Matt's Journal

“May you live in interesting times”, goes the old curse. We are certainly experiencing them now as governments strive to limit Covid-19’s progress by having people shelter-in-place. Many institutions have closed, and the prognosis is that they will be closed for many weeks. Schools, coffee houses, restaurants, gyms, places of worship, concert halls – all closed. These are places we depend on not just for sustenance but for enjoyment and meaning.

I’ve been here before. I lost my job a year ago and decided to try retirement. It was not always easy – I’d always depended on work to structure my life. But in retrospect I think I’ve done well by having to depend on myself for meaning and interest. Here are some points of advice that I’ve gleaned so far, that might apply to us as we sequester ourselves during this time.

• Exercise, preferably outside. Bicycling Magazine points out that it’s safer to be outside than in — after all, you can’t catch a virus from a tree — and the benefits of exercise still apply. Exercise benefits your health and elevates your mood. And, if you keep the recommended distance, you can do it with others.
• Strengthen your connections online.
• Don’t panic-shop. Fear-driven buying panics emptied shelves of toilet paper (!) and bottled water. Such panics cause problems of their own. Stay calm, buy what you need but don’t hoard – everyone will then be able to fill their needs.
• Learn about your library’s online options. Most libraries have closed because of shelter-in-place guidance. But libraries have embraced the online world in a big way. Troves of books, articles and magazines are available free from many libraries. Your tax dollars pay for it – why not use it? Visit your library’s website.
• Take a second look at things you already have. That old guitar, the bookshelf, the garden out back – these might reward your attentions. Give them a chance to occupy you, entertain you, and cure you from your cabin fever.
• Take an online class or webinar. This graphic, from The Economist, shows that most schools worldwide have closed. Your kids are probably taking online classes now, as schools rely on them to keep educating them. There’s also a plethora of online classes including interactive features that let you learn in a collaborative environment from your home. These including offerings by most colleges including those near you — as well as schools all over the world. Many of them are free. Try this Google search to turn up some options for you.