It’s hard to believe that almost four months have passed since the beginning of the coronavirus lock-down. The past couple of months have been turbulent, to say the least, with each new day coming with a wave of new facts, opinions, outbreaks, and unfolding stories surrounding the virus. The #StayHome movement encouraged US citizens to do their part in slowing the spread of COVID-19 by staying inside. This movement, although good intention, has resulted in the outdoors’ portrayal as an unsafe and infected place that poses serious health threats to you and your family. This morning as I was reading the news, I came across an article by the New York Times that discussed the new “get-out” movement - a notion that is entirely contradictory to the #StayHome push. So, why the pivot? I did a bit more research on this new movement. This article will discuss why we were wrong about the outdoors being unsafe, as well as the health benefits of going outside during quarantine.
Outside: The New Safe Place
As additional research continues to come to light regarding COVID-19, the outdoors is becoming more and more attractive each day. Before, the outdoors was seen as a place where you could get infected by an oncoming walker or biker, by sitting at a public picnic table, or by touching an infected door handle. Although these risks do exist, they are relatively small compared to the risks that can manifest in your own home. Of course, when going outside, it’s important to continue practicing the standard precautions such as wearing your mask, keeping your distance from others, and avoiding unnecessary touching of public surfaces. Studies have shown that, if these necessary precautions are taken, the risk of transmitting the virus outdoors is actually lower outside than indoors. These findings, in combination with much of the US going “stir-crazy” from spending extensive amounts of time inside, has led to the recent surge of Americans leaving their homes and spending more time outside.
Cities Across the US Are Following Suit
Across the US, numerous cities are facilitating more outdoor activities. Oakland has shut off 10% of its roads and Cincinnati has begun to take similar measures by closing 25% of streets to provide local restaurants with space to grow their outdoor seating. San Jose is even considering letting local restaurants open in parks and parking lots to satisfy customer demand. Numerous other states are beginning to reopen their golf courses, parks, and beaches. Marty Makary, a surgeon and professor of health policy at the John Hopkins School of Public Health, stated in his latest opinion piece: “The outdoors is not only good for your mental state. It’s also a safer place than indoors.”
The Implications of Isolation on Mental Health
The reality is that COVID-19 social distancing and stay-at-home guidelines have had negative impacts on the mental health of many. As employers and employees across the US have made the transition from office to home, workers are more isolated than ever and are prone to experiencing unusually high levels of loneliness and detachment from the rest of the world. Furthermore, maintaining a healthy work-life balance has proved to be very difficult for some, as working from home has inflicted an unhealthy overlap of the personal and professional lives of newly remote workers. These factors, combined with the uncertainty associated with the global impacts and outcome of the virus itself, have created an exceptionally volatile and stressful environment. Thus, remaining indoors with only your laptop and your phone to keep you company is the perfect storm for feelings of helplessness and powerlessness.
Going Outside Will Help You Disconnect
When it comes to working from home, disconnecting is a must. Going for a walk over your lunch break or a run in the morning is an effective and healthy way to get some air and clear your head. No one should ever sit at their desk for 8 or 9 hours straight. Taking breaks to get outside and move throughout your shift will protect both your physical and emotional health – it will positively impact your overall mood, give you a boost of energy, contribute to a healthy sleeping schedule, help cultivate productivity levels throughout the day, reduce stress, and mitigate your risk of health conditions including anxiety, depression, arthritis, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes.
Flattening the Curve
The #StayHome movement had its purpose: to help slow the spread of the virus and flatten the curve of new infections to allow the US time to improve capacity constraints, testing systems, and facilitate contact tracing. However, as Julia Marcus reports in The Atlantic, “quarantine fatigue” is a real thing – and it’s scary. It’s the result of practicing excessive social and physical distancing measures and eludes to the serious psychological consequences that isolation can have on an individual. And for those who already struggle with depression or anxiety, the effects are felt even more. A poll taken by the Kaiser Family Foundation concluded that nearly half of Americans reported that the period of quarantine has “harmed their mental health” with 19% saying that it has had a “major impact.”
You’re Not Alone
As the entire country continues to navigate these unprecedented times day by day, it’s important to remember that we are all in this together. Joshua Gordon, Director of Mental Health, reported to The Washington Post: “Feeling anxious is part of a normal response to what is going on.” When you’re feeling down, discouraged, alone, useless, or isolated, remember that huge numbers of your fellow citizens are going through the exact same thing and experiencing the exact same thoughts and emotions. Getting outside and socializing (while keeping distance, of course) is one way to keep these negative emotions at bay and instead nurture the positive ones that come with social interaction.