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Social Distancing: It Isn’t Fun, but It’s Better Than It Once Was

It may be boring, but at least you have TV and the internet.

By:  |  April 2, 2020  |    374 Words
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(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

The Coronavirus pandemic has forced people to practice social distancing to help prevent the spread of the virus. While COVID-19 is tragic, the pandemic couldn’t have come at a better time for the population to practice distancing while still being able to be connected to others and the outside world.

In 1918, the Spanish Flu pandemic swept across the globe, infecting approximately 500 million people and killing about 50 million. Scientists had not yet discovered viruses or how to treat them, and personal hygiene methods were not as developed as they are today. Social distancing was practiced but on a much smaller scale.

Self-isolation during that time would have meant sitting at home, perhaps only with candlelight since electricity was new and could be unreliable. Entertainment choices would have been slim indeed: reading, sewing, playing a musical instrument.

Today, however, modern technology has made this time of social distancing more bearable than it would have been 100 years ago. Facebook and other social media sites make it easy for us to keep up with friends and family to make sure they are okay, share recipes and jokes, and still feel connected. Video chat adds more connection to each other, giving us the ability to hear and see our loved ones. And now, students don’t have to miss their studies and can continue their education online.

Aside from playing Xbox or binge-watching Netflix, we still have a lot of other activities to keep us occupied while being holed up at home. Reading a good book or five is always a good choice that stimulates the imagination and keeps the brain busy. Daily exercise is also an important activity, and you can change up the routine to keep it interesting.

Now is also an excellent time to help others. Do you have a closet full of clothes you no longer wear? Homeless shelters, for one, would probably be glad to come and pick up these needed items.

Yes, it may be boring sitting inside the house for days on end, but video and computer games provide a fun escape as well. With all of the technical wonders available today, practicing social distancing during the Coronavirus crisis is a lot easier than it was during the Spanish Flu pandemic.

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