10 tips for surviving coronavirus (that don’t involve washing your hands)

We are in unprecedented times with many challenges ahead, so I thought I would share some tips for getting through this week and beyond:

1. Focus your energy on what is in your control (your family, health, life, work, relationships, money, etc.), and try not to worry so much about what’s not in your control (government decisions, spring breakers, etc.).
2. Practice gratitude.  Focus on gratitude for the things you have instead of complaining about the things you don’t have. A regular gratitude practice can be very healthy and helps counteract negative emotions. Take out a notebook and write down the things you are grateful for.  Tell the people you appreciate how much you value them.
3. Avoid negative people and things.  If you have people in your feed posting negative crap, just hit “hide” and avoid them and try surrounding yourself with positive people instead.
4. Avoid cable news, hysteria, and rumors. I don’t watch cable news. And I can’t tell you how many people have sent me a text rumor saying they have it on “authority” from a “reliable source” that the government is mobilizing the national guard to put us all under house arrest. Until I see this in the New York Times (to me the most reliable news source), I will not believe it.
5. Meditate. There is plenty of science available that shows meditation can help with stress and anxiety. I meditate at least 10 minutes per day, every day. Now that you don’t have a daily commute, perhaps you have time for even more :-).
6. Read, learn, and feed your mind. Instead of spending endless hours reading about coronavirus and watching the news (none of this will help you), try spending some time each day reading a book or learning something new. I guarantee that will be more beneficial in the long run.
7. Get some exercise. Yes, the gyms are closed, but we are lucky we live in a world where there are plenty of apps, YouTube channels, and trainers doing workouts on Zoom and FB live. And even without technology, you can take a walk, or do some yoga or pushups at home
8. Get outside for a walk. Getting outside for fresh air can be really healthy and rejuvenating, regardless of the weather. Unless or until we are told not to, I recommend taking a walk outside (while staying socially distant from others, of course).
9. Talk to people. We may not be able to go to work or the gym or meet up with people physically, but we can call friends and family on the phone, have video chats on Zoom, send texts and emails, and still engage and be social. I have also been talking with my neighbors and people in the park every day while staying 6 feet apart.
10. Don’t give up! We will get through this. People have faced much tougher challenges (can you imagine living in Paris when the Nazis marched on the city and took it over in 1940?) and survived. As with all other challenges in society, this too shall pass. Nobody knows how long it will take or what the effects will be, but we will get through this and get back to normal at some point, so try to make the best of it and plan for the future.