Share the Love – From a Distance!

At least for several weeks, social distancing is going to be the new norm. Sheltering in place is also necessary as we watch the cases of COVID-19 increase. But the good news is that these new norms do not have to take the fun out of life. With a little creativity and a mind open to trying new things, you can make this time enjoyable and fulfilling.

Communication
While many people use video calls every so often at work, now is the time to widen the field and include family and friends in these calls. Your older relatives may feel especially isolated now, but you can help reduce those feelings with a video call.

Fun Times in the Good Old Backyard
Social distancing and sheltering in place do not mean you cannot go outdoors. You can use this time to get reacquainted with your own backyard. Yard games, picnics and other activities are certainly allowed. The six feet distance rule does not apply to your family group, so you can have plenty of good times together as a family. You can even venture outside of your backyard as long as you keep at least at six-foot distance from others not in your family group.

Learn Something New
Not everyone is going to have a lot of free time during the shelter in place mandate, but for those who do, this is a great time to explore new things. Here are several ideas to get your started

• Check out webcams. Have you ever watched wildlife in another part of the world? You can easily do this by doing a search for wildlife webcams. You will find a variety of locations worldwide to explore.
• Take a virtual tour. Visit the Louvre or Yosemite virtually from the comfort of your home.
• Explore online courses. There are many free online courses covering a vast array of topics from cooking, to languages, science, math and just about anything you can imagine.
• Take up a new hobby. There are videos online to help you learn how to do anything. Music lessons, woodworking, painting, needle-crafting and hobbies you have yet to learn about have tutorials online.

Dr. Rousso and his medical team encourage you to stay home, stay well and discover all the fun and interesting things you can do while social distancing and sheltering in place.