If the same analogy is to apply to the situation that the world finds itself in, what’s the next step?
COVID-19 has affected everyday lives of people around the world. We are all drowning in the news coming from all directions. We are drowning in depressing news of people dying, doctors having to make choices on who to prioritize caring for, people being skeptical of the world ever being able to recover from the aftermath.
Certainly not a nice place to be for anyone.
But there’s good news.
Whether we drown or not is totally up to us. Regardless of where we are, and what we like, there is something that this pandemic-enforced confinement can do for us.
Here are 5 things that we can do to fight this battle against this pandemic.
Let’s start with a no brainer….
1 – Stay home
Regardless of how much faith you have in your immunity or your ultra-pristine neighborhood, this is something that you need to do; for yourself, your family and your community. This brings you guilt-free sleep and the satisfaction that you did your part to reduce the length of this battle.
2 – Stay sane
With the abundance of negativity all around, it’s perfectly normal to feel low, every once in a while. All we have to do is to make sure that we keep it limited to just that – once in a while.
There are things we all like, things that make us happy, things that make us laugh, and this is the time those things are going to be our best friends. Finding time to listen to the music that we really love, watch movies that make us pee our pants, and hold our little kid for just one extra minute.
Love and humor will sustain us through this.
3 – Stay fit
With this sudden remote work arrangement this Pandemic has brought us, every routine that we had went straight out of the window. Fitness, unfortunately, being one of them.
We all have heard the old adage – Sound mind lives in a sound body.Exercises do more than just keep our bodies healthy- they keep our mind healthy too. There is plenty of research that supports that.
It boosts the production of serotonin- the happiness hormone. So, in addition to ensuring that you get your little spurt of happiness, you are also ensuring to show off a slim you at the end of it all.
4 – Stay helpful
You might know Edward de Bono for his powerful technique: Six Thinking Hats. Another equally important thought of his, albeit lesser known is H+ (plus). In his book, he provides a thought-framework for achievement in life through daily acts of help and contribution.
It has been scientifically proven that people feel good about themselves when they help someone in need. Volunteers have lesser aches; kind people live longer and happier lives.
Come to think of it, helping others does make us happy!
This will not come as a surprise when you reflect on your own life: making a child giggle, helping a colleague solve that one problem they were stuck at for weeks, consoling a spouse when they feel bogged down, all of these things make us happy, don’t they?
Luckily, our willingness to help people is still under our control, despite in these challenging times.
5 – Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.
Having a clear goal keeps us on our toes.
I’m sure you can remember that one time when you were so immersed in your work that you didn’t care if you ate or slept.
Having a clear target in front of our eyes keeps us focused and driven. And if that target is related to our passion (or something that we absolutely love doing, like a hobby, vocation), then it’s like hitting the jackpot! Not only it motivates us, but it also fills us with immeasurable positivity.
A clear vision has a number of advantages: we are less likely to be distracted, we are more engaged, we live in the moment and we enjoy it!
Having a vision in life does not just make our life better in the future but it also makes the journey worthwhile.
“You Don’t Drown by Falling in Water; You Drown by Staying There”
We are in the water now. Yes?
We better not stay there long enough to drown.
Friends of Words 