tion affects you directly. What travel is available? What is allowed to be open? How many cases are in your area? Those are things you need to know. Our county has alerts set up through text and FB. As a journalist, I get press release alerts that are then shared in public outreach. I generally try to tune out most of the other constant noise. EXERCISE! Not only does exercise help your body, but
it is critical for a healthy mind. Calisthenics, car- dio, yoga, aerobics, even just walking will make a huge difference in your mental state. If you live in an area where walking is allowed and safe, go out daily. Keep your distance but say hello to people you see. We all need contact. They are probably suffering too. Getting fresh air, sun and a change of view is irreplaceable and free. Some neighbor- hoods are doing distanced socializing. If you are not near anyone you are probably safe. WASH YOUR HANDS AND REMOVE
YOUR SHOES! Do this as soon as you return to your home
and not just during this crisis. A lot of cultures follow this custom for health reasons. WEAR SAFE MASKS! Be careful about trusting masks that well-
intentioned people are making! I am extremely frustrated by seeing unsafe masks everywhere! Cloth masks need to have adequate face coverage, be at least two layers thick with an adequate filter or at least four layers thick without a filter. This may or may not protect you if someone infected coughs or sneezes near you, but it’s safer than otherwise. The masks I’m making are out of “im- pervious” medical-grade fabric. They are not pleated. Pleats hold more germs. WAY different than cutesy, pleated-cloth ones. DON’T TOUCH YOUR FACE! Wash your hands after touching anything
in public or anything new coming into your home.
DISINFECT AND QUARANTINE NEW
ITEMS YOU BRING HOME! Research the lifespan of the virus on vari-
ous surfaces. This data has been changing. Some surfaces say up to seven days. I am erring on the side of caution and going with the longer time pe- riods predicted. Alcohol and bleach kill the virus. Hand sanitizer needs to be above 63% alcohol. WASH YOUR HANDS AGAIN!
I know they’re already dry as fuck, but it could save your life. TAKE THIS TIME TO CREATE! What’s your thing? Are you a musician, as-
piring or otherwise? Are you an artist? Maybe you don’t know it yet. Do you like to cook, clean, dec- orate, garden? These things can be done with minimal expense. Something always needs to be weeded. We’ve been moving plants around in our yard for a better look. They are free. It just takes manpower. Maybe you can look up some recipes from your favorite culture and try them out, if your pantry selections aren’t very limited right now.
CHECK OUT THE WORLD OF FREE
CONTENT! There are free classes being offered online
in many artistic categories and others. There are virtual museum, zoo and National Park tours, musical catalogs, college classes, etc. being of- fered during this time. Search for free content and you will have plenty to do sorting through the choices. VOLUNTEER! Choose in-person or online as an excellent
way to get out of your head and improve your mood. Help others while helping yourself! I say this all the time on Rockin’ Your Health. Volun- teering is one of the best activities you can do for your own mental health. It gives a person pur- pose, perspective, empowerment and often shows us that our own situation might not be as bad as we think. It gives us an opportunity to meet peo- ple, give back to our community and make a dif- ference in the lives of those who are less fortunate. Our one contribution may make a world of difference between someone else surviv- ing or not. They will be grateful forever for your support. You can look up volunteering opportuni- ties in your city or county online. THERE IS HELP AVAILABLE! Many
counselors and support groups have moved on- line or on the phone. You can search for online counseling per your city or county. Some will be free, some on a sliding scale and some require payment. If you can’t find a group, consider start- ing your own! If you are suffering PLEASE let someone know you need help. So many are in the same
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68
