It's going to be a tough few weeks for everyone as more countries impose lockdowns to fight #COVID19. In Italy, we'll have it until April 3 at the earliest.
Here are some tips @_silviagatta and I learned over the past ~10 days of lockdown here in Rome.
A thread. 🧵
Here are some tips @_silviagatta and I learned over the past ~10 days of lockdown here in Rome.
A thread. 🧵
🏠 First and foremost: stay home as much as possible.
For a while, we'll all have to sacrifice activities like going to the movies, concerts, shopping, or just hanging out in public. It may seem easy at first, then it'll soon feel impossible. It sucks, but it's necessary.
For a while, we'll all have to sacrifice activities like going to the movies, concerts, shopping, or just hanging out in public. It may seem easy at first, then it'll soon feel impossible. It sucks, but it's necessary.
🧼 Wash your hands often and disinfect things.
If you have to go out (for groceries / pharmacy / an emergency), consider disinfecting your keys, shoes, and phone when you're back home. Clean your coat/jacket and wash clothes you've used outside.
If you have to go out (for groceries / pharmacy / an emergency), consider disinfecting your keys, shoes, and phone when you're back home. Clean your coat/jacket and wash clothes you've used outside.
📰 Read the news and stay informed, but try to "unplug" as well.
It's absolutely important to keep on top of what your government is saying. However Silvia and I have discovered that leaving the news on all day was making us miserable. Distractions are also important!
It's absolutely important to keep on top of what your government is saying. However Silvia and I have discovered that leaving the news on all day was making us miserable. Distractions are also important!
📱 Beware of fake news spreading on social networks / WhatsApp / etc.
Here in Italy we've seen so many "unreported news" spreading on WhatsApp that turned out to be total hoaxes. Read reputable sources and support quality journalism. Always double-check headlines.
Here in Italy we've seen so many "unreported news" spreading on WhatsApp that turned out to be total hoaxes. Read reputable sources and support quality journalism. Always double-check headlines.
🥫Don't stockpile food and remember that other people are also trying to buy groceries.
Here in Italy, only one person per family can go to the supermarket. I've been trying to go once a week so food doesn't go to waste and others can also buy fresh groceries. Don't panic-buy.
Here in Italy, only one person per family can go to the supermarket. I've been trying to go once a week so food doesn't go to waste and others can also buy fresh groceries. Don't panic-buy.
🥘 Speaking of which: now's a great time to learn how to cook!
Whether you want to try new recipes or start with the basics, cooking meals at home is a fantastic activity to do with a partner/roommate and a great distraction. Watch tutorials online and just try.
Whether you want to try new recipes or start with the basics, cooking meals at home is a fantastic activity to do with a partner/roommate and a great distraction. Watch tutorials online and just try.
🎨 Add variety to your day at home.
If you work from home, it's important to establish a routine/office space that makes it feel like work. But if you're looking at a 4-week lockdown, you'll also want to systematically try different things/experiment.
If you work from home, it's important to establish a routine/office space that makes it feel like work. But if you're looking at a 4-week lockdown, you'll also want to systematically try different things/experiment.
🎮 Practice a hobby that you normally wouldn't have as much time for.
Listen to music, play video games, read books, listen to podcasts, watch a TV series (plenty of those these days!). Etc.
We're finding it absolutely necessary to do things that distract us from the lockdown.
Listen to music, play video games, read books, listen to podcasts, watch a TV series (plenty of those these days!). Etc.
We're finding it absolutely necessary to do things that distract us from the lockdown.
🗃 Reorganize something.
Whether it's your garage, closet, old photos, music or videogame collection, find something you haven't reorganized in a while and take care of it. It's great to rediscover old memories/lost objects and it's another way to spend an afternoon.
Whether it's your garage, closet, old photos, music or videogame collection, find something you haven't reorganized in a while and take care of it. It's great to rediscover old memories/lost objects and it's another way to spend an afternoon.
🐶 If you can't play with your dog inside, take a short walk, but avoid close proximity to other people.
Dogs parks are closed here in Rome, so we had to come up with different activities for Zelda and Ginger. It's a struggle because they're *very* active, but it's doable.
Dogs parks are closed here in Rome, so we had to come up with different activities for Zelda and Ginger. It's a struggle because they're *very* active, but it's doable.
🏋️♀️ Get some exercise done.
Mens sana in corpore sano, as the Romans said. Your psychological and physical well-being are tied to each other, and staying locked inside for weeks doesn't help either. Plenty of videos on YouTube for creative home workouts.
Mens sana in corpore sano, as the Romans said. Your psychological and physical well-being are tied to each other, and staying locked inside for weeks doesn't help either. Plenty of videos on YouTube for creative home workouts.
💰 If you can, donate money to hospitals or local health organizations.
Doctors and nurses are the real heroes right now, and they need our help. In Italy, they're working overtime with absurd shifts and ICUs are out of ventilators. If you can help even just a little, do it.
Doctors and nurses are the real heroes right now, and they need our help. In Italy, they're working overtime with absurd shifts and ICUs are out of ventilators. If you can help even just a little, do it.
🧍♀️🧍🧍♂️ Check on your friends and neighbors, especially the older ones.
Community is extremely important right now. We need to be there for each other even if we're physically distant. Send messages, use Group FaceTime/Skype/Houseparty/etc. to keep in touch and check on others.
Community is extremely important right now. We need to be there for each other even if we're physically distant. Send messages, use Group FaceTime/Skype/Houseparty/etc. to keep in touch and check on others.
👵🧓👴 If you've recently been in a crowded place, try to avoid your parents/grandparents for a while.
I know: it sucks. I haven't seen my parents in weeks because my dad is 82, and he's more at risk than others if he gets infected. If you can't, hygienic tips above apply.
I know: it sucks. I haven't seen my parents in weeks because my dad is 82, and he's more at risk than others if he gets infected. If you can't, hygienic tips above apply.
⏳ Be patient.
Even if you're asymptomatic and young, remember it's not just about not getting the virus – it's also about *not spreading it* unintentionally.
Practice your sense of human responsibility. We're all sacrificing something to get out of this sooner.
Even if you're asymptomatic and young, remember it's not just about not getting the virus – it's also about *not spreading it* unintentionally.
Practice your sense of human responsibility. We're all sacrificing something to get out of this sooner.
❤️ And finally: be optimistic and believe in human resiliency.
There are people much smarter than all of us working 24/7 to fight and contain #COVID19. And we will. But until that happens, we need to live with a bit less today, so we can appreciate everything more tomorrow.
There are people much smarter than all of us working 24/7 to fight and contain #COVID19. And we will. But until that happens, we need to live with a bit less today, so we can appreciate everything more tomorrow.
