With the recent outbreak of the coronavirus and the growth of people affected, it seems our lives have been turned upside down in just a matter of weeks. We are currently living in a world full of confusion, fear and uncertainty. Schools are being moved into the virtual world, grocery stores are experiencing shortages and events everywhere are being canceled as people are being advised to stay away from each other.
Through all of this madness, it might be difficult to know when our lives will go back to “normal,” but until then, everyday life must go on.
Here are the steps I am taking and the ways I am coping during this quarantine season:
1. Sleeping
I know it may seem unmonumental, but with all of this extra time away from school, I think it gives me and many other students an opportunity to invest in some extra Z’s. Getting more sleep is also a way to help strengthen your immune system, which will help to keep you healthy during this critical time.
2. Washing my hands and using hand sanitizer
I have always been good about washing my hands, especially right when I get home, but now it seems that hand-washing procedures have gone on steroids. Nevertheless, I am washing my hands a lot more, especially at my work in the fast-food industry where I am touching many more things that could carry contaminants. My workplace has also installed many more hand sanitizer dispensers, so I have been sanitizing my hands a lot more, especially after handling money.
3. Drinking green tea with honey
Green tea with honey has always been one of my staple drinks and what I attribute to rarely getting sick. Drinking it now is not much of a change from my everyday routine, but I now have an extra incentive to drink and stand by it. With its combo of antioxidants and its soothing qualities, it will always be one of my secret weapons against illness.
4. Looking at “apocalypse” memes
I think one of the best ways to deal with a serious event is to use some degree of humor. From the infamous toilet paper shortage to literally anything related to being in quarantine, the Internet has an abundant supply of material to turn into a meme. For me, looking at these helps to lighten the mood, and whenever I find a juicy one, I am sure to share it with that special someone to spread the chill vibes.
5. Not panicking
It is easy to go into panic mode when it seems that everything is getting worse with more cases of the coronavirus on the rise, but the illness is as scary as you make it. If you understand the facts and take precautionary measures to help protect yourself, there is no reason to panic. We may need to make temporary changes to our lives in order to cope with the current situation, but being overtaken by fear will not help anything. It is better to be prepared than scared.
These are the five ways I am coping during the unforeseen length of this quarantine period. Many of you may have devised your own plan-of-action during the past few weeks, but I thought I would share my personal strategies to combat this potential illness.
I hope everyone stays safe and healthy.