10 Things Baby Boomers Can Do When Quarantined

Day number two of shelter in place here in California where I live, one of the states hardest hit by the coronavirus. As my baby boomer husband said the other day: “Wake up to another day in Coronaville.”

“Coronavirus.” “pandemic.” “Shelter in place.” “COVID-19.” “Social distancing.” “Self-quarantine.” “Stay at home.” “Isolation.” “Isolation.” To think that just a month ago these words were not part of our everyday vocabulary. People wearing masks, empty supermarket shelves, incessant handwashing, travel bans, schools closed, working from home, and a plummeting stock market.

This is our new normal.

On Thursday, the governor of California issued a statewide stay-at-home order in an attempt to stop the spread of COVID-19. To date, five other states have done the same. Basically, that means staying home with the exception of going to the store, seeing family, going to the doctor, or exercising outside (as long as you stay six feet away from everyone). Schools and all non-essential businesses have been closed. If that news wasn’t dire enough, the governor also warned that 56% of California’s population is at risk of contracting the coronavirus. Now, there is a sobering thought.

We baby boomers, specifically those 60 and older, well, it turns out that we are the ones susceptible to getting seriously ill from this virus. Although we felt young, tough and invincible when we first heard about this pandemic, it seems that the boomers are finally taking notice. And that’s a good thing.

I don’t want to be alarmist, but can I make a suggestion? If you’re a baby boomer over the age of 65 and you’re not in quarantine or isolation, you should seriously consider it, even if it’s not currently required where you live. That is certainly the case if you have underlying health conditions. I know that I know. Self-quarantine wasn’t exactly on her bucket list, and we boomers are used to active, social lives. But look at what happened in China and what is happening right now in Italy and Spain at breakneck speed.

The transmission of COVID-19 is highly contagious and surprisingly easy to spread. Now, medical experts tell us that the virus can survive on surfaces for up to three days. The very young may not even have symptoms, so family members or friends can spread the disease without even realizing it. Currently, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the incubation period (the time between when you contract the virus and the start of symptoms) for the new coronavirus is 2 to 14 days after infection. exposure.

The saying, “prevention is better than cure” has never been more true. Okay, reading again, but please take care, my friends.

So what can you do if you’re like me, stuck at home, to take your mind off all this chaos?

Before I list 10 things you can do if you are in quarantine, remember to stay safe, but stay calm and positive. While we must take this virus seriously, please don’t stay glued to the television watching gloomy news. Instead, focus on the many reasons for which we all have to be thankful. At the end of the day, acknowledge that you were given another chance to see the sunrise, acknowledge something you’ve accomplished, or take note of a person you’re grateful to have in your life.

Well, here are ten ways to stay sane:

* Eat right and stay active. This is not the time to stress, eat and indulge in comfort food. You’ll only feel worse in the end, trust me. Exercise – outdoors if possible. I still go for walks, bike rides, and hikes on trails, keeping a safe distance of six feet from others, of course. I can literally feel the stress melt away. Calm nature. However, if that’s not possible, there are plenty of free exercise videos on YouTube geared towards people over 50. Look at them.

* Strengthen your connections. Stay in touch with your family and friends. I belong to a small sign language congregation and we started using Zoom for our meetings. Maybe I’m behind technically because I’ve never heard of Zoom before, but this is a great way for a group of people to communicate with each other during these times. It is very important not to isolate yourself. You can also keep in touch with your loved ones through text messages, email, social networks, Skype or Face Time. do you hate technology? Write an old-fashioned letter or create cards to brighten the day of your loved ones.

* I feel so lucky to be a writer, which has served as therapy throughout my life. Take advantage of your muse. Keep a journal, write a poem, or start a blog. The great American novel that has been spinning in your head begins. Start that memory or family history. You will be surprised how quickly time flies. In fact, if you’ve always dreamed of becoming a writer and want to pursue the craft in your golden years, stay tuned. In my new book, due to be released next year, I will provide inspiration and motivation while sharing my knowledge and experience to help you start your writing journey. What if you hate writing? Try some other creative outlet. Paint, create jewelry, sing or dance.

* Do you know that we baby boomers are always told to exercise our brains? Now is the perfect time to do it. Why not take an online class? Make a puzzle. Learn a new skill. Do you want to learn a new language? My son, Chris Gorges, an interpreter for the deaf, offers free educational content for those who want to learn sign language on his YouTube channel on ASL Basics.

* Take time to savor the little moments. Even during lockdown, you can go outside to enjoy the song of a bird, the smells after a storm, or the beauty of a sunset. Savor simple things like the first day of spring in your garden or that first sip of coffee.

* Read those books that have been collecting dust on your shelf or check out the best sellers on Amazon. Looking for suggestions? I thought Elizabeth Strout’s “Olive, Again” was brilliant. Also worth it were “Ask Again, Yes” by Mary Beth Keane and the quirky “Convenience Store Woman” by Sayaka Murata. And if you want creepy, try Alex Michaelides’ “The Silent Patient,” Lisa Jewell’s “The Family Upstairs,” or Samantha Downing’s “My Lovely Life.”

* Resist the urge to lie in bed or lounge in your pajamas all day. Get up, shower, brush your teeth, and put on nice clothes. Give structure to your day with some goals to achieve. You will feel better and it will help you maintain a positive attitude.

* Now is the perfect time for a spring cleaning. Empty out that junk drawer, get rid of the clothes you never wear, and clear out. Do your taxes so you have one less thing to worry about. Tasks will distract you and help you feel productive.

* Do you have an old guitar or saxophone in the closet? Dust off that old instrument, take lessons, or start practicing.

* Pamper yourself. Take a long bubble bath. Listen to music from the 60s and dance around the house. Add your favorite songs to your playlist. Give yourself a facial. Sleep or take a nap. Look through an old photo album. Sit outside in the sun. Feel stressed? Be sure to read something spiritual and inspiring every day. Pray. Practice deep breathing. Do some Pilates. Try using an app like Calm or Headspace. Do you need distraction? Watch an old favorite black and white movie from your childhood or a movie that makes you laugh out loud. Get a free trial of a streaming service and watch as much as you can before it expires.

There you have Ten things to help you get through these harrowing and unprecedented times. You are not alone. We baby boomers are going to get through this together!