Making the Most of Social Distancing
Seemingly overnight, the term “social distancing” became one of the most commonly used phrases around the world. It’s ubiquitous, and will forever be a reminder of the Corona virus and the resulting pandemic of 2020.Social distancing hits everyone a little differently, but we all feel the impact. Limited interaction with family, friends, and co-workers over a period of time can be draining and depressing. However, staying focused and productive can help ease negative feelings, as well as bring us out better on the other side. Below are some suggestions to fruitfully get through this period:Take an on-line course – for free: Several major universities and institutes are offering on-line courses at no charge. Yale University is offering a class on happiness, Hillsdale College offers on-going options focusing on the constitution, and the C.S. Lewis Institute offers instruction on Christianity and the Bible. A quick Internet search will provide other options to broaden your horizons.
Catch up on your reading: Bookstores aren’t open, but amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com will be happy to ship to you. Choose a book that is interesting to your family and read and discuss it together.
Set a task for each day: All of us have junk drawers that need to be cleared out, closets that need to be sorted and organized, and windows that need to be washed. Write the tasks you want to accomplish on pieces of paper and put them in a jar. Pull out one each day and accomplish that chore. By the end of social distancing, your house will be clean and organized, and you’ll have plenty of time for socializing.
Keep a journal: Social distancing is stressful. Writing about your feelings during this time can help relieve stress and anxiety as well as provide a record of this historic time. You can track how your feelings evolve and also document what your town, our country, and the world experienced.
Remember to take some time each day to do something that you enjoy, and keep in touch with the family and friends you can’t see at this time. Hopefully when we get back to socializing instead of social distancing, you’ll be better off for it.