When life gives you lemons…
30th March 2020 · 0 Comments
It’s far too easy in this time of peril to stress out, freak out, and fall into a depressive state of mind. Our state was recently reported to be a “hot spot” or epicenter for the COVID-19 virus pandemic. And Governor John Bel Edwards advised us to stay home on Sunday, March 22, 2020.
The world is under siege by an invisible life-threatening germ and each of us is in danger of losing our lives. We’re concerned about our jobs, money, unemployment insurance, elderly relatives, friends and children, near and far. We’re wondering how we’re going to pay our bills, how we’re going to keep our families fed, how to stay healthy, when are things going to get back to normal?
Don’t believe the hype that if you’re young, you’re immune or if you get it you will recover. Recovery is not absolute in all cases and young adults, even children are being affected. COVID-19 does not discriminate. Any person of any age, race, or gender is susceptible to this killer. If you’re living and breathing, you’re in danger.
But there is a silver lining if you choose to think differently and reach for it. The quarantine and sheltering in place offers a perfect opportunity to reboot your life. For better or worse, this is our reality and if we are to survive, we must make smart decisions, stay calm, pray, and find the courage and strength to preserve and solve the problems we are confronted with.
While we are quarantined, we must first take care of business. If you’re laid off, file for unemployment insurance. Touch base with your manager often, if possible, and check on your co-workers. File your income taxes right away (make sure you set up direct deposit) and fill out your Census 2020 (you can do this online) because those may be avenues that the workers’ stimulus checks may come through. Call your creditors, landlord, and others who are expecting to be paid and ask for extensions.
Be proactive about employment. Prepare for the possibility that your employer may decide to reduce the workforce. Hopefully, that won‘t happen but you should have a game plan, just in case, and seek out other employment opportunities now. Check out telecommuting jobs because no one knows when it will truly be safe to go back to work and we may see a paradigm shift to an increase in telecommuting employment in the future. If you’re running low on food, check out www.feedinglouisiana.org/get-help. To reach the Second Harvest Food Bank in New Orleans, call (504) 734-1322.
Whether you’re feeling sick or not, keep your doctor’s number handy and the addresses to the University Medical Center and New Orleans East Hospital, which have drive-thru testing. If you are experiencing fever, shortness of breath, or a dry cough, seek immediate medical attention. The Data Center report says many New Orleanians have underlying health issues. Now is a good time to focus on reducing your blood pressure, diabetes, and other problems that you must manage. Dr. Corey Hebert suggests eating healthy, avoid snacking, frequent hand washing, vitamin supplements, cleaning your hands with hand sanitizer wipes, and seven to eight hours of sleep.
Your mental health is also at risk. Dr. Hebert suggests downloading a mindful wellness app to keep your mind straight to handle the inevitable stress this situation is causing. If you feel particularly anxious you might try deep breathing, taking a warm bath, or sitting with your pet, or listening to your favorite music. You can also practice deep breathing (lowers blood pressure), yoga, and meditation. Check out www.mindful.org/free-mindfulness-apps-worthy-of-your-attention.
Get creative for the children in your home. Go old school: Coloring books, blank paper, crayons, board games and sing-a-longs are good. Also go high tech: video gaming, streaming movies, and making homemade videos and journal writing fend off boredom.
If you’re a senior, trying reading, using Facetime or calling close friends and family members, watch movies, look up and/or create new healthy recipes, do spring cleaning, make a bucket list, write your memoirs, answer the Census 2020, and file your taxes, if you work part time.
millennial offered the following activities for restless peers, specifically, but other adults can do the same:
• Binge watch a new series on Amazon, Netflix, Hulu or You Tube
• Take virtual museum tours
• Start a new hobby
• Clean out closets and plan new outfits
• Create a vision goal board
• Create a photo wall; have your own photo shoot
• Read a new book that you’ve never had time to read
• Watch live streaming concerts
• Learn new recipes
• Start a diary
• Watch concerts online
Here are some recommended movies, food ideas, and concerts for millennials: “The Banker,” starring Samuel L. Jackson; “A Fall from Grace,” Tyler Perry, and “Bad Boys for Life.” Book suggestions from the Black Girls Read Too Facebook group include: “The Coldest Winter Ever” by Sister Souljah; “Queenie” by Candice Carty-Williams, “Diary of a Hustler” by Omar Dawkins, “The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms” by N.K. Jemisin.
For great recipes to try, check out www.southernsouffle.com, a soul food blog by Arika Council. Here sweet potato cake with cane syrup and cream cheese frosting is divine. Or try the muenster shrimp and grits recipe from @chef_b_lee’s (aka Dental Hygienist) Instagram page.
For concerts, visit “At Home with TIDAL.” Jay-Z’s live stream series continues this week for members and non-members, offering performances by J-Lo, Lizzo, Beyoncé and more. Def Jam’s Instagram Live Show, “Def Talks,” hosted by JadaKiss is entertaining. He just dropped a new album. Erykah Badu is offering a Quarantine Concert Series from her own room on her website. And DJ D-Nice is hosting #ClubQuarantine on Instagram. Michelle Obama, Oprah, Rihanna, Will Smith, P-Diddy, Usher and Kelly Rowland want this show.
For more activities, check out cnbc.com’s six science-backed activities to help you relax while you’re home and kvue.com’s “List: 100 things to do while stuck at home social distancing.”
This article originally published in the March 30, 2020 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
