If you haven’t heard enough Coronavirus woes everywhere you look and listen and watch, I will give you more right here (I didn’t want to be left out of the fun!). For most of us single women over sixty, self-distancing means one thing: we are alone. For whatever the time period is, whether it’s a weekend, a couple of weeks or longer, we are alone. And, that alone time can turn to isolation and loneliness quickly. I can’t make that better, but I do have a couple of tips that are helping me through this time.

Turn It Off

If you have the television on a news channel all day, and you are looking at every alert that pops up on your phone and you are on Facebook reading what your friends say about the grocery store, you will go mad! How does that help? Turn it off! You can check in to all of your sources every once in a while, but if you have it on constantly your anxiety level will escalate. Be informed, but don’t overdo it. Everything that comes across isn’t factual and isn’t going to help you in your own life so just check in once in a while, don’t make it your 24/7 way of life.

Don’t Look at Your 401K

Of course, you should know what you have. But, I decided that I am not going to look at my savings until things have become less volatile. what is the point? I am worried, certainly, but there is nothing I can do about it right now and I have no idea what things will look like in six months. It’s not easy, I know, and it doesn’ mean I am not paying attention, but I know my savings isn’t what it was even a few weeks ago. I have decided to put that on the backburner of worries right now. There are things I can control right now, and that is not one of them.

Watch What You are Eating

Doesn’t that sound crazy? But, I noticed that the items I had picked up at the grocery were things I never keep in my place: crackers, peanut butter and ramen noodles are not on the menu at Chez Paula, but for some reason, that’s what I bought, and started to eat. By the time the crisis is lifted, I will be self-distancing because my stomach will have grown! I went back to the grocery today and bought salad and vegetables. I don’t know why I thought from this point forward I could only eat food sealed in cardboard boxes! And there was plenty of produce. Eat that now and save the noodles for later.

Take a Walk

My friend said this to me last night: if you are uncomfortable about going to the gym and you are getting cabin fever, you can at least take a walk. Good advice. Get a little fresh air to clear the cobwebs off if you are stuck in the house for too long.

Stay Connected

This is most important: stay connected to the outside world, not just with Hoda and Savannah, but with real people. Talk with friends on the phone rather than texting so it feels more real. Make sure to check on other people you know who live alone. And, let your buddies know that you would love a call here and there too. It will make a big difference in breaking up your day during this uncertain time.

Stay Safe and Healthy!