The coronavirus pandemic has really put a twist on the year 2020. No one expected that people would be finishing the year having to wear face masks in and out of stores. Heck, no one expected the country to go into a complete lockdown in March! Still, that is what COVID-19 has brought us. A lot of social distancing, plenty of Zoom calls, and numerous empty cans of beer.
And as the coronavirus continues to rage on, people are continually trying to find new ways to cope with the stress and/or boredom the disease has brought on. You can only do the same thing for so long, and being stuck in your house all day watching Netflix can get really old. That is especially true if you have to stay in the house for your own safety.
People with underlying medical conditions are considered to be at a higher risk of contracting more of the “serious” complications associated with COVID-19. But in the same breath, it is important to mention that not all high-risk people have to be dealing with a health complication. A good example of this is the elderly.
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Due to the physiological changes that come with aging, people who are older become more susceptible to the virus. That means the older you are, the less you should be going outside, and the more you should be social distancing. And with all that being said, things for older folks can get really boring. So here are a few safe suggestions for you -or your older loved ones- should take a look at to cure that household fatigue.
Knitting
There is a slight connotation that comes with knitting that it is for “old ladies”. And although that connotation can be slightly unfair, knitting can really have a positive impact on both the mind and body of the elderly.
But regardless of gender, knitting is awesome and can be a blast. Whether you want to take on the task of a sweater, blanket or beanie is up to you, but completely disregarding this activity would be your (or your loved ones) loss. It is a fun way to keep one busy and also has plenty of health benefits. Why say no?
Walking around the neighborhood
This is probably the activity that comes with the most risk due to the fact that you could run into others. Still, the risk of infection is significantly reduced if you keep your distance and wear your mask.
But all in all, you can not go wrong just strolling around the neighborhood. That is even truer when you factor in the fact that people have been trapped in their homes. Going to get some fresh air and exercise is a great way to waste time. It really can not be nice breathing in the same dry air in your house day after day.
And who knows maybe you get to see some of your friends (socially distanced of course) on that walk! You, and your friend, would have a safe human interaction that would help boost each other’s moods in these dangerous times. Seniors helping seniors!
Learn!
They say old dogs can’t learn new tricks, but that is not the case. You are never too old to learn, and diving into books, or signing up for online courses could definitely be a positive way to spend time.
Maybe you want to learn how to fix up a car. Or maybe learn how to play the guitar. Whatever it is you may want to educate yourself about, now in this time of coronavirus would be the best time to delve into that interest.
Do some drawing/painting
Regardless of whether or not you consider yourself artistic, painting, and/or drawing can be really a fun time. Put some music on and whip out a canvas, this activity has the chance to consume you for the entire day. In the blink of an eye, your day will be over and you have a completed masterpiece in front of you
At the end of the day, these are just a few ways to distract in an effort to get the fears of coronavirus out of your head. There are so many other fun and safe options available. Watch home movies, make a cookbook, call the grandkids, whatever. The possibilities are truly endless, you just have to get that noggin thinking.
