Life as We Now Know It: Living in COVID-19 Reality

Unless your name is Jared Leto (apologies Jared), the world we used to know is no longer the normal world due to Coronavirus or COVID-19. It’s no news there is a pandemic going on. A pandemic that has no cure, with a shortage of testing and an overwhelmed healthcare system. It is also a spreading wildfire on steroid; fueled by the idiocy of people who cannot follow simple instructions. What about the ineptitude of some leaders around the world (cue them here yourself)? Besides, let’s not get started on the arrogance and foolishness of religious leaders (what’s up Nigeria?). The only known or might I say assumed solution to the spread, is a #StayatHome order. However, people now want to socialize. Whatever happened to canceled plans just to stay on the couch? Or being on your phone all day? You’re used to being out with friends while buried in your phone the entire time. Well, in case you do not understand, no one is asking anything different from you; please keep up the energy but this time at home. Don’t you love virtual living! Now is the time to live it to the fullest – stay on your couch and take a two-week vacation into virtual living.

Please excuse my silliness, I know it’s not the same, but we all must stay at home to keep others safe. Life as we know it is a stay at home life. I am furious at the people who are not taking this seriously. Anyone has seen Italy? People are dying alone; alone without their loved ones since they are in quarantine (some gravely sick at home too). Italy will be our reality soon if you don’t sit your behinds at home.

Now that my rant is done. Besides having a plan, below is how I have been coping and hopefully, you find it helpful. And if you don’t find it helpful, at least you’ll know perhaps five things not to do, which is still helpful.

1. Maintain your normal routine: I know you can’t leave your home. But what about waking up and going to bed the same time you used to? I decided to keep my wake up at 4 am and go to bed at 9 pm routine. Have I been productive as before in the morning these past days? No. But I will keep at it. You might want to wake up as you do in normal life and dress up for work (in your pajamas or house robe perhaps), make breakfast and get to work.
2. Work on your house: When was the last time you thoroughly cleaned your home? You might expend some of your energy by cleaning. Also, maybe it’s time to do that remodeling. Thanks to the heroes in the service industry, you can order supplies online.
3. Learn Something: You could work on learning that skill you have always wanted to learn. DOULINGO is free; how about learning a new language? I am sharpening my SCRABBLE game skills by playing with others online.
4. Get Creative: Think of a new recipe you could make or that ingredient in your kitchen, who knows what you might come up with.
5. READ: If you don’t have books, you can sign up for Amazon Kindle (the first month is usually free) trial, order a book and read and when your trial expires, you can try audible for free too. Besides, JSTOR is free now.
6. Pray: If you live alone, this might be a great time to pray; you know, talking aloud to someone.
7. Exercise: With the gym closed, all is not lost. There are tons of videos on YouTube to aid home exercise. And if you don’t have internet (which means you are not even reading this), just run around your house. But please, can you not do it like my neighbors upstairs? They’re trudging giants already.

I hope you continue to stay healthy and physically distant during this period. By the way, welcome to my website/blog.

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