Finding happiness in the darkness

By now, many of us are probably tired of scrolling through our news feeds and seeing stories about the Coronavirus. It’s likely you’ve been forced to sacrifice something you cared about and the alternative, spending weeks inside with your immediate family and no escape, doesn’t sound very appealing.

Life has shifted rapidly, all of us suddenly staring at the same couple walls and feeling confined. You may be as desperate for entertainment as my family and discover the existence of ESPN-8. We spent one particularly memorable evening watching the College Slippery Stairs Championship, a sport as deadly as the moniker makes it seem.

However, there are many options for entertainment. My personal suggestions are stand-up comedy shows on Netflix. Some of my favorite comedians—including Trevor Noah, John Muleny, Bo Burham and Ronny Chieng—have filmed hour-long specials which are available for streaming on the platform. It gives my brain a distraction from the stress and anxiety of daily life.

Another activity which may help you decompress is reading. I prefer fiction, and it’s much more interesting to picture characters fighting a battle in a far-way land that listen to the daily press conferences.  An app called Overdrive (available in the App Store) allows you to download books for free with only a library card. It has been a lifesaver, especially with not being able to venture to the library right now.

Throughout this stressful period of history, I have also taken up baking. LOVE THE BAKING!!With everyone being home during the day, my family has constantly asked for cookies or brownies to consume after meals. Trying out new recipes, I have discovered a few fan favorites. Peanut butter, chocolate chip, and oatmeal raisin have seemed in the lead. Baking allows you to have total control for a while, the stress of the world around us evaporating, taking second place to precise measuring of ingredients.  

What makes an activity enjoyable is your comfort level. If you are more of a Fortnite person or someone who prefers to do their hair and makeup every morning, go for it. What makes these strategies work is the person behind them and they aren’t necessarily one-size-fits-all. Just remember that we are all experiencing the same fear and uncertainty, trying to survive this mess. Ask for help if you need it and don’t be afraid to express how you truly feel.