Tornado Project

Title

Feels Like a Dream

Description

Mostly well, all things considering--though I haven't been sleeping right--my mind keeps thinking of COVID and I've been having nightmares.

I am isolating with two roommates--I have two other roommates, but they're isolating elsewhere.

I try to keep a daily routine. Sometimes the days blend together.

For most weekdays, I wake up around 7:45 am, even if I don't have to. Two days per week, I work for my paid internship, which I can do remotely. I've set up a desk in the basement so I can focus better and keep my room for sleeping (sleep hygiene!). My roommates are very respectful of my work hours. After I wake up, I "commute" (i.e., set up my workspace for the day) and then make coffee, just like I would if I were going to campus to work on my thesis, or going into the office for my internship. I've been exercising daily, just like I would if I could still go to the gym. Sometimes a personal workout, sometimes a live workout hosted by a coach at my gym, sometimes with my roommates.

That's been fun, in some ways--getting to know those two roommates better. We've had a board game night, a movie night, walks together. Usually, we'd go out to socialize. Instead, we're really the only physical company we have. We've set up a daily cleaning schedule so that we disinfect high-touch areas (e.g., doorknobs, microwave buttons, faucets) as well as the floor.

But I'm *very* glad I don't have kids right now. I think I'd go crazy without the ability to retreat into my own space. In some ways, this has been relaxing? I'm able to read and game without any obligation to go anywhere and socialize with people. There's no commute for anything.

My worklife is mostly unchanged. I have been fortunate in that I can work from home for both my paid internship and my graduate school research. But the conferences I was going to attend were cancelled, so I'm disappointed that I won't be able to disseminate my work in the same way.

I'm worried that the effects of social distancing measures, while needed, will hurt small business owners who can't operate during this time. I'm worried that so many things are going to close forever. I'm also concerned that people who don't respect the risks of COVID-19 (e.g., protesters) are going to prolong this situation further. I'm asthmatic, so if I got COVID I'm not sure I'd live.

No, thankfully

I'm not sure. I try to avoid the coverage aside from the daily London numbers because it's been making me anxious and impacting my sleep.

I think there's a high risk that it will rebound if we "open up" too soon.

People may see flu season differently... hopefully we will be practicing good habits so that fewer people get sick. And appreciating social gatherings more.

I just wish it were over.

Creator

Laura Johnson

Date

April 29, 2020

Item sets

COVID-19 Collection

This item was submitted on April 29, 2020 by [anonymous user] using the form “Questions” on the site “COVID-19 in London, Ontario”: https://verne.lib.uwo.ca/s/covid19