Social Distancing 101: The Survival Guide

With weeks in this state of being, I know I don't have to go into details about social distancing, essential workers, or the "The Virus that Must Not Be Named." After all, it's all anyone is talking about these days. Morning shows and social media feeds are littered with information—from memes to testimonies to "facts." It's not a stretch to say that this event will be a defining moment in our histories.

Right now, we don't even know when all of this will become history. Many of us are simply in survival mode—how do we get through this and over to the other side? To be honest with you, I definitely shouldn't be your number one source—especially if it's hard facts you're seeking. But if you're just as tired of hearing statistics or seeing infographics as I am, then you've come to the right place. We're here to talk about how to how to survive with more than just our physical bodies in tact. How do we get our minds and our hearts through this experience?

At this stage of the virus, social distancing, quarantine, lockdown, or whatever you want to call it is no foreign concept. And we know the basics. "Six feet apart." "Wash your hands." "Don't touch your face." "Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing." "No large gatherings." We know that what most people can agree on is that social distancing is the most effective way to flatten the curve right now. With still so much in the air about how the virus is spread, how to cure it, and the possible long-lasting consequences of contracting it, it's important to follow these guidelines for your safety and the safety of everyone that may find themselves around you.

What people are just now starting to realize and talk about though, is how taxing practicing social distancing really is. I love a positive and wholesome video about love and hope just as much as the next person, but what we need to come to terms with is that this practice is hard. First responders are working long and dangerous hours. People are out of work and struggling to make ends meet. Small businesses might be forced to close their doors for good. This is hard.

With that comes a mix of emotions. Many have found themselves stressed to the max trying to figure out their next course of action, how this is going to change all their plans for this year, and how to maintain normalcy in uncharted territory.

No one should have to feel bad about being hopeful that life may return to normal soon. No one should be ashamed at admitting they don't want to cancel their big wedding. No one should be disappointed that their big European trip was canceled. Yes, there's a lot at stake here. But that doesn't mean we have to lose our very real and very human emotions being fixated on getting to the other side. Sometimes you can't make lemons out of lemonade. Sometimes your just stuck with the lemons for the time being. And sometimes that sucks.

So what do we need to know about surviving social distancing? The same thing that applies to surviving anything—take it one day at a time, do what feels right for your state of mind, and don't lose your kindness in the process. It's important to keep in mind how your actions could help and hurt others. But the most important thing is taking care of yourself. You need to start in your own backyard first. And maybe once we figure out how to survive relatively unscathed, then we can start focusing on remembering how to actually live.