<< Back

The Kids are Managing Stay-at-Home. What About You?

March 20, 2020

It’s hard to imagine when you’re stuck inside, but the coronavirus (COVID-19) quarantine is only a temporary blip in your life and while it’s natural to feel sad and lonely, there are some ways to keep your spirits up.

  • Be productive. That hall closet you’ve ignored can be cleaned, the gourmet meal you dreamed about can be prepped and prepared, that filing cabinet stuffed with receipts and papers can be organized. Taking control of everyday things feels good.
  • Play. Bring out those board games and have a marathon with the family. Tackle a jigsaw puzzle together. Throw the ball around in the backyard.
  • Dance. Turn up the music loud and let loose with your best moves, either alone or with the kids.
  • Exercise. Head outdoors for a walk or bike ride in the fresh air or dust off your DVDs and renew your love of yoga. Just move a little and the endorphins will boost your spirits. “We all know physical exercise is good for us, but it is still hard for us to do,” says Jimmy Choi, senior scientist at the Institute of Living’s Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center. “There is a mountain of evidence for this.”
  • Laugh. Google “dad jokes” and try to find the silliest, or pop in a comedy and just let the giggles flow.
  • Create. Dig into your craft supply stash and make something pretty – a wreath of spring flowers, cross-stitched bunny, art with those pebbles and shells you collected at the beach last summer. Or use your phone to videotape a dramatic scene or musical performance. Share it to brighten someone else’s day.
  • Teach. Train those little sous chefs, seamstresses or artists. This is a great time to share practical and fun skills with each other.
  • Connect. Use technology to visit with friends and family. You can “watch” favorite movies together or craft while you chat. Being “together” is especially important for anyone home alone these days.
  • Help. If you need to head to the market, ask your elderly neighbor if you can pick up something. Better yet, bake some cookies and leave a plate on their porch. Offer your expertise – via video chat – to friends struggling to home school in subjects that challenge them.
  • See the good. Slow your mind enough from the hectic nature of the news to notice the little things — spring bulbs flowering in the yard, the taste of homemade spaghetti sauce, the smell of a candle filtering through the house, the words of songs on your playlist, the adoration in your pet’s face. Those little things are restorative and can tide you over to better times.

Not feeling well? Call your healthcare provider for guidance and try to avoid going directly to an emergency department or urgent care center, as this could increase the chances of the disease spreading.

Click here to schedule a virtual visit with a Hartford HealthCare-GoHealth Urgent care doctor.

Stay with Hartford HealthCare for everything you need to know about the coronavirus threat. Click here for information updated daily.

Questions? Call our 24-hour hotline (860.972.8100 or, toll-free, 833.621.0600). 

Get text alerts by texting 31996 with COVID19 in the message field.