With the current situation on soaring COVID-19 cases, state and federally mandated regulation and guidelines, and transitioning to online instruction, it can be so overwhelming and difficult. I’ve been home all day for days now and it’s not easy, especially with the social distancing guidelines. However, as a public health student and an informed citizen, I do believe these guidelines are necessary and in our best interest. I wanted to dedicate this post to suggesting a few ideas or ways to keep us distracted (and informed) and entertained through this unfortunate crisis.
To begin with, I wanted to clarify what social distancing is and why we are doing it. Social distancing is a method to contain and prevent the spread of an infectious disease (like Coronavirus) by limiting contact and interaction in large gatherings and crowded public spaces. Obviously, you are still allowed to go out to get food or medical care, but other non-essential places should be avoided. It is also recommended to stay at least 6ft away from one another. Social distancing helps to limit the number of cases every day by slowing the process of transmission and keeping people safe. Slowing down the spread of the disease also buys time for medical and health professionals to research and work on a cure.
Now, I would like to provide you with some ways to fight the boredom while we wait.
1. Catch up on some sleep! Waking up for an 8:15 class is never fun. Use this time to get plenty of rest and sleep in more often. Having said that, don’t slack on coursework and assignments. I have taken online classes and I can tell you that it’s easy to forget about the due date. So, use an agenda or planner and keep up with all assignments.
2. Watch (or rewatch) movies or shows! If you have Netflix or Amazon prime, catch up on some new movies and shows. I’ve been planning to rewatch all the Harry Potter movies (always and forever!). Some of my other favorites include Haunting of Hill House, Once Upon A Time, Arrested Development, and Money Heist (a Spanish show). Happy Watching!
3. Play games! If you are with family or friends, try playing card games like go-fish, joker, war, and Uno, or board games like Monopoly, Scrabble, or Sorry. You could also try some computer or video games to keep yourselves amused and connected with friends.
4. Learn something new! Find something to channel your inner creativity. Try learning and cooking a new recipe or baking. You may discover a hidden talent! Try paper crafting like using construction paper to practice origami skills. Origami is a kind of paper-folding to make different things and objects like animals or flowers.
5. Organize and Renovate your room! Use your free time to make some changes and renovations to your room. Fix your closet and maybe find gently used clothing or shoes to donate to those in need. I’ve always found that whenever my room is cleaner and physically appealing, I tend to be in a better and cheery mood.
6. Read a book! Whether you’ve been waiting to finish or start a book, or you just want to kill time, reading can help. Reading helps me practice my comprehension skills and add to my vocabulary list. It’s also a great way to keep yourself occupied and busy yet also entertained.
7. Stay connected via the Internet. Comcast has announced free Wi-Fi and internet for 60 days to low-income families to help them stay connected with the rest of the world. Check up on your friends and family via video chats or text messages and take care of each other. We need to share kindness and love now more than ever!
I hope this blog was informative and helpful. It is still important to keep up with the news regarding the outbreak and practice recommended guidelines to ensure the safety and health of everyone. Cabrini posts updated information on the outbreak as well as implementation of new policies regularly on the COVID-19 Tool Kit section of the website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention along with the PA Department of Health are excellent resources to find adequate and reliable information in a timely manner.