How is everyone feeling out there right now? It's been a long eight months or so dealing with the pandemic. I don't know what it's like in your part of the world, but here in Canada, cases are on the rise again and some areas have been thrown back into earlier stages of restrictions. The long dark days of winter are coming, and I think everyone is pretty much in full-out COVID fatigue. I know I am.
And it's not about wearing masks, because I'm happy to wear one — it's the least I can do to help keep myself and others safe. While the physical toll of this pandemic is real, especially for those who get sick and those working on the front lines, it's the mental toll that scares me.
I worry about those small business owners who are just hanging on, especially the restaurants facing further restrictions. I've been a small retail business owner and it's a hard gig on a good day, let alone in the middle of a pandemic. So if that's you, my heart is with you, it truly is.
My heart goes out to everyone right now. I think we're all suffering in some way or another. I haven't seen my three brothers and their families since last Christmas. My niece had her second child and I've yet to be able to hold him and snuggle him. Some of us are better at coping — or maybe just better at hiding it — but I know we're all suffering in our own unique ways.
So what do we do? How can we manage this second wave and beat back the pandemic fatigue? I have a few tips. As someone who lives alone and therefore spends an inordinate amount of time conversing with herself, I've had to be very creative to find ways to keep my spirits up.
Here are my tips:
1. Go make yourself a gigantic bowl of popcorn. Popcorn, especially if it's air popped, is a very healthy snack. Now add a shit tonne of butter. Just do it. You know you want to, and we're in a pandemic, so cut yourself some slack and just add the butter.
2. Take a break from the computer or phone as you eat said bowl of buttery popcorn — otherwise your keyboard or screen will be a gross, greasy mess. I'll wait. (I actually practised this tip as I was writing this post. It took me almost fifty minutes to eat my bowl, and that was with non-stop chewing. Like I said, make your bowl gigantic.)
3. Light some candles. There is just something so soothing about candles, and it's one of the reasons I don't actually mind when the days get shorter and darkness comes a little early. Candles will get me through this pandemic. That little flame is alive and glowing, and on those nights when maybe I'm feeling a little down, they help me feel less lonely.
4. Hot baths with lots of bubbles, a cup of Epsom salts, and of course candles. A good soak in the tub is the most soothing, soul-cleansing experience, especially if the water is so hot it turns your ass bright pink. Let those Epsom salts soak deep into your skin, close your eyes, and clear your mind. Just be careful of passing wind when you're fully soaking and relaxed. Depending on what's trying to escape, the vibration against the porcelain can scare the bejesus out of you — not saying I've experienced this myself, but just putting it out there as a sort of public service announcement.
5. Dance. Self-explanatory. Do it often. Do it wherever and whenever you can. I was out for a walk the other night and since it was dark, I didn't think anyone could really see me. They could. And I got a huge honk and a holler out the car window as I was giving it to the beat pounding from my old school headphones. I did not care. I live by the beat. Dancing and music in general is just the best way to change your mood.
6. Eat clean. Make as much of your food from scratch as you can. I know it can be hard. What has helped me manage some of the aches and joys of turning fifty and navigating menopause is getting back to the basics of cooking and baking and knocking out as many chemical preservatives as I can. I haven't bought bread in months. Whatever and whenever I can, I make my meals from real foods. Also, take probiotics — the good ones. A healthy gut makes a happy human.
7. Foster a friendship. It doesn't have to be a real person — there's no law against imaginary friends, and let's be honest, in the age of COVID, imaginary friends are a safe bet. Unless you're talking about my imaginary friend Clarice. That one is just trouble. She's always sneaking out of the house at all hours, and if anyone is going to bring home a virus, it's her.
8. Rekindle your love of a hobby. I've been playing my guitars a lot lately. I've been playing since I was five years old but I'm really just a hack who messes around. I stopped playing a few years ago when my life was a bit of a mess and I was dealing with my dad's sickness and death. That's changed during the pandemic. I've rediscovered my love of just picking up one of those beauties and playing. The music takes me away to a different place and seems to take my stress right away with it.
9. Go on the internet and find a video of a baby or a young child laughing. Watch it, then watch it again. Watch it one more time. It's just the best, and it's a simple reminder that even in dark times, there can still be laughter.
10. Cut yourself some slack. I haven't finished writing my next novel yet, and I've barely made any progress on the creativity course I'm creating. I got up at 6 am to exercise once. That's it — just once. Does all of this bother me? Yeah, it does. But here are my conclusions: it's okay. All of it is okay. The stuff I need to get done will get done when it gets done. All I can ask of myself right now is to just do the best that I can. Sometimes, I'm just tired. I'm tired of the news and the chaos. I'm tired of COVID. I just need to chill. Relax. Eat some popcorn.
And there you have my Top Ten Tips. These are what work for me, or at least help me cope with the COVID life. These are not rules — merely suggestions. The point is, do what YOU need to do to get by. Take care of yourself. Try to laugh. Try to find some peace in all this madness. And above all, stay safe and ride this wave to the finish line.