How to keep mentally sound during COVID Lockdown 2.0

I used to associate the phrase “second wave” to music, career, a body of water. You know the simple things? I never in my lifetime expected to live through a pandemic. And not just any pandemic, it even has waves and we’re only on the second one! What even is that word, pandemic? It sounds like a boring skin lotion we need to wear when we’re going out for a party. Or maybe it’s a new colour on the ever complex Pantone colour chart. Or a name of the newest KPop band. It took ages for my brain to register what this word really meant. This word is not some part of the history anymore, it is not something we read to try and imagine what it was like. It’s taken me a few months and the second wave to grasp the gravity that… I. AM. IN. THE. MIDDLE. OF. SOMETHING. THAT. IS. WIPING. OUT. A. CONSIDERABLE. CHUNK. OF. HUMANITY.

So, that realisation was a few days ago.

I’ve just crawled out of my mental cave and daydream cocoon. Other people might call this a bout of depression, I am calling this a normal Acceptance stage in the Grieving Process. So now I am thinking of ways to stay mentally sound during the second wave. The media and Twitterverse seem to be calling this second wave “Lockdown 2.0” as if the first version was not perfect and this version would be an upgrade from the first. Haha. Better for whom? For what? I’m assuming they meant that in this version we should know by now a better way of handling our mental state? These are some things I can think of to get through Lockdown 2.0:

1. Do not under any circumstances read or watch news. I know it’s very important to keep up-to-date with what’s happening around us, especially since we’re all isolated. But there are ways to know without really knowing, if you know what I mean? I find out what’s happening from family who are fine with reading the news. I only ask for the most important parts during group chats. So what version of wave are we on? And what is this Lockdown called? Go on Twitter and follow your choice of political and social commentators. They comment on the current affairs the way that it relates to you. Bonus if you find a comedian who does it or a witty writer. I won’t prescribe who I follow because you know, what floats my boat, might not float your boat during this second wave.
2. Keep good friends. Better yet, keep funny friends more. This is the time when you really need to know what kind of humour you’re into. I love absurdity, dark humour. Some people think I am a freak for laughing at serious matters or serious points in my life. But I have friends who understand this and laugh WITH me. Find your crew, posse, pack that can laugh WITH you. Those who find inappropriate Zoom backgrounds while you drink alcohol together. (Note: I say friends in the plural like I have a lot. I don’t. I pretty much have two I constantly speak with. I would not have complained if it was only one.)
3. Find something that comforts you. If it’s baking sourdough, or putting a PC together, or just binge-watching Korean Dramas on Netflix. Do it. Anything to pass the time and keep your mind off the “P-word” is good for the mental state. I personally like to interchange between Korean Dramas and reading autobiographies of inspirational people. That Jacinda Adern book is actually a good one.
4. Find ways to help the community. I know this is a weird tip. But trust me on this. Helping others shows kindness and releases some human chemicals in our brains that make us lighter and happier. I read it from somewhere. Apparently, it’s something to do with being part of the bigger whole. Humanity. The World. Feeling connected and all that. Of course, helping is a bit limited right now, so anything you can do to spread the word on refugees’ plight, BLM activism, oh and that old chestnut, environmental sustainability.
5. Create something new. Anything. Whether a simple origami that you did by following a cute Japanese lady on YouTube, a Tweet, poem, opinion. New denotes Life. Giving life to a new idea and new thinking is not only good for you and those around you, but for humanity as a whole. We are a breathing, living, surviving organism. We need to show it! When we look back at this time, or our great grandchildren read it in their history books, let’s all hope they read the new and amazing things created during this pandemic by connected people, to show how we chose to survive.

We are all connected, we need to remember this. Reach out and be there for someone. Anyone. This not only helps them, but helps us keep mentally sound. Name your thoughts and feelings, acknowledge them. Don’t pretend it’s not there. We can only tackle things we know. And when in doubt, seek professional help. We’ll get through this second wave and the next — together.