have ordered people to stay where they are, or the people who have tested positive for COVID-19. It’s a weird time to be alive, one that’s truly unique in recent memory.
I also want to acknowledge, right at the top, that I’m not going to write about many of the terrible consequences of the novel coronavirus. I know there are thousands dead, hundreds of thousands more infected, and untold millions who can’t work or go to school right now. I know people are hurting across the world and across this country, and I recognize that what I’m about to say pales in comparison to what many are going through.
But I want to take a moment to write a few words about the social disruption that so many of us are living through right now. It’s not the most important thing in the world, but it still matters. Specifically, I want to think about how — in the face of everything that’s going on right now — going outside to spend time in nature is one of the few activities that’s still left (mostly) unaffected.
Walking at a park, hiking in the mountains, or maybe even something as simple as driving to an outdoor location are the few activities we can still do right now.
Currently, my social feeds are filled with people sharing their experiences of working at home and/or taking care of their kids. My life has changed too — I’m currently in our apartment all the time (as is my wife), still working and taking care of my infant son. It’s a significant change from my daily routine before the wave of closures hit, and I’m one of the fortunate people who still has a stream of income right now.
As far as social activities, go, it’s almost impossible to sum up how much different from usual everything looks. Restaurants and events are closed or canceled for the time being, closing off many people’s recreational outlets. I stay at home more than most people do, so for me much of the change comes from the suspension of all major sporting events. Like many others, I miss watching college basketball and major league baseball pretty sharply.
I know for many other people, staying home is much more difficult than it is for me. I’m blessed that my son is still under a year old — he’s more than happy to be inside all of the time and hasn’t been any more antsy than usual recently. In fact, if he could even consciously notice this change, he’d be thrilled that my wife and I are always around right now. If he were any older, we’d have to explain to him why it’s not safe to go to a playground right now, or why some other activity he usually loves is currently off-limits.
This is my long, rambling way of getting to the one activity my family can still enjoy — getting outside and going on walks. Over the last week or so (which has felt like much, much longer than that) my wife and I have gone on walks pretty much every day. We’re careful about it: we stay as far away from others as we can, so it’s still a pretty safe activity. It’s also deeply valuable from a mental health perspective. Staying in a relatively small apartment for days on end is pretty tough.
So right now, I’m really thankful that getting into the car and driving to a park is one of the few things we can still do. I’m thankful that it’s one of the few things that’s still safe. Even in California, where Governor Gavin Newsom ordered everyone to stay home, going outside to isolated areas is still acceptable. In an article published by the /Los Angeles Times,/ Newsom said, “You can still take your kids outside, practicing common sense and social distancing. You can still walk your dog.”
Exercise is one of the best ways to cope with difficult life conditions. It refreshes the body and mind, providing a few valuable minutes of escape. That’s certainly possible in an apartment, but I find physically moving around in space is much more enjoyable than doing jumping jacks or pushups in front of my tv. Atlanta in the spring is genuinely one of the most beautiful places in the world. I’m glad I can still experience some of it with my wife and son.
Going on a walk also provides for some small glimpse of community interactions as well. Obviously, practicing safe social distancing doesn’t allow for prolonged conversations with strangers, and I do everything I can to stay away from others on the trails we go on. But a simple greeting, or a friendly nod, does a lot to remind us that everyone around us is going through the same things we are. We’re not alone, even if we have to stay physically far away from each other.
Of course, going out into nature isn’t a panacea for cabin fever. At the end of our walks, we still need to return home for a long stretch of indoor time inside our apartment. This is a time when people around the country are collectively getting on each others’ nerves, and remembering to be kind and gracious with each other is much more important than getting enough exercise. It’s also important to pray — for those in our immediate vicinity and those around the world.
There’s no baseball, there’s no basketball, churches are closing their doors, and schools are canceled. There are reminders all around us of what is happening and what our country, our states, and our individual communities are all going through. It’s a really tough time for many people, even those of us who are mercifully untouched by the sickness itself.
Going outside, choosing to isolate in nature, is one of the few things we have left. And it’s a pretty good one. Little activities like this are incredibly important, maybe now more than ever.
The views expressed are mine alone and do not represent the views of my employer or any other person or organization.
