Quarantine Coping Strategies You Might Use

By Marc W. Polite

“They say the coming winter is the coldest.” -Pusha T (from the song “Good Morning”)

Good evening, my readers. I hope everyone reading this is safe and healthy. As we as a nation find ourselves faced with another wave of coronavirus infections, many of us will have to continue to stay put. This second wave is here, and the scientists are saying that we’re in for a rough winter.

Unlike with the first wave, at least this time there looks to be some light at the end of the tunnel. Pfizer has announced last week that the coronavirus vaccine should be widely available by April of 2021. In the meantime, it’s pretty much a waiting game. We have to continue to deal as best as we can. With us currently facing 11 million cases in this country, it’s important to keep this news in perspective.

Last week, the new next-generation consoles, Xbox Series X/S and the PS5 have launched. We know that many are gaming their way through the pandemic, and there’s nothing wrong with that at all.

If you’re into arts, you can get into drawing or knitting.

Personally, as I continue to stay safe, I have been catching up on my reading. Between all that, journaling, and gaming, it’s helped me avoid that pandemic brain fog that can happen to a lot of people.

We’re not out of the woods yet, but there’s a ray of hope here now. Like many people, I have had to live off of my good memories, and at the same time hold on. I’ve found myself daydreaming of a hopefully near the time when this plague is under control, and having more of outside open and available.

Although I do understand that people are beginning to lose patience, now isn’t the time to get lax. Many Americans don’t like to be told what to do, but the goal is survival, not control. I can’t tell you what to do, but just consider that given that we’ve already been through like 8 months of this, we might as well remain cautious for the next five months.

What coping strategies are you using to help you get through this extended play quarantine? Have you picked up a pen or a paintbrush? What is helping you deal?