Twelve Ways to Survive Social Isolation

Life grinds to a halt. Schools have closed, as well as libraries, theaters, gyms, restaurants, and meetings. People are working from home. We’re all advised to not go out because of the coronavirus. What can we do to keep our sanity?

If you feel caged in, take heart. Here are a dozen suggestions for coping. These might help you survive the isolation. In fact, they might actually help you thrive.

1. Try a new recipe. Rediscover the joy of cooking. If you are out of an ingredient, substitute another one. If you’re resourceful, you may concoct a great new dish.
2. Plan a garden. Check out designs in magazines. Leaf through seed catalogues. Browse through garden websites. Perhaps you’ll discover new plants you’d like to try.
3. Play board games. Rediscover the fun of Parcheesi, Checkers, Monopoly, and other traditional family games. Unlike most video games, they give you social interaction with other family members.
4. Clean out a neglected spot. We all have places that are junk collectors. Now is the perfect time to conquer these areas. Sort through a drawer or a closet. Is your glove compartment overflowing? How about that messy linen closet? Cleaning these places will give you a sense of accomplishment. You may also discover a few things you’d forgotten you had.
5. Tackle waiting projects. Most of us have a few things we’re normally too busy to do. This is a great time to clear some of these projects. Does a broken toy need fixing? How about that coffee maker that you wanted to take apart to clean? What about a little mending? (Does anyone still do that today?) Perhaps you want to take inventory. Whatever you do, you’ll feel a weight lifted when you’re finished.
6. Spend time with God. You can better focus on your relationship with the Lord without all the usual distractions. As a result, your faith may grow richer, deeper. That faith can provide you with a sense of peace in the midst of crisis. Could God have arranged for you to have this special time with Him?
7. Make future travel plans. Although you can’t travel at this time, you can still imagine faraway places. Looking through travel brochures gives us a chance to dream. When we are able to travel again, you will already have some ideas in place.
8. Create something. Try doing something you’ve never done. Think of a different way to do what you usually do. Find a solution to a problem you face. Rearrange a room. The possibilities are endless.
9. Do a craft. Find a craft you enjoy such as painting, knitting, sewing, artwork, or woodworking. If you don’t already do a craft, try something new.
10. Plan a party. You may not have an opportunity to have a party right now, but you can prepare for one in the future. Plan holiday celebrations. Get your creative juices flowing.
11. Read a good book. Books allow you to have adventures. They take you to exciting, faraway places. You imagination travels to different times and places, even to different worlds. If you can’t get library books, you can still use digital ones online.
12. Tour art museums online. A number of famous art museums have recently made their art collections available for free online.

We can survive isolation. Social distancing certainly changes our normal routine. However, it isn’t a jail sentence. We may actually enjoy our time alone if we follow some of these suggestions. A quieter life may be just what we need. Hopefully, one day we will all look back on this situation with fond memories.