Some people wake up early and witness the slow rise of the sun. Its warm colors start to shine and fill up the gloomy sky. They explore every detail of their window view to see whether anything changed from last night. Others wake up later when the sky is already blue and clear. They prefer to ignore the outside world since it is just another day of quarantine and their window view is a reminder of their current limited life.  

In this unusual time, many of us no longer keep track of our routine, feel very unenergetic, or simply can’t find a motivation to start our day. Once in a while, a memory pops in our head. A memory of older days where we were rushing to work or school. Where we had a tight schedule and a list of responsibilities. Where all we wished was for the weekend to last for longer. We wanted to stay in bed, finish all the shows we saved for later on Netflix, eat chocolate chip cookies, and simply forget about the outside world for just a bit longer.     

Well, the weekend we wished for is here and was extended for longer than expected. After a month, some of us still find ourselves in the same pajamas from the first day of the quarantine, wondering whether the effort to get out of bed is worth it. 

We live in a very extraordinary time. The thin line between taking a day off and completely failing to care for oneself becomes blurrier with each passing day. After a month, being stuck between four walls could take a mental toll on us. In times like this, it is especially important to be aware of our thoughts, feelings, and general reality. Before COVID-19 was introduced, the Canadian Mental Health Association reported that 50% of the Canadian population experienced some sort of mental illness only by the age of 40 and 5% of the population was affected by anxiety disorders .

With our new reality, spending so much time at home may increase these statistics remarkably. Whether you live in a studio apartment or a big house, spending too much time indoors away from your routine, friends, and family could influence your mental state and your general well being. It could be seen in a variety of symptoms such as moodiness, anxiety, trouble sleeping, low immune system, change in eating habits, and general fatigue. 

It is quite unclear how much longer this reality will continue. While the media and the government strongly emphasize on our physical health, we need to be also very cautious about our mental health and protect it by all means. To do so, there are several steps we could integrate into our daily life which can elevate our mood and make us feel generally happier and healthier. 

Nothing can be done if our physical and mental states are neglected. The actions to change it vary among people. However, there are some common steps everyone should try. It could simply start with taking a shower, eating healthier, staying hydrated, and practicing a healthy sleep routine. You could also get creative and use your time to try new things such as homemade skin care facemasks , search for new healthy recipes, start exercising, or even practice breath and meditation. All these little changes will distract you from the current reality and add some enjoyment and relief to your day.

Our routine and tight schedule can make our life seem very busy and hectic. Now, when most of our responsibilities were taken away, we need to find something else to fill up our time. For once, it is up to us how we decide to spend our days. With so much time on our hands, we could explore new areas and topics that we were curious about for a long time or that we never even considered. Finding a hobby can give us purpose and make our quarantine more enjoyable. Suddenly, you can find joy in cooking, drawing, dancing, writing, reading, and the list goes on and on. These new hobbies may continue with us even after quarantine is over, bringing some comfort into our daily routine. 

Give yourself a purpose. It will positively influence your mood, motivation, and bring some meaning and satisfaction to your day. The variation of goals you can choose from is endless. It could be as simple as cleaning your room, finishing a book you procrastinated for a while, working out for 20 minutes per day, or catching up with your friends. Although creating and achieving a goal is important, don’t forget to enjoy your journey.    

Times like this are very unfamiliar and confusing. We try to distract ourselves and often avoid our thoughts and feelings. However, avoiding something will not make it disappear. It is very important to be aware of your current reality. During moments where you feel upset or anxious, try to explore this feeling. The reason behind them may not always be clear. However, there are several ways to help put your thoughts together.

One way is to write them down. Sometimes your emotions could be explained by one word or by a whole paragraph. Try to go farther and think about what triggered these feelings. Although it might seem unclear at the beginning, with time, you could find answers you never considered. 

Your final step is to look at your feelings written down on a piece of paper and think of ways to improve your situation. You could feel better by simply talking to a family member or a friend, change your routine, or find an activity that brings you joy. 

   

Our life might get so busy that we often suppress our feelings. Now, when we are locked with them, they are harder to be avoided. Instead, we need to confront and accept them. It might be hard at the beginning but will give a great relief with time.

It is very common to feel lonely and isolated during times like this. However, we need to remember that we are not the only ones who feel that way. We are surrounded by lonely people who hide behind screens. During times like this, it is important to reach out, express yourself and wonder about others. Communication is the key to a healthy mental state .     

