March 17: Obeying the Decrees of Fifth Harmony (And the Pennsylvania State Government)

Credit where credit is due. Kudos to Erin Walker whose piece “How I’m Handling the Coronavirus Quarantine” inspired me to write my own thoughts.

Because I can’t help but put excessive effort into lame jokes.

As someone who could easily be defined by the personality trait of “anxious,” I feel that I’m handling this whole situation remarkably well.

Could I have gone without the three bottles of wine I purchased last week? Probably. Should I have maybe considered the financial implications of dropping $160 dollars on Pokemon plushies this weekend? Perhaps. But in times like these, I think it’s important to dwell on the things that bring us joy and help distract us from the harrowing reality.

Plus, these Pokemon have brought me so much joy already. They were essential.

In recent years, I’ve very much struggled with finding the balance between staying informed and staying sane. When my father has turned on the news, I’ve tried to block out the sound in an effort to preserve my sanity; so often, the news media highlights primarily negative things, and while I understand that a) there are a lot of bad things that happen each day and b) it’s the negative news that many people find interesting, I have often found that I do not need to hear about every local shooting, car crash, or robbery that happens on a daily basis.

Now, with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, I am experiencing a similar, but perhaps more intense, version of this conundrum.

I want to be informed. I want to know what is happening around the world, in this country, in my state, and in my county. However, looking to have a constant stream of information regarding these updates is not only detrimental but also foolish. It’s important to step back and recognize a few things:

1. Things change and develop at a rate that is impossible to accurately track. Not knowing everything is part of the human experience.
2. Information overload is real and harmful. Focusing on updates that could cause you to panic or feel out of control will only result in a decline of your mental health.
3. There are more productive things to do with your time than monitor websites and watch the news. Distance yourself.

Staying informed is important. I don’t want to be someone who refuses to acknowledge updates or press conferences with an “ignorance is bliss” kind of attitude. In situations like these, it is so important to be educated about national and statewide updates, best practices, medical developments, and more. If we don’t acknowledge these things, we could worsen the spread of the virus and cause harm to those we love.

But it isn’t healthy to obsess over it. Everyone has different ways to cope with this unprecedented stress. My methods of impulse buying and creating playlists that rely on gallows humor may not be for everyone during this global crisis. What is important regardless of our methods is that we find ways to distance ourselves, not only from one another (because social distancing is crucial at this time) but also from the news. We don’t need to be inundated with constant reports of case counts and death tolls. And I, for one, do not want to hear about the health of the financial markets at all.

Whether you’re working from home or simply find yourself within the walls of your place of residence with nothing to do, I think the ways for us to survive and stay sane are relatively simple.

1. Identify the things you care about and cling to them however you can within the restrictions of this current society. This is not a time for despair; it is a time for innovation and adaptability.
2. Indulge your desires for connection, creativity, and entertainment. Call your loved ones. Embrace your creativity. Binge a TV show you’ve been meaning to watch. Read a book. Clean your home. You may be isolated but you are not alone.
3. Acknowledge your concerns but don’t let them consume you. It’s natural to feel fear, anxiety, and frustration at times like these. It’s also normal to feel like you aren’t in control. Manage this by taking note of how you feel and finding constructive ways to express those feelings such as journaling or engaging in a creative pursuit.

It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the uncertainty of it all. We don’t know how long COVID-19 will affect us, how many individuals will fall ill, and what the lasting impact will be on the world. But what we can do is make the most of this new experience, listen to our peers and neighbors, and grow from this. And I’m tentatively optimistic that the problems made evident by the chaos of the coronavirus pandemic may lead to future solutions geared toward prosperity, equality, and more.

If not, we can always fall back on revolution. But… let’s wait until the CV outbreak passes before we make plans. Social distancing, and all that.

In the end, I’m not really qualified to give any kind of advice or make any predictions for the future when it comes to geopolitical or economic developments. However, I think that during this time, it’s important to understand what makes us human and learn how we can preserve those qualities. Creativity, community, and compassion are three things that come to mind (and not just because of the alliteration). We’re part of a species that isn’t meant for solitary conditions. We’re pack animals. Even without physical or face-to-face contact, and even without the structures of everyday society we’re used to, we can still find ways to be unapologetically human, whatever that means for you.