COVID-19: Staying Sane

As a result of the COVID-19 crisis and the inevitable Metro Manila lockdown, I am currently stranded here in UP campus and social isolation just hit a toll on many aspects. I fear about going outside. I feel guilty unable to accomplish something in a day. I worry this situation might get worse.

Photo Credit: Shradha Hegde

It is really depressing but we do not have other way to handle this situation than to handle it lighter way, do we? As someone stuck in the middle of this apparent nowhere, I have been keeping my sanity by dealing this social isolation in my own ways. I suggest you these too:

1. FILTER UNNECCESARY INFORMATION. It pays to always keep ourselves informed about the current situation but we should also filter the information that come into our minds. The crisis itself is really miserable enough but political dramas and feuds just increase our miseries. Others propagate misleading news that lead to social anxiety. Cut your self some slack off.

2. HARNESS PHYSICAL ENERGY. Why not sweat this plenty of time out? It is time to revisit wardrobes, arrange furnitures to a new look, sort items in the cabinets, make the necessary repairs or clean the entire house! 

3. ENGAGE IN RELAXING ACTIVITIES. Maybe it is time to watch that movie that we have always wanted when we were always busy, read good books, write short poems, play musical instruments or listen to favorite songs. Get your hair down from time to time. 

4. GO GREEN, GREEN, GREEN. The past days have seen a clearer sky because of minimal pollution. Why not make Mother Earth happier? Whether we are in the rural space or urban jungle, we can plant vegetables. Make your environment also more vibrant by arranging your ornamental plants around.

5. LEARN SOMETHING NEW. There is always something new to learn without going out. Given the limitations of the current situation, we can learn a new alternative to cook our favorite recipe, a new free course online or anything that interests us most! 

6. RECONNECT WITH ONLINE CIRCLES. We may have not visited our favorite online pages, groups and communities whether they are personal or professional. Many things must have happened in the past few months or years. Well, this is the best time to reconnect with them!  

7. ASSESS HEALTH HABITS. Take this opportunity to assess our health habits with our family. Does every one get reminded, with or without a virus crisis, how to wash hands properly? Does the entire family have access, for example, to medicine in the house?

8. BOND WITH FAMILY. Make use of this time to bond with family in simple ways. Engage them in doing our chores, our hobbies, our conversations. 

9. PRAY TO GOD. We are battling against an unseen enemy and we have the most powerful weapon: prayer. Despite the misery this global crisis has caused the humanity, we firmly believe that heavens must have a greater purpose for all of this. We are not alone. Keep our faith strong.

I wish everyone, especially our frontliners who are risking limbs out there, to keep safe. Humanity will make it. We will make it. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