Hello, my readers. We live in dire times with the Coronavirus, but not all is doom-and-gloom. I wanted to make a statement about the situation and perhaps encourage you to think on the positive side of things.

The Situation

By now, everyone has heard about the Coronavirus spreading across the world. Entire nations are on lockdown, society has implemented social distancing, and many companies are closed. The economy is stagnating and you can’t even go to the gym anymore!

Life has worsened for a lot of us over the past couple of weeks—but has it? Let’s take a moment to review the circumstance.

Unplugging

Much of the anxiety we’re going through right now, other than the risk of infection, is the disconnect from our normal routines. We can’t go out and interact with people like we used to, and our family members may be either frustrated or panicking.

Confined to ourselves in our own homes, what can we, as individuals do? Yes, you can practice good hygiene like washing your hands frequently, not staying up late, getting your vitamins, drinking lots of pure water, and so on. But what else is there—maybe a chance to pursue that which we always procrastinate on.

An Opportunity

Personally, I’ve found this Coronavirus situation to be very peaceful. It has offered me a chance to slow down and concentrate more on my reading, writing, and meditation.

Why not pick up a book and enjoy the solitude? Once this virus dies off—and it will—we will return to our regular routines in society. Maybe this is life offering us a chance to pause and examine ourselves.

Reading Your Boredom and Fear Away

Goodreads has a contest where we set a goal for xyz number of books read in a year. It’s a good motivator, and there’s no better time than now to hole up in our homes with a bunch of books.

Stories transport us to another dimension, far away from the worries of the life. They encourage creativity and improve vital skills like reading comprehension or problem solving.

Writing It Down

Some people find that a journal helps keep anxiety in check. Others turn to writing novels—or even poetry—to vent frustration. Again, this Coronavirus isolation provides the ideal opportunity.

For us established writers, now’s a good time to finish that novel that we’ve never gotten to. Surfing on the internet is risk-free of contracting any disease—and there’s a lot of people online right now.

We can take time to research a book’s ideal readers, and understand what makes a story unique. There’s also the publishing process—the differences between traditional publishing and indie freelancers. Then there’s the chance to join a forum where readers and writers gather. Facebook is loaded with them!

Silence—If All Else Fails

Sometimes we just need to rest. Meditation is easy to do and it has several health benefits associated with it—ways to boost the immune system against the Coronavirus. Writers can also use meditation to boost their creativity. I did a helpful post on creativity here.

Silence can do wonders for the mind and—like reading—boosts problem solving. Better yet, why not combine the two together! Try reading a book on meditation. A few I recommend are Spiritual Experiences by Swami Sivananda, Autobiography of a Yogi by Swami Yogananda, and Transcending the Levels of Consciousness by David R Hawkins.

You should be able to get digital copies of these books on Amazon or elsewhere—if shipping is compromised.

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I hope this humble article gives some ideas on what we can do during the Coronavirus crisis. Human creativity and consciousness is limitless—and it only stops growing when we allow it to do so. Be grateful for life, and celebrate it with every breath—every word written or said. Happiness alone can boost your immune system, so why not be happy? 🙂

Thank you for reading and safe healthy. Namaste.