How to Make the Most of These Uncertain Times

These are no doubt scary times that we’re living in right now. The coronavirus pandemic has caused a lot of anxiety and fear, especially among members of the chronic illness community. Many of us have underlying medical conditions that make us part of the more vulnerable population. It’s scary to think that our conditions put us at risk of not recovering from COVID-19 like those with stronger immune systems. And seeing news reports documenting the death toll in countries like Italy, with reports that doctors are being forced to choose which patients to treat due to a shortage of ventilators, is devastating.

But during these difficult times, it’s so important that we hold onto hope. And it’s even more important that we continue to connect with and support each other, even if we can’t gather and spend time together face to face right now. We have to come together as a community, and honestly, we can all learn a lot from those in the chronic illness community right now. In the second part of this post, I’ll be sharing some ideas on how to make the most of these uncertain times, especially if you’re stuck at home for a good amount of the time. But first, why listen to the advice of those of us with chronic illness?

As one of my best friends, who happens to have MS, said so beautifully to me a few days ago, “this is a really good time for people to hear from those of us who have experience with uncertainty around our health and being home more often. We actually have the opportunity to really take the lead since we may be more resilient overall in facing these challenges.”

She’s so right. Those with chronic illness are the experts in this field right now. While others may find the idea of having to stay home, modify their lifestyle, and practice social distancing horrifying and anxiety-provoking, these things are really nothing new to us. Chronic illness often forces us to do these things in our everyday lives. Many days we don’t feel good enough to be out and about, and its forced us to learn to cope with this long before the coronavirus pandemic began. We are experts on having to make the best of time spent home alone.

What else are we experts on that many Americans may be experiencing right now? Feeling uncertain about our health and our future. We’re used to worrying about how we’ll feel tomorrow, next week, next year, and beyond. When diagnosed with a chronic condition, no one gives you a road map detailing exactly what to expect in your future. While our doctors might give us a general idea of what to expect, individual experiences and symptoms always vary from person to person, and our symptoms tend to fluctuate from day to day. But leaving our anxiety over our health unchecked can ultimately be detrimental to our health. So we’ve had to learn to cope with this uncertainty.

A good number of Americans are also unable to work during this pandemic. Many of us in the chronic illness community are also not able to work a steady job, so we know what it’s like to have to come up with creative ways to make our days feel meaningful. We also understand how hard it is to struggle financially and be unsure if we’ll be able to make ends meet sometimes. Having to be on a strict budget is nothing new for many of us.

So all in all, I say these things to encourage those of you with chronic illnesses to not be consumed with fear and sink into the background during this pandemic, but instead, be proud that you’re an expert on the best ways to get through these difficult times. Perhaps you can help those healthy individuals in your life who might be having a hard time with being stuck at home and having to modify their lifestyle or who are scared of becoming infected to cope in more healthy ways. We could all use tips on how to best take care of ourselves during the uncertain days ahead.

So how can we make the most of our days during this time?

Try to enjoy taking a break from the rat race of life.

A lot of Americans work so hard and are so busy each and every day that self-care and relaxation get put on the back burner. But now, a majority of us find ourselves with a little more free time on our hands. Now is the time to read that book you never seem to have time for, play games with your family, take some nice walks in nature, do something creative that you’ve been wanting to pursue, or take some time to meditate. Learn something new like an instrument or a new language. You can’t be focused on your anxiety about what’s going on in the world right now if you’re using your brain to learn something new. And while you’re at it, practice some gratitude that you now have the time to indulge in some self-care and other things that you’ve been putting off.

Take advantage of all the online resources available right now.

A lot of places like museums, zoos, and national parks are offering virtual field trips which are a great resource for kids who are out of school during this time. Colleges are offering free classes to help you learn something new. I just signed up for Yale’s “The Science of Wellbeing” for free. It’s a 10-week course that sounds really interesting and beneficial. Check out some new blogs or podcasts. Many churches are also streaming services online right now, so if you’ve been wanting to check out a new church, you don’t even have to leave your living room to do so!

Deepen your spirituality.

I don’t care who or what you believe in, now is the perfect time to focus more on your spirituality. We all need some hope right now and you have the time to crack open that Bible or read that book on Buddhism that you’ve been wanting to check out. Try starting a meditation or yoga practice at home. Meditation is my go-to activity when my anxiety is high or I’m stuck in a pattern of negative thinking. There are lots of different meditation apps but my favorite is the Insight Timer app which has awesome guided meditations to help you get started.

Invest in your closest relationships.

We may have to be practicing social distancing right now, which can be isolating and depressing for some people, but it doesn’t mean that most of us have to be completely cut off from others. Use this time to invest in your relationships with those in your home. Cook and eat dinner together, have deeper conversations, play a game together, call your grandmother, learn to listen more deeply. Check in on a friend you’ve been meaning to text. A lot of us have more free time on our hands; let’s use it to deepen our relationships.

Nourish your body with good food.

Healthy eating takes planning and time, something that we actually have at the moment. Not to mention that a majority of the country is eating more at home right now because dining out at restaurants is off-limits. Spend more time making healthy meals for you and your family, which has the added bonus of strengthening your immune system. If you have kids, get them to join in and use the time as a learning experience. When I have the extra time to put into cooking, I like to light some candles in the kitchen, put on my favorite Pandora music station, and really savor and enjoy the experience, instead of begrudgingly throwing something together, which can often happen when life gets busy. Cooking with intentionality can actually be a kind of spiritual, soul-nourishing experience when you take the time to do it.

Lastly, don’t forget to move your body.

Even though we’re stuck at home and most gyms are closed, we can still enjoy a nice walk or run outside. And there are so many free workouts on YouTube that we really have little excuse to neglect exercise right now. I personally love Yoga with Adriene, but I’m sure you can find whatever you’re into if you just take a look online. Exercise is not only good for our bodies, its good for our psychological well-being too.

I know that things are really hard and uncertain right now. Many of us are having to adjust to a new way of life and that’s not easy. But I hope that some of these tips will help you to focus on making the most of this time we’ve been given. And I hope that you’ll continue to follow the government’s recommendations to help slow the spread of this virus and protect our country’s most vulnerable individuals. Check in on your elderly or disabled neighbors and don’t forget to use the extra time you have on your hands to take good care of yourself, remain hopeful for our future, and nourish your soul.