Ideas for how we can stay positive through the COVID-19 situation

Ideas for how we can stay positive through the COVID-19 situation

We are currently in unprecedented times and all are looking for ways to make the best of this whole situation with COVID-19. Well, I have some ideas as to ways we can keep a positive mindset through everything that is going on. One idea I have is from an article I read by Sam Wollaston of The Guardian where he wrote about garden camping within our own backyard, which I thought is a great idea. The article stated ideally everyone is able to do this as a whole family activity with children but even if a person lives by themselves they can still partake in camping within their own backyard. Within the article it mentioned how cheap, eco-friendly and fun this activity is and that it is simple. Even if an individual doesn't have a garden, still we all have the capability of camping within our own backyard. Who doesn't enjoy cooking smores, huddling around a fire, telling stories, socializing with family and reading books in a tent? These are all things we are able to do while garden camping and or camping within our own backyards as well as put together our own tent. 

Here is a link to the article written in The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/apr/10/the-cheapest-greenest-holiday-ever-the-weird-joy-of-garden-camping-with-the-kids

A second idea I have to staying positive right now is the ability we all have to just go outside and be immersed within nature. Licensed therapist Mirriam Torres Brinkmann says in an article written by The Sierra Club, “People are feeling compelled to go out because we are all social animals, and being locked up and isolated is against our nature"(Bryant, 2020). Dr. Brinkmann adds in The Sierra Club article, "that a compelling amount of research shows that not getting enough time in nature is detrimental to our mental health" (Bryant, 2020).  I definitely agree getting outside in nature, immersing ourselves within nature is helpful not only to our mental health but also our physical health. There are so many things we all as individuals can do while in nature such as exercise, enjoy the sounds of birds and wildlife, sit down and draw in a sketch book and talk to trees among many other things. I also want to add, while it is important to be in nature, we need to have guidelines such as not traveling more than 10 miles from home walking somewhere, when walking somewhere make sure it is with immediate family members only, keep a minimum of 6 feet distance between yourself and other people, try to avoid crowded places the best you can and lastly make sure to be safe. 

Here is a link to the article written by The Sierra Club: https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/if-you-must-venture-out-during-covid-19-heres-how-do-it

A third and final idea I want to discuss is tips for staying positive during the times of the coronavirus. In an article written by health.clevelandclinic.org, they had multiple tips I really liked for staying positive during these times and the tips were, #1 Exercise regularly, #2 maintain a healthy diet, #3 take a break, #4 connect with others, #5 Pick up a new hobby, #6 Serving within your own community and lastly #7 get sleep and rest (5 Ways to Manage Stress during the Coronavirus Outbreak, 2020). Relating to the tip of connecting with others I think it is a great idea to send letters, send emails, talk on the phone, have zoom meetings among other things with family members you don’t see much to see how they are doing and know you care about all your family members, I called my grandma recently who lives in Manitowoc and have not talked with her for awhile and it was nice getting to catch up with her, hear she was doing well and staying healthy.

Here is a link to the article written by clevelandclinic.org: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/5-ways-to-manage-stress-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/