Time to preserve our sanity in the Midst of the Covid-19 Pandemic

Dear people, one potential damage of the Covid-19 crisis is the deterioration of mental health, with possible long-term negative effects on individuals and society at large. Too many people are glued to their mobile phones, computers, TV screens or radios waiting for the next thing that is said about the pandemic whether from medical experts, journalists, privately produced video clips, or even what I would call bad old social media gossip. Imbibing all this material is causing many to be preoccupied with the pandemic, and hence to be unproductive. In effect, we are increasingly having people experience mental paralysis - an inability to act due to fear of infection and possible death, keeping them from being useful to their families, friends, colleagues and to themselves. It is certainly wise to regularly update oneself about what is happening: watching or listening to the main news programmes on TV or radio is useful. Reading and/or watching a few well-chosen pieces is also helpful. However, spending the whole day watching and/or listening to Covid-19 talk is an addiction, and every addiction is harmful. Let us remember that most patients recover from this thing, and neither will everyone catch it. What will we do when 30 years from now we find ourselves around, but having been mentally wounded from dying a Thousand times before we actually die? When one seriously considers the current palpable mass anxiety, one would imagine people never die from road and plane accidents, terminal illnesses, chronic conditions, crime, among others. Let us please find a balance between information-gathering and maintaining sanity. A lot of the time spent reading every posting and watching every video could actually be fruitfully spent with family, making money online, or completing a project or two that were just not making progress in the normal hustle and bustle of life. Come on! There will be life after Covid-19, and many of us will be part of it; and whether or not we shall be, it does not make sense to spend these crucial days in fruitless anxiety. Instead, let us take each and every precautionary measure recommended by experts, but let us protect ourselves from becoming mentally ill. Let us arise and be productive: spend quality time with family; call and cheer up family and friends who live alone; clear that clutter which you have wanted to get rid of for years; read that book which you have always wanted to read, but have not found time to do so; complete that research paper; write that newspaper article, poem, novel, play or song; explore new business opportunities online, among many other things waiting for your attention; and if you find these thoughts helpful, pass them on!