Sometimes, feeling happy takes a group effort. Although your friends and family could be far away, make the effort and constantly check on them. Make sure they are happy and safe. Hearing that your loved ones are doing well may positively affect your mood. And if they are not doing as great, let them feel cared for and loved. During this quarantine, we can’t open our door. But we need to open our hearts and support each other. 

Sometimes our mental health demands bigger actions than the individual can provide. Referring to a professional could be sometimes the best cure. In this case, the Canadian Mental Health Association provides around the clock assistance. 

To use this resource, visit their website: https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-health-and-covid-19

2020 was the beginning of a new decade. For all of us, it was an opportunity for a new start. With a hopeful attitude, we set goals and plans for the upcoming year. We were filled with hope and motivation until we were introduced to Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. The virus began in Wuhan, China in December 2019, rapidly spread among neighbors and friends, countries and continents, infected 199 countries and territories by January 2020.

However, one thing that spreads faster than the disease itself is the fear and anxiety concerning the topic, causing people to spread lots of information about the pandemic that isn’t always accurate. Now, it is hard to distinguish between facts and misconceptions regarding the Coronavirus.

Here are 8 of the main myths floating around which we all should be aware of: 

This virus was discovered decades ago. The family of viruses, which COVID-19 takes a part of, was discovered as early as the late 1960s. It first was seen in the form of a respiratory infection that was common among children. Later, the virus took on many forms such as SARS-CoV (short for “Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus”) in 2003, Human Coronavirus HCoV NL63 in 2004, Human Coronavirus HKU1 in 2005, and MERS-CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Related Coronavirus) in 2012. 

A common misconception is concerned with the initial creation of the virus. Many think the virus was accidentally produced in a lab back in China. However, researchers proved that the family of coronavirus disease is found in animals, infecting humans who come in contact with them.  

According to the World Health Organization WHO, rinsing your nose with saline will not protect you from getting the virus (5). Nor will consuming garlic or sesame oil. Instead of relying on these tales, the health organization suggests to wash your hands frequently with soap or alcohol-based hand sanitizer, maintain social distancing of at least 3 feet, avoid touching the face area with your hands, and practice respiratory hygiene by covering the mouth and nose area with a bent elbow or a tissue while coughing or sneezing.

According to the CDC, people are advised to wear a cloth face covering when they go to public places. Many think it will prevent them from getting the virus. However, most of us are wrong. Instead of protecting us, it prevents the spread of the virus from the wearer of the mask to his surroundings.

Soap is the best sanitizer in the market. It significantly reduces the amounts of germs and bacteria found on your hands, which cause illnesses and infections. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer does this function limitedly. Unlike soap, sanitizer doesn’t kill all types of germs, leaving a variety of parasites and chemicals, stomach bug called Norovirus, and Clostridium difficile, which causes diarrhea. Click here for details. 

Pictures for proof 

As mentioned previously, Coronavirus was initially found in Wuhan, China. This fact caused a lot of controversy and discrimination towards Asians, followed by many harassment and assault cases. In the United States, individuals reported 650 cases of racist attacks in the past week. The term “Chinese Virus” caused many Americans to assume that any contact with the Asian population living in America, their food or products will cause the spread of the virus. This statement is highly incorrect, causing a high number of Asian-Americans to feel threatened. 

The virus doesn’t care how old you are. Although the generation of 65 years old and older are at a higher risk to get sick, it doesn’t eliminate the risk from the rest of the population. A member of any generation who is pregnant or suffers from lung disease, liver disease, heart conditions, cancer, obesity, or diabetes is in the same high-risk group as their elderly family members. The link provides details for extra precaution to be taken. Some cases worldwide show that even members outside of the group risk may be affected by the virus and lose their life. One case was found in England: a perfectly healthy 18 years old died from Coronavirus. Other cases of healthy individuals in their 30s and 40s are now struggling to stay alive. 

People are terrified by the number of deaths caused by Coronavirus. However, this horror can be controlled with a simple comparison of the number of deaths to the world’s population. In Canada, 59 people lost their life due to the virus, making it only 1% of all the confirmed cases. In the United States, a maximum death rate among the high-risk group (ages 65 and older) was 38%. The death rate falls dramatically with the decrease of age; people between the ages of 55 to 64 had only 1% to 3% cases of death, less than 1% for people between the ages of 20 to 54, and no death cases for 19 years old and less.

Whether it’s good or bad news, the end of the world is not here yet. Instead of spending quarantine worrying about wrong fact, use this time to finish your Netflix library, learn how to cook, get a hobby and prepare your goals and dreams for 2021. It can’t be worse than 2020.