How to Stay Calm and Carry on
Covid-19 has entered our lives, uninvited, and it looks like it’s here to stay for some time… Well – not unless we keep strong and eventually kick the intruder out for good Stay Calm and Carry on. Unable to introduce the weapon – let’s leave it to scientist and medical professionals – we can, however, develop our own means to stand against it for the sake of our own lives and sanity.
First of all – don’t panic
Yes, it is serious; yes – it does kill; and yes – it can reach for every single one of us. Although it is natural to fear, panic may lead to irrational actions, such as questioning the medical research, mistrusting the authorities, and disobeying the rules imposed on us. Instead of following the self-proclaimed experts, who publish their home-made “studies” on the Internet, we should choose those who actually know.
Secondly – follow the rules
Thousands of people have been working on our behalf to find the cure, or at least – keep the virus at bay, and all we can do is to respect and support their efforts. Simple acts, like following the rules of social distancing, face and nose covering, sanitizing and enhanced hygiene maintenance will not hurt us, but the virus will if we allow it.
Thirdly – take advantage
Don’t take the new rules as limitations to your human rights. Instead – find ways to adapt them to your own benefits, and here are just some of the examples:
Make the obligatory face masks as your fashion statements. Since they have become a necessary accessory, you can wear them with style Stay Calm and Carry on. Fashion gurus have already introduced colours and patterns that match your outfit, marketers use them as a new means of promotion, putting logos and slogans of well known companies, and various campaigners are using the space to promote their values.
Nobody stops you from sharing time with friends. You can still have them around, although at limited number. Maybe it is time to evaluate your relationships and choose those who you really feel most comfortable with at your wedding, birthday, or housewarming party. Choose quality over quantity.
How many times have you dreamt of having more space on a crowded train or bus? Now you have a chance, as sitting or standing next to a stranger is becoming a social faux pas. Social distancing rules finally allow you to use the adjacent seat for your bags, while two-way system prevents you from bumping into a passenger rushing like a headless chicken in an opposite direction to catch their train.
Last but not least – stay sane
Distract yourself from worries and find your own peace in activities that you always wanted to do. Take up a new hobby, whether it’s knitting, cooking, yoga or painting-by-numbers. You never know what hidden talents and potentials lie within you, until you try, and now it’s a perfect timing, as you need to keep you mind away from the threats of coronavirus.
Have a walk in the park – nothing soothes better than close contact with nature, many psychologists will say.
Do sports or exercise and release the anger you have towards the new and unpredictable times.
Make yourself useful for the community – become an NHS volunteer, offer to do your neighbour’s shopping, tidy up your closet and share the items you have always kept for “might-become-handy-one-day” moment with those who really need them now Stay Calm and Carry on. A so called selfless good deed releases dopamine, one of the happiness hormones, making you feel better and see the word in brighter colours.
At Mont Rose College we do everything to keep the place safe from Covid-19. Apart from implementing the rules, ensuring no one can enter the building without a mask, providing sanitizing stations and maintaining social distancing, we also make sure that the impact on our staff as well as the existing and potential students is minimal. Our services are conducted as usual, with the use of the Internet and phones. The staff is available for you as it has always been, providing information, guidelines and extra support. Cleanliness in the campus is enhanced, with all the areas regularly disinfected and scrubbed. Visit our website for regular updates and check the recent publications for more information on Covid-19. Remember – life is still going on and we are all in it to win it.