Life is challenging enough when we’re not dealing with a global pandemic. Now, we’re stuck in our homes, staring at the last roll of toilet paper, overwhelmed with all the choices on Netflix, cooking three meals a day, and rationing wine. And those are the lucky ones among us.

For the many people whose jobs cannot be shifted to working from home or those whose health is already compromised, these are incredibly stressful and potentially economically devastating times.

Regardless of which category you fall into, we can all use some help to get through this crisis. Here are some ideas for making things easier on yourself, your neighbors, and your community during these difficult days.

Get by with a Little Help from Your Friends

If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask for it. And if you can give help, don’t forget to offer it. Making a grocery run? Check with your elderly neighbor to see what you can bring them. Ordering takeout? Offer to bring something to your friend whose back ailment makes it difficult for her to get out even under normal circumstances. Have some extra toilet paper? Think about sharing.

 

Be Kind

If you’re doing things right, you’re not seeing (m)any people. But you will probably be encountering delivery people, grocery store clerks, pharmacists, health care workers, and others whose services are essential. Remember that, as stressed as you feel, these people have it far worse. They are on the frontlines in this crisis. Make it a little easier on them by being patient and kind.

 

Keep in Contact Virtually

Isolating doesn’t have to be lonely. If you have regular social events, rather than cancel, meet over Zoom. No one has to worry about hosting, and you can all have your drink of choice. Do you usually lunch with a friend or grab a coffee together? Keep your date virtually.

Can’t face another Friday night alone? Hold a Zoom cocktail party, or see a movie with friends using Netflix Watch Party, a free app that allows you and your besties to simultaneously watch Netflix. And a sidebar chat feature lets you discuss important plot points or Brad Pitt’s hair. Pause, rewind, and fast forward are synched, so nobody gets left behind. Download the Netflix Watch Party app here.

 

Support Your Local Restaurants

Restaurants and other service industries are going to be extremely hard hit. Many eateries are offering takeout and delivery to keep their workers employed. Take a break from apocalypse cooking and bring home dinner from your local independents to help them stay afloat through this time. If you are able, tip as you would if you were in the restaurant enjoying full-service to help servers keep some income coming in.

Check the websites of other local businesses to look for ways you can support them.

Donate to Charitable Organizations That are Directly Helping

There are many local and national organizations that are in need of resources to serve the community right now. The Feeding America network is the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization. You can donate directly to their COVID-19 relief fund, or find your local food bank here. The Red Cross is seeking blood donations. If you want to help medical professionals get much-needed supplies, you can donate to Direct Relief, an organization that works in the U.S. and internationally to equip doctors and nurses with life-saving medical resources to care for the world's most vulnerable people. Many cities have set up relief organizations for their local communities. Try Googling to find one in your area.

Keep your immunity up with healthy eating

With the difficulty of shopping, or even getting delivery at this point, it’s not easy to keep your fridge stocked with healthy essentials. But a good diet is critical to a strong immunity. Antioxidant fruits and vegetables, omega 3s, probiotics, and lean proteins, are more important than ever. Do what you can to keep plenty of these on hand and incorporate them into your cooking. I’m not a huge fan of meal delivery services because of the menu choices and packaging waste. Services that deliver raw goods have less packaging waste and allow you to plan your own meals. Rastelli’s is a great option for proteins. They offer wild-caught, sustainably harvested seafood and antibiotic-, hormone- and steroid-free meats. No subscription required. Services like Farm Fresh To You delivers local, organic produce to your door. They are considered an essential business, so they will continue delivering during the COVID-19 shelter-in-place order. Check their website to see if they deliver to your local area.

Resist stocking up on processed and frozen foods that lack nutrition just because they’re an easy way to keep your pantry full. And while sugar and alcohol might seem like treats when you’re feeling so deprived, limit your consumption of these. Both cause inflammation that undermines health and immunity.

Get Some Exercise

We all know exercise is good for heart health, metabolism, and emotional well-being, but can it also strengthen immunity? The answer is yes. According to Harvard Medical School, “Just like a healthy diet, exercise can contribute to general good health and, therefore, to a healthy immune system. It may contribute even more directly by promoting good circulation, which allows the cells and substances of the immune system to move through the body freely and do their job efficiently.”

The gym is a no go, but you can do yoga or other exercises at home. There are plenty of online classes to stream. Many are free right now to help the community. All classes on the Down Dog Yoga app are free until April 1st. Core Power Yoga is also offering all their classes for free to help you stay fit and sane during isolation.

Stay Productive

Prioritize all those projects you’ve had on your someday list for like, ever. Whether it’s painting the bathroom, reorganizing the linen closet, taking up painting, or writing that novel. Now is the time.

Stay Well

Whatever you do, please take the need for social distancing seriously. Even if you’re not sick. Staying home is not just to protect you; it’s to protect your neighbors and community. This is a social contract that we are all part of. The better job we do at this, the more we’ll slow the spread of this disease, and the sooner we can get back to our regularly scheduled lives. Let’s work together to #flattenthecurve.