We have all made jokes about the Coronavirus, but it is of great concern in the community. Schools are closed, businesses are taking heed to President Trump’s recommendation to limit gatherings to no more than 10 now, instead of the original 100 or 50 … TEN!!! This is NOT a time to be out and about socializing. STAY AT HOME as recommended, if at all possible. If you do have to be out, limit the amount of people you come into contact with. Wash your hands! Keep your distance from others, at least 6′ to 10′ away. Cover your coughs and sneezes. If you are experiencing any of the known symptoms of the Coronavirus, have traveled overseas, or have been exposed to someone that has tested positive for the Coronavirus, please EXCLUDE yourself from any gatherings PERIOD. This should be common sense. We can help prevent the spread of this virus if we all take part in this. It will take ALL of us!!!

Now that I have this off my chest, let’s talk about what to do when the world seems crazy.

If you have been watching televison, on social media, or just decided to venture into the store, I’m sure you’ve seen what you consider some craziness going on in your neck of the woods.  It is enough to provoke extreme anxiety in us, if we let it.  That is the thing right there … it’s key.  IF WE LET IT!

It will drive you crazy worrying about this pandemic that is the Coronavirus.  A lot of us, myself included, have found some relief in making jokes about it, just as I did just yesterday about the shortage of toilet paper.  Hmm, and here I thought this affected your respiratory system, not “the other end.”

What can you do to relieve some stress, anxiety, and worry with all of this virus talk?

First of all, make yourself a priority!  Do not push your exercise routine to the back burner.  Also, don’t take this time to overeat or eat food you know is bad for you, all for the sake of “emotional eating” or “stress eating.”  That is just an excuse.  You know that you’re not supposed to overindulge, so choose NOT to!  If everything was right in the world, would you abuse your body in this fashion on a good day?  If not, then don’t rationalize at this point that it’s “okay” because the world is in such an uproar.  Instead, this should be the very time that you make good food choices to keep your immune system up to fight this virus and other illnesses off.   Keep in mind also that when you exercise, you are raising your body temperature.  This is a good thing when you have illnesses going around.  You want to do all you can to ward them off.  So, keep making good, healthy food choices and having healthy options available, and keep that appointment with yourself to get in your exercise!  Now is not the time to fall off the wagon.

Listen to some good music.  Whether you choose to listen to music while you work out, or if you just want to kick back with a beverage of your choice and listen to some good quality music … know that music is good for the soul!  Every morning before I get into the shower, I turn on my bluetooth speaker and play some of my favorite tunes.  It helps me greet the day with a much better attitude when I do this.  It just helps to get some feel-good type of music going in the morning as I greet the day.  It doesn’t have to be blasted loudly, why, it could even be soothing music.  The point is that music helps us no matter what … it can be a mood enhancer.  Use it to your advantage.  I do know that certain types of music can bring us down – there are some that just want to have a minute to wallow, so they turn on some sad songs to do so.  Now is NOT the time to do that.  There is enough depressing things in the world today … turn on something upbeat … and sing your heart out.  Again, it is good for your soul!

Pet a dog or cat.  Honestly, it has been proven that petting an animal will help lower your stress levels and your blood pressure even.   For me, my animals are my fur babies.  I love each and every one of them, with their unique personalities and charm.  It helps to gather them all on the couch with me in the evenings to just snuggle with them.  They have waited all day for me to sit down and allow them to curl up in my lap, and I gladly do this as it helps ME in the process also.

Take time to check in on your relatives.  We are so busy going here and there in the world today, but at this time, slow down and check in with your loved ones.  You especially want to check on the elderly that may be afraid to venture out with the threat of the virus being more harmful to them.  If they are low on food or supplies, be the hands and feet that gather these items so they don’t have to go out in this to put themselves at risk.  I know for me, I have even taken supplies and put them on the gate so that we did not even have to come into contact with my parents when one of them was sick in the past.  They didn’t want to go out to get the things they needed, and they felt bad when we offered as they didn’t want us to get sick.  So this worked for us.  This way, we were helping them, and we were limiting our exposure as well.  Now, I’m NOT saying that ANYONE in my family has gotten this virus – thank God they have not – I’m speaking of other illnesses in the past, be it the common cold, what they suspected was just sinuses, or the flu.

Last, but certainly not least, PRAY, TRUST, and BELIEVE.  God is not going to leave us.  He is right there with each and every one of us.  Talk to Him.  He wants to hear from you, and not just in times of trouble.  God loves each and every one of us, and He is on our side.  I know there are people that argue “why does God allow things of this nature to occur?”  I don’t have the answer and doubt any of us will this side of Heaven.   Just know that God will never leave us nor forsake us.  Take comfort in that one thing that you know with ALL of your heart.  God is faithful to us.

Remember.  We are all in this together.  If you have supplies and you know your family is lacking, offer them some of yours.  Don’t hoard it all for yourself when others are in need, too.  My family and I did not go crazy like some we’ve heard about on the news and social media, but we did get to the grocery store to get some supplies that we needed.  Shelves were bare in a lot of places, but we were able to get food items, since my daughter’s school closed along with the rest of them.  We have some cleaning products, if we need to sanitize our house should someone get it and have to be isolated – which we pray does not happen!!  And, yes, we even have some toilet paper.

Be safe, everyone.  It is going to get better.