Staying Safe in New York City this April March 28, 2020

We are in a very sensitive time right now. All over the globe, people are being quarantined, laid off, and tested for the coronavirus. It can be incredibly easy to let the fear take over you as you operate your day-to-day schedules. The unknown is a terrifying thought, and taking the proper and necessary measures to stay informed, safe, and calm will help alleviate that uneasy feeling.

If you’re like me and spending each day in isolation in New York City, you might feel a sense of stir crazy as well as frustration. Luckily, my job allows me to fulfill my responsibilities remotely, so I’m one of the lucky ones that hasn’t had to worry about income. I recognize how fortunate I am in this scenario, and if your job has been affected by this crisis, I hope you’re doing everything you can to stay calm.

I live by myself in a studio. I’ve come to love my personal space that I call “home.” Over the past two weeks, however, I’ve felt suffocated. I only leave my apartment to get groceries or make necessary errands. Often I’ll leave to take a walk just to get some fresh air and a change of scenery. Sometimes I’ll jog just to get my blood flowing. Not commuting every day has certainly made me realize just how much walking I was doing each day.

As I complete my second week in isolation, I wanted to share some tips that I’ve uncovered to help me stay safe but to also make sure that I’m mentally balanced amidst this uncertain time.

• Take advantage of our technology

I have been FaceTiming with my family members all over the country to check in with them, connect with them, and make sure that they’re staying safe. Since my friends and I can no longer go to dinner to bond, we’ll have virtual happy hours together to talk about our days, how we’re coping, and how much we miss one another.

I also see a therapist once a week. Traditionally, these sessions are in person, but as of last week, we’re now holding our sessions virtually. Again, I recognize that I’m lucky enough to have the technology that can support this capability, and if you’re in need of a mental health session, there have been all kinds of alternative methods of therapy popping up amidst this crisis. She’s helped me work through my building anxiety over the unknown, and ultimately, it’s nice to see her face and hear her voice for the familiarity factor.

Of course, isolation means this is the perfect time to catch up on your binge-watching or finally getting around to watching that movie you keep hearing about. I know I’ve often fantasized about a staycation, so I’ve always been looking at this situation in that lens myself. Might as well take advantage!

• Appreciate the solitude

As an introvert, I’ve always felt very comfortable with my own presence. I find I keep the best company! Even if you aren’t an introvert like me, there are many ways you can take advantage of this forced alone time. I’ve found this is a great time to get caught up on some reading I’ve let fall behind. I’ve picked up on my meditation – I’m still awful at it, but this is the perfect time to keep trying. Dust off your old hobbies, like crafts, working on a puzzle, or even painting.

When isolation first kicked off, I did a lot of laying around and being unproductive. This quickly set off some internal guilt – I felt like I should be doing more productive things and taking advantage of this time alone. So I told myself to commit to one project a day – since I’m working from home during the week, my Monday through Friday projects are a bit smaller, but no matter what, I’ve found this to be tremendously helpful. I’ll organize a drawer, go through storage and purge, or even clean.

• Be safe

Your health is the utmost priority right now, which is why no matter what, you have to be as careful as you can. Take walks, but be mindful of the people you may pass. Go for a run, but if the park is crowded, come back a few hours later. WASH YOUR HANDS. Clean your commonly touched pieces often – light switches, handles, doorknobs, and even your phone. In a time like this, there’s no such thing as being too safe.