A couple weeks ago, when most of us were still working at the office, I wrote an article about how to prevent yourself from feeling sad and lonely when working from home. Hopefully it provided a few good tips! But now that we’re self-distancing ourselves from others and staying home pretty much all of the time, I think it makes sense to delve a little deeper into this topic.
It’s hard to be home, avoiding other people. It’s lonely. And unsettling. But there are things that you can do to make your situation a little bit better.
- Embrace the use of technology – If you’re able, try using FaceTime, Zoom, Skype, Facebook, or Twitter to connect to your friends and family.
- Call people on the phone – Don’t have access to technology? Or maybe you’re not very tech-savvy? Call a friend or family member on the phone. Just talking to someone for a while, and having a conversation can make you feel more supported and connected.
- Limit how much you watch the news – It’s important to stay informed. But watching the news all day will only cause you to feel more panicked. Check for updates in the morning and the evening. That will give you the information you need, without making you feel inundated by anxiety-provoking news stories.
- Indulge – Read that trashy book that you’ve had lying around the house for weeks. Watch that goofy TV show that you find weirdly compelling. Rediscover an old hobby. Get crafty. Do whatever you need to do to distract yourself and feel a little bit better.
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Archbald-Pannone, L. (2020, March 10). A geriatrician offers 4 tips for seniors to stay connected during coronavirus outbreak. The Conversation. Retrieved from: https://theconversation.com/a-geriatrician-offers-4-tips-for-seniors-to-stay-connected-during-coronavirus-outbreak-133233
