Darrick Robles Why does it make sense to stay at home now?
By shifting to the home, personal social contacts should be minimized as much as possible. This reduces the risk of infecting yourself or others with the corona virus. This is particularly important because too many patients who are all ill at the same time can quickly overload the healthcare system. Adequate medical care would then no longer be guaranteed. You can read more about this topic in our article on the infection curve .
A time of challenges
Home sweet home? Not if you are forced to stay within your own four walls. Domestic isolation brings with it its very own challenges, from fears about the future to boredom to unspoken or open conflicts in the family. Above all, the psychological stress should not be underestimated. At the moment nobody can say exactly how long the crisis will last. This is precisely why it is worth using a few proven strategies to master this exceptional situation as well as possible.
Strategy #1: Structure your day
Fixed times for eating, sleeping and working provide security and thus help to reduce the feeling of stress and being overwhelmed. In concrete terms, this means: set the alarm clock in the morning. Stick to established rituals, such as lunch breaks, whenever possible. And when the work day is over, you really should stop working and do something else. Even if you are limited in some respects, a planned approach gives you the feeling that you are still in control of your life.
Strategy #2: Limit your news consumption
Of course you should continue to inform yourself regularly. However, your media consumption should neither be excessive nor indiscriminate. An overdose of negative news only creates fear and uncertainty, scaremongering is not appropriate now. Whether television, internet or social media: choose reputable and reliable sources that provide neutral information and orientation. By the way: At Med-Healths, we strictly follow the guidelines of national and international authorities in everything we do.
Strategy #3: Keep moving
stay active Where there is no curfew, you can and should continue to go out into the fresh air, for example to go for a walk or jog. Group activities should of course be avoided. In addition, you can turn your home into a small fitness studio: On the Internet you will find lots of free offers for guided training without equipment, e.g. B. Yoga classes. Physical exercise puts you in a good mood and strengthens your immune system. You can read about what else you can do for your immune system in this magazine article .
Strategy #4: Share
It’s okay to be in a bad mood sometimes given the current situation. It is also perfectly normal for more conflicts to arise when people spend a lot of time together in a confined space. It is important that you do not eat away at negative emotions such as tension or helplessness. Allow them and talk about it with those around you – it’s always better than brooding. Listen to others when they share their problems. The open exchange creates a close interpersonal connection and often brings a certain relief.
Strategy #5: Maintain your contacts
Even if you live alone: Domestic isolation does not have to mean the end of your social life. Of course you can’t meet many friends, relatives and colleagues in person at the moment. But you can talk to them by phone, see them on Skype or reach them via WhatsApp. Just ask how they are doing in the current situation – everyone is happy about genuine interest. With a simple video chat, you can replace the feeling of loneliness with a feeling of connectedness.
Don’t forget: there is an after
Remember, no matter how difficult the situation is right now, it won’t always be like this. The period of domestic isolation will eventually come to an end. By staying home now, you’re helping that happen sooner rather than later. And there’s nothing wrong with planning a few great activities for the time after Corona!
