Tough and difficult times are ahead of us, when everyone will have to make some sort of sacrifice. Let’s be responsible and stay home and stay sane. Here’s my manual.

The COVID-19 is a virus that affects majority of the world. It has hit Asia, Europe, Australia, America and even some countries of Africa. It’s everywhere and countries are trying to prevent the spreading of the virus as much as they can by applying strict restrictions, such as not allowing citizens to leave their homes without face masks, closing schools and some working people are lucky enough that they have the option to work from home. This article is meant for people who are staying home, whether because they have to, or they want to.

At the image below, you can see how serious the situation is. For those, who believe it’s “just a flu” I have just one thing to say. This virus has killed 17 thousand people (till 24th March) and that’s just in four months and those are just confirmed deaths. The common flu has, according to the CDC estimates, caused 23,000 – 59,000 deaths from October, 2019 till March, 2020 (six months). I think you can do the math. But I am not here to spread panic. I am here to show you that even though the situation is severe, we can prevent the spread of the virus and thus slowly start to put an end to this.

Think of the quarantine as an opportunity

Did you ever told yourself that you will learn a new skill, new language, you will read a new book, write a book or something similar? Yeah? Great, now’s the time. Seriously. You get to be home and even though you probably still have responsibilities because you may need to work from home, you have kids etc., but I highly recommend to you that you find at least that one hour and do something for you. Learn, get better. Go for a run (with face protection of sorts), work out at home, read that book. We all need something pleasant to do in these challenging times. Find something that makes you happy and do it at least for an hour every day. And don’t you dare tell me that you don’t have the time. Now you have more time than you ever did. Stop watching TV and go and do something for yourself. Stop scrolling Instagram, Twitter, TikTok or whatever and do something for yourself.

If you’re thinking: Okay, I want to learn something new. But where should I go, if we are in lockdown? My dear friend, the internet is on and running. Udemy is a great source of courses on various topics. If you don’t want to spend money, try YouTube or searching for blogs in the area you want to learn. Or maybe you’ve already bought some books on the topic, but maybe you’ve forgotten about them, so try to check your library first (even eBooks if you have some). If you don’t find anything, go ahead and search online. There’s information waiting for you. You just have to take it.

Here’s a few ideas of what you can do while staying at home:

• Read a book
• Write a book (if you ever wanted to do it)
• Play some video games (especially some story-rich, such as The Witcher 3, Ori and the Blind Forest, Red Dead Redemption 2, Fallout 4 etc.)
• Get in shape by exercising at home (please, try to stay at home as much as possible)
• Start learning a new skill (Paid sites: Udemy, Khan’s Academy, Codecadamy. Free sites: Coursera, YouTube)
• Start learning a new language (Duolingo is good for basics)
• Spring clean your house
• Tend your gardens
• Go for a walk in nature (with face masks and gloves, please)

Quarantine doesn’t have to mean complete isolation

It means that you shouldn’t meet other people, but you can call, you can chat/text with them, you can facetime… Reach out to your families, if you don’t live together. Make sure they’re doing okay. Elder people don’t have to manage as well as the younger generations do, reach out to them, but don’t meet with them. Call, text them or facetime them. If you’re completely healthy, have proper face masks and gloves, help elderly people with their shopping. You can slip them a piece of paper to let them know you’re there to help and that they should write any groceries they need. You can then deliver the shopping directly to their doors. Help, if you can. Let’s be humans.

Do the same with your friends. You can never know who’s struggling to get by and doesn’t do well while being alone. Check in. We have to help each other, cause that’s the only way how to minimize the consequences of this virus.

STAY HOME.

I can’t stress this enough. We’ve seen it in Italy, USA as well, Spain… the list goes on. Stay home, if you can. If there isn’t any pressing matter, stay home, please. Don’t take this lightly, the scientists don’t even know the precise characteristics of this virus, they’re still figuring out its origin… Doctors in Italy are exhausted, they’re facing the worst of decisions of whom to treat and whom to send home. Make their life easier and stay home.

The reason why China beat the virus is because they literally ordered everyone to stay home and not move from home unless absolutely necessary. Wuhan, which population is more than 11 million people, was a ghost town. That’s twice the population of my country (Slovakia), more than New York City, almost three times more than Los Angles. Yes, it can be done. But people have to be disciplined. So, please, be a part of that disciplined and responsible people and stay home.

And if you’re afraid whether you’ll have enough of food, YES, YOU WILL. Do not shop more than you need for one week. Think of other people, think of elder people who might not have any family left… Use your brain and think before you buy something you don’t need. No, you don’t need so much of toilet paper, that really won’t help you survive, but buying canned food might.

Summary

• If you can, stay home.
• Don’t shop more than you absolutely need for one week.
• If you are staying home, try to make something of the situation and learn new things or do stuff you’ve always wanted.
• Reach out to family and friends. Check in with them. (It’ll make them smile, trust me)
• Go out to least populated places – forests, lakes… WITH proper protection, please.
• If you need to go to work, be sure to have a proper face mask and gloves. Watch a YouTube video if you want to make your own face mask.

And kudos to you who are already doing all of this. This is exactly how a normal, responsible people behave. Those are truly honoring the work that cashiers, policemen, doctors, firefighters, couriers, nurses, truckers do in order to maintain at least some order. I am daring, challenging you to do this.

Thank You for reading.