COVID 19 has brought about stressful changes in the way that we interact as human beings. When it started, hopes were high that the disease was but a passing phase. However, it has now become apparent that COVID 19 is here to stay. So, how can you, as an individual, navigate around all the COVID 19 stresses? Some countries are still in lockdown, while others still have various levels of restriction. Imagine being kept away from your friends and family for months. Or being suddenly without a job? These are all issues that people have had to deal with. Here are 10 tips to help you retain your sanity in these trying times;
Don’t stress too much: you are not the only one in a bind
The first thing to understand is that COVID 19 is a global pandemic. You are not the only one in a difficult situation. So, you shouldn’t stress too much. While this can be of little comfort when you are without a job or isolated, the fact remains that there are others who are suffering. In fact, the entire world is in a twist. Very few people have been left unaffected by the pandemic. So, you shouldn’t try bearing the entire weight of the world on your shoulders.
Get an e reader
What do you do if you have to spend days on end without leaving your house? One of the things that you can do to pass the time is to read books. Of course, you could always read physical books, but you won’t be able to replenish your library when most businesses, including book stores, are in lockdown.
So, what do you do? The good news is that there is actually a solution to this predicament. If you are into books, this may be the time to invest in an e reader. Feel free to check out the best e ink readers for 2020.
What we can say is that e readers are a good investment. They are not even expensive. You can buy one for less than $100. Their appeal lies in being able to carry thousands of books at a time. You will literally be able to carry around enough books to last your several years on one device. Another great benefit of buying an e reader is that they are made of e-ink and do not strain the eye when reading books. You can actually read books in direct sunlight on an e-ink screen without suffering any adverse effects.
Zoom, Skype or WhatsApp friends and family
Social distancing, as already noted, has become the new normal due to COVID 19. The good news is that today’s world is overflowing with digital tools that can be used to shorten the distance. You don’t have to be completely isolated from friends and family. Not when there is Zoom, Skype, WhatsApp and other ways of reaching out. Whenever you feel too isolated, it helps to initiate contact with friends and family. In fact, doing so is important for your emotional wellbeing. Don’t allow yourself to become an island of despair.
Catch-up on movies and films
This is another great way of relieving COVID 19 isolation stresses. If watching movies is your hobby, then you can use the time to catch up on your favourite shows. One character of the lockdown is that entertainment companies, such as Netflix, have been enjoying a boom in business. You can sign up for Netflix for only $11 per month. Once you have done so, you will have access to thousands upon thousands of shows. So, you won’t have a problem keeping yourself entertained.
Keep yourself in shape
One of the major challenges as far as COVID 19 is concerned is keeping in shape. For most people, having to spend weeks locked up inside their homes is temptation enough to become couch potatoes. This is not something that you should allow to happen to you. Gyms and other physical exercise businesses have been affected the most as a result of the pandemic. So, what do you do to keep yourself in shape?
Well, if you have space around your home, why not use the space to spend a few hours jogging? If there is no space, you may wish to invest in a treadmill and some other exercise equipment. As noted at the top, COVID 19 does not appear to be going anywhere any time soon. The most likely scenario is that we will have endless cycles of lockdowns and reopening. Investing in exercise equipment will, therefore, serve you well going forward.
Listen to music
This is another tip to help reduce the Covid 19 blues. Almost everyone out there likes music. This is another way through which you can while away time during the COVID 19 pandemic. The good news is that, in this day and age, you can pretty much listen to all the music in the world via the internet. However, you do need to have the right equipment to really get the most out of music. Our advice is for you to get the best Bluetooth headphones that are out there. Bluetooth headphones are great because they allow you to move around your home or even outside, in your yard, without needing to carry around your computer or TV.
Start a blog
There is nothing like a little bit of calamity to trigger the creativity that’s inherent in most of us. COVID 19 is no exception. If you suddenly feel like you have something that needs to be said, you can do so through a blog. Most people think that creating their own sites is difficult. However, that is not actually the case. You can have your own site up and running within a few hours. And there is no end to the topics that you can cover. You can, as an example, talk about how you are coping with the COVID 19 lockdown blues.
Start a YouTube Channel
This is very much similar to creating your own blog. A YouTube channel is great if you are comfortable in front of the camera. Again, you can cover various topics. You could, as an example, make videos showing how you have been dealing with the restrictions that were introduced as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. You could also create a blog that talks about cooking, housekeeping and raising kids. There are potentially millions of topics that you could cover out there.
Generate passive income through affiliate marketing
The thing about blogging or creating your own YouTube channel is that they can actually be used to generate passive income. That’s something that’s worth exploring, particularly now that many people are in financial dire straits after being laid off from work. Of course, the entire thing is not going to happen in a single day. But it’s something that’s worth looking at. Once you have created your blog, there are many ways of monetizing it, including via affiliate marketing.
You can also monetize your site using Google AdSense. The trick, in any case, is to ensure that you are getting lots of traffic to your site. Without that, you are not going to generate much. So, you need to focus on a topic that’s popular with people. Do some Search Engine Optimization and, once your site is popular, you can begin making money passively.
Look for online work
Affiliate marketing is not the only way through which you can earn some much needed money during the ongoing lockdowns. Another option is to join the ranks of freelancers who survive by doing online work. It depends on what you are skilled at, of course. There are many platforms out there where you can get freelancing work. Examples are Freelancer, Guru and UpWork.
An example would be to try and find work teaching English to kids in China. That’s a skill that’s in demand and it’s something that anybody who is fluent in English can teach. You can also do content writing, if you are good at writing. Whatever your skills are, chances are high that you will be able to find something to do online.
Summing up
To sum up; the COVID 19 pandemic looks set to continue well into the foreseeable future. As a result, people around the world will need to come up with creative ways of coping. One thing to note is that you are not in this alone, so there is no need for you to be stressed more than others. Also note that there are ways through which you can teach yourself to deal with the pandemic. If you have been affected economically, you can try ways of earning money passively online. That will help tide you over during these trying times. Need more health related news? Read our article on the benefits of gene synthesis.
