Team Librio’s Coronavirus survival tips
5 minute readSpending endless weeks cooped either alone or not alone enough - depending on how many little people you are cooped up with - may seem like being sentenced to house arrest, but we believe it can turn out to be an overwhelmingly positive experience to reconnect with those in your immediate environment and, ironically, those furthest away from you.
Our 10 fun tips are particularly for those with little ones to look after, but are applicable to everyone to help get through this time with as much positivity as possible.
- Send a message every day to someone you know who’s alone
We all know someone who’s going to have to self-isolate completely by themselves. Send them a video message every day to give them a regular ray of sunshine. For our little ones, we’ve put together a daily video schedule of all the grandparents, aunties and friends who may need a little reminding that they don't have to go through this alone.
- Working from home? Don’t forget to put your shoes on
My friend Tom worked from home with two little children for 6 years. His secret tip: If you normally don’t work from home, make sure you “leave the house” to go to your designated work space every morning. He’d always put on his Work Shoes, say goodbye to the kids and then “leave” to his home office, no longer to return until lunch. It was his way of getting mentally prepared to make the switch from Home to Work. Noise cancelling headphones might also come in very handy...
- Set up a daily schedule
It’s important for grown ups and kids alike that the next few months doesn’t become an extended pyjama holiday. Just as they have at school, little ones need a daily timetable so they know what happens when. It’ll bring structure to your day and make it feel less like a prolonged holiday.
After a Week of Chaos and Drama last week, we implemented a timetable starting today and the change in atmosphere was incredible to see, once everyone knew how the day was going to progress.
- Draw like a child
Often, we tell our little ones to “draw something” while we get on with other stuff. We at Librio love to draw, even if some of us are not very good at it. Embrace your inner child and draw along with your little ones, it’ll increase the fun factor for both of you and maybe you’ll rediscover a love of just doodling for the fun of it. Librio even has a drawing competition to encourage people to draw like a child.
- Meditate
If you have to self-isolate physically, why not take it one step further and self-isolate mentally as well. A great way to reduce stress, anxiety and calm the swirling noise around you, meditation apps are going to have a great time over the next few months. Two of the most popular are Calm and Headspace. Both offer mediation for kids too. Imagine the possibilities for inner peace!
- Keep active
The opposite side of the meditation coin. Build sports into your day. If you used to do it before going to work, keep on getting up early even if you no longer have to go to work. If you don’t have the opportunity to go outside with the children, try some of these ingenious indoor sports events to keep children active. Our little ones are very into kids yoga at the moment.
- Don’t let all those hamster purchases be in vain
We’re sure everyone reading this only bought enough food for a couple of days and didn’t partake in any of the Hamster Buying Madness of the previous weeks. But, just in case you accidentally bought a bit more than expected, don’t you dare think about throwing away anything you can’t figure out a use for. If you need any inspiration, here’s a start to get the juices flowing. And as a bonus, here’s the last banana bread recipe you’ll ever need.
- Look for someone in the risk group that you can help
Is there someone in your neighbourhood who you can help? Maybe they aren’t strong enough to battle the hordes of hamsters in the supermarket, or to stand in line for hours or maybe they’re just too scared to go about their everyday business. Let them know you’re here to help, even if you think someone else might already be helping them out. An old lady in our street was so touched that we were the first people to think of her, even though we live 10 houses away.
- Teach yourself a new skill - or rekindle an old one
If you can’t get out and do what you usually do in the afternoons or evening, why not use an online learning platform like Udemy or Skillshare to teach yourself something new. Or, dig the old flute out of the attic and get back into doing something you used to love. Maybe supply the family with noise cancelling headphones first, though.
- Hang out with friends, just like in the old days. But this time virtually.
Could this one be any more 2020? In Japan, it’s called On-Nomi. I’ve been doing it for years with distant friends and just call it SkypePub, but the idea is the same. Get the drinks in, set up a video conference group and hang out just as if you’re all together. Just watch out for the keyboard when you do your virtual cheers.
For next level On-Nomi, take it one step further and go for a full Skype dance party with your friends on a Friday evening.
The list was a lot of fun to put together and we hope we’ll abide by all the tips ourselves. There is already a growing sense of community coming together to fight this virus despite being apart from our friends and family, so here’s hoping for something good to come out of a potential catastrophe.
Let’s turn this into a truly positive event and enjoy this moment to reconnect with those closest to us.
And then when it’s over, go right back to sitting at the dinner table, staring at our phones and ignoring each other.
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