“Yes, I think the world needs a reset, and we have to do our part and look on the bright side”, my friend responds to how he copes in these times.

Christian’s sunny disposition made me pensive about the reactions all around the world and more specifically, in my world. I began to think about more than just toilet paper, my unemployment application, or about food recipes that I can recreate. My first observation of this positivity is as a witness to the positive encouragement via on all social media platforms.

Today, the social climate is mired in panic and misinformation; two states of mind that gravely affect all of us. This is why I would like to describe how this moment in time can have its upsides and the ways I’ve discovered to cope with these changes.

Use Your Time Wisely

You now have too much time on your hands, as well as freedom, to do whatever you want, so choose wisely.

You can easily sit on your couch all day, eat up all your groceries, and watch Netflix until it prompts you to verify that you are still present. Over time, this kind of lifestyle is unsustainable, as it may easily invite depression, or worse. So, it is wise that, instead, you choose to utilize your newfound time to better yourself and to create.

If you are the type of person who thrives on a schedule, then make your own schedule and follow it daily. Make sure that your basic needs are met; sleep well, exercise, eat, drink water, and take all your vitamins. Once you have met all of your basic needs, ensure that your brain also gets some exercise. Should that turn into a five-hour puzzle or into paintbrush strokes until midnight, either way, it will do the trick so long as you are interested.

This time can be beneficial if you focus on your primal needs and satisfy your complex brain.

Listen to Your Body and Mind

Scott Kelley, a retired NASA astronaut, wrote an article for the NY Times with tips on how to cope with isolation: “Take it from someone who couldn’t, ‘Go outside’.”

I know that you may feel afraid to go outside and contract the virus, but a few steps in fresh air may be one of the healthiest things you can do for your body and mind. We cannot forget that the body needs vitamin D, so sit on your porch and read a book, if that is as far as you are willing to go. If you typically run, however, then go for it! Pop in your headphones and free your mind for thirty minutes. Take your dog on a walk. Go for a hike and socially distance yourself from other hikers.

Do not deprive your body and mind of nature, “I actually started to crave nature — the color green, the smell of fresh dirt, and the feel of warm sun on my face,” Kelley reminisced about his time in isolation.

Create Art and Find Hobbies

There is no time like the present to start on or finish up those projects you have been writing into your long-term goals.

Work used to get in your way and when you stepped one foot back into your home after a long day’s work, you could postpone your hobbies and crafts with valid tiredness. However, what’s your excuse today? You may be thinking that a hobby or your creation will deplete the resources you are fighting to conserve, but this is a perfect time to be resourceful and innovative. Pablo Picasso’s blue era began in 1901 and at just 19 years old, he was unstable and lived a life of poverty, but his art, however, was inspired by the emotional turmoil he endured and limited to blue shades for lack of money. Nonetheless, Pablo Picasso’s blue era is filled with brilliance.

The point here is that you should try to express and relieve yourself of the emotions that do not serve you in this time in order to shapeshift them into great art or as an impetus to try out and discover new hobbies.

Reach Out

You may live alone or feel worried about your friends who do live alone.

This is the time to reach out to your loved ones and community. I feel more than lucky to be a part of my social circle, as they have all posted incredibly uplifting content lately. One of my friends, Hannah, volunteered to send anyone who email’s her copies of crossword puzzles as she has a subscription to NY Times. I also see people posting free yoga videos, dance classes, and book recommendations. Another Instagram friend posted a photo in which she announced that if enough people reached out to her, she would give her boyfriend a full make-over; it was selflessly entertaining! Food photos, video recipes, and all food-related content are now more than acceptable; post on.

This is not the time to retract into a shell and fade away. This is the time to inspire positivity in others.

My Top Picks and Tricks

Words are meaningless if they are not based in some truth and some of you may skim through this article and declare BS, but my life has been filled with a series of unfortunate events, and I may have recently discovered that I am a crisis specialist. (self-proclaimed thus far)

So here is what I’ve been up to and how I am able to keep “sane.”

I love to run and I didn’t want to give that up, so every other day, I run for fifteen minutes, I touch nothing, and run a safe distance from any pedestrians encountered. I light incense, put on the Dj Drez pandora station, and do yoga in my living room. I also have a three-minute meditation ritual that I do whenever I need to calm my nerves, which I also find on youtube; I am cheap.

I recently lost my job as a server in the restaurant industry, but I still give myself work every day; inclusive of this article.

Every day, I try to wake up with a positive attitude, and even when it’s hard to get out of bed, I force myself to make the bed and wash the dishes. I then move on to make coffee; a task I highly enjoy, and I finish off the day with a glass of wine or three.

I spend most of the day locked away writing, but I also go outside and take in the fresh air. I’ve taken up photography and various memory cards are now filled with the waves my COVID-19 partner rides. We watch good films and listen to music that we can both agree on.

Below is a list of my favorite films and artists in no specific order:

Maggie Rogers
Sing Street
Short Term 12
Haim
Vampire Weekend
Moonrise Kingdom
Anderson Paak
The Cure
Nacho Libre
That Awkward Moment
Tracy Chapman
High Fidelity
The Shins
Declan Mckenna
Star Wars

I believe good music and films make everything better.

The Take-Away

I know that these are terribly tough times and I do not intend to discredit or dismiss how hard these times are for individuals who may not have the option or the opportunity to practice this form of self-care.

My hope for this article is that you were entertained and could possibly gather some ideas to occupy your time in isolation. Please know that you are not alone in this struggle. For those who are able, this is the time to recharge your batteries, create art, and do your part to stay positive.

Stay home, social distance, and be well!

How the COVID-19 Pandemic is Giving Artists a Much Needed Reset