Simple Ways to Help Others During COVID-19 Pandemic

”Simple Ways to Help Others During COVID-19 Pandemic” is a collaborative post and includes affiliate links.  Please see the disclosure page for more information.  Disclaimer – always verify medical information with your doctor or a professional and follow all laws for your location.

The new coronavirus pandemic has many of us glued to the news. We are concerned about family and friends and looking for ways to adapt to this temporary new way of life. Those that can work from home are encouraged to do so, but not everyone will be able work meaning that they could be struggling financially. Not to mention the mental implications of dealing with the stress and anxiety that this all brings. If you are in a position to help, then it is a great time to show how much individuals and communities can help each other and band together during this crisis. Putting the focus on other people needs also can help you with alleviate some anxiety and depression by giving you a better sense of purpose during such an uncertain time.

Here are some ideas if you feel able to help those around you and those in vulnerable positions.

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Stay at home

One of the main things that you can be doing to help others is to stay at home. According to ScienceAlert.com one in four people that are infected by the virus are asymptomatic. That means you could be one of the people walking around like a living host not even knowing they are spreading the virus. If you are going out unnecessarily and meeting up with friends and family, you could spread the virus and cost them their lives. Don’t shrug this off as just another seasonal flu. According to the director of the Center for Disease Control for the US, “This virus does have the ability to transmit far easier than flu. It’s probably now about three times as infectious as flu.”(Source NPR.org) If we all stay home, we shouldn’t have to be dealing with this for too much longer. Try your grocery shopping just once a month. That’s right. Meal plan people! Don’t keep going to the store every single day or even every single week. Quit doing that! You are risking exposing yourself or others to this invisible 125 nm(nanometer) monster! So stay home where you can, and don’t meet up with friends or family! 

Contact neighbors 

Now can be a great time to give your neighbor a call to see how they are. Maybe your neighbor is someone that is temporarily stuck somewhere else and needs someone to look after their home. Or if you have a neighbor that has a lose of income with their small business, now is a great time to  If you can help with something, like giving them something they are in need of, like toilet paper or medication, then it is a great way to help each other at this time. Be sure to use gloves so you are not infecting them and I would go so far as using Lysol or other cleaner when dropping them off. In addition, wash or sanitize your hands before and after using gloves. 

Give blood

While there is the pandemic going on, people are still needing help with other illnesses and diseases. So one thing that you could do is to give blood (though it is worth checking what is going on in your area, as some donation centers have stopped). You could also find out what your blood type is with an at home blood type test, so that when you’re able to give blood again, you know what type you are. It is a small thing that can make a big difference. Plasma is almost always needed during pandemics or not and this is a way you could make a little extra money as well. Check with your local blood and plasma centers to see if they are accepting donations at this time.

Don’t spread fear

We can all feel anxious at this time, but now isn’t the time to share every article you have ever read with people or share your thoughts that aren’t based on facts. I try to limit our kids to the constant news bombardment going on with COVID-19. On social media, I also am trying to share positivity among the craziness that this pandemic brings. Spreading panic and fear can be damaging, so think about what you are saying to people, before you say it. You don’t know who may be on the edge of anxiety, depression, or worse. Another small thing that will make a big difference for others(and yourself). 

Food Bank donations

With many people being out of work, even temporarily, it can mean that their finances are taking a big hit. As a result, it means that they may need to rely on food banks and charities in order to feed their families. Most food banks near us are not accepting donations at this time but there will be ways to donate money. Helping those less fortunate than ourselves can be such a good thing, and help us to feel good too.

Call your loved ones that don’t live nearby

These days, extended families are spread apart from sea to shining sea. I have several aunts and uncles that are in their 70s and 80s who live by themselves. It’s important during these times and just regular every day life to reach out to family members and friends that may feel more isolated than most. Plus, you may get to hear some amazing stories along the way.

Post funny YouTube videos, vlogs, podcasts, Facebook lives, Instagram stories, and more!

I think laughter is a great way to get through the stresses of life! Why not help other people by making some videos of your quarantine survival skills or a daily “captain’s log” or other entertaining things such as cooking in quarantine. You could also repost all the funny things that you see on social media that can help people get there minds off of all the craziness. Using your social media account as a source of a “ray of sunshine” in a crazy time could really help people out. 

One of the hardest parts of being quarantined or sheltered in place isn’t what is physically happening, it’s the dialogue or movie playing in our minds 24/7. Michel de Montaigne is one of the people attributed to the quote, “There were many terrible things in my life and most of them never happened.” This means we alot of times cause us more anxiety and trepidation with what we dwell on in our minds than what is truly at hand. Use the above simple ideas to help others during this time and get your mind rethinking and reframed on improving other people’s lives, it might just help you too. And if you are suffering from anxiety and depression especially during the uncertainty, please please please reach out to a medical professional. If the first person doesn’t listen, then find another medical professional until you receive some sort of help or clarity. As always below is the Suicide Prevention Life Line information. Please consider calling them as well.

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 If you are feeling down or depressed for more days than not, please seek medical attention.  If you are feeling like you cannot go on, please call the suicide hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or chat here>>> https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/  Or visit the suicide prevention lifeline  at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/