We are currently living in a crazy time. Our classes are online, our jobs have been shut down, many plans have been cancelled, and we are told (very strictly) not to leave our house unless we are on essential business. This means that most of us are stuck at home, either alone or with family, with little to do other than switch back and forth between social media platforms and do a homework assignment every now and then. It’s important that we stay home during this time, but we are all bored, and I know that most people are restless and frustrated with the situation.
Fortunately, staying home is not the only thing that we are able to do to slow the progress of this pandemic that has taken over our daily lives. While we are patiently waiting at home, healthcare professionals from around the world are working overtime to help as many people as possible and do everything that they can to ensure our safety. However, they are running low on motivation and supplies—and that’s where we come in.
The first thing that you can do to help out during this time is donate blood. Blood donations have dropped drastically since social isolation has been put in place, but the number of people that rely on these donations has remained the same. If you are healthy, you can book an appointment to donate blood. This will help to ensure that surgeries, transfusions, and other medical processes will not face a shortage in the coming months.
Another activity that will help our medical staff is to make and donate face masks. Our country is facing a devastating shortage, but our doctors and nurses need these masks in order to ensure the safety of themselves and their families. This is a simple project that does not take very much time or materials. Online, you can find tutorials to make a variety of facemasks—some of which do not even require sewing. Once you have made your own DIY masks, you can look online to explore options on where you can send your donations.
Next, you can support people that are at risk. If you know somebody that more susceptible to the virus, do what you can to help them out, even if it seems like something small. For example, you can offer to go grocery shopping so that they can practice social isolation. This way, they won’t have to leave the house to make sure that they can put food on the table. Checking in on them is a good way to help them feel supported and loved given the current circumstances.
Overall, one of the most important things that you can do during this time is to remain positive. The world is chaotic; a lot of people are losing loved ones, and social isolation is diminishing our mental health. However, love, kindness, and positivity are also contagious. Make sure to reach out to your friends and loved ones to let them know how much they mean to you. Be kind to the people around you. Spread positivity and joy wherever you can, because we all need a little bit more of it in our lives right now. Overall, don’t forget that we are all facing this together, and if we can keep pushing back, it will soon be nothing but a bad memory.