THE Covid-19 pandemic has done so much damage to lives, livelihood and psyche of the Filipinos. The end of this crisis is still nowhere in sight. We must have coping mechanisms that can help keep our sanity. SANITY is an acronym I use for attributes that we must develop in order to overcome adversities during the pandemic: Self-esteem, Abilities, Network, Independence, Trust and Youthfulness.

Socialize amid isolation

The pandemic has spawned LOL (loneliness of lockdown), which has caused fear, anxiety, despair and other mental health issues. To survive this LOL, try the following:

1. Inventory your friends. Have a list of friends and relatives, both here and abroad, who can help reduce your loneliness. Don’t socially distance yourself — text them, call them and use social media to stay connected.

2. Volunteer for online community activities. Joining friends and neighbors in community activities could help enhance connectivity and lessen isolation. Just observe physical distancing and other health protocols.

3. Join an online hobby or a choir or a fellowship group. Any hobby related to your interests or passion can alleviate the discomfort and ill effects of isolation. It could expand your network and keep you busy. Often, online groups can be one’s best support system.

Learn something new

The best way to keep the grey cells alive and functioning is to keep learning new things. Here are a few crazy suggestions on what to learn.

4. Schedule movies for the next three months. One fulllength movie a night keeps you learning new things. But don’t just watch. List down the lessons you’ve learned from the movie; critique the plot, screenplay, cinematography, production design and direction.

5. Read at least one nonfiction book per month — printed or online. At least you’ll learn about core competencies as a competitive edge, or why critical race theory should be taught or not in school, or the differences among IQ, EQ and AQ or LGBTQ.

6. Write a book, or at least an article, poem or blog. This helps you express yourself better with an audience that is not face to face. Writing is less threatening for some people, compared to public speaking.

7. Learn body massage from YouTube. You can massage your partner. Massaging yourself can improve the imagination. This could be a crazy idea, but it could help both physiologically and psychologically.

Do something new

Many people have been immobilized by the pandemic. Fear of the virus has led many to do things virtually. Like it or not, we have to adapt to virtual modes these days, but there are a few things we can still do like in the old normal.

8. Do online (or armchair) travel. As health protocols still largely discourage travel abroad, the alternative is to travel abroad from the comfort of your home through virtual reality (VR) technology and 360-degree videography. You can now experience a wild African safari or scuba diving in deep seas and see the Arundel castle as you sit comfortably in your room.

9. Start a garden. Growing your own food (veggies and fruits) is not a bad idea these days. Any open space or pots will do. Seeing signs of life enhances your zest for life itself.

10. Get a new pet, subject to limitations in your home. Caring for a domesticated animal increases your mindfulness about other living beings, stretches your patience and keeps you busy — really busy. I don’t recommend piranhas or the black mamba.

Prepare for death

Actually, people who are prepared to die often outlive their age group. The funny thing about life is that death doesn’t come easy to those willing and ready to face death.

11. If you don’t fare well, don’t simply say farewell. Convince yourself that it’s okay not to be okay. If you’re reading this, you’ve survived one year, three months and nine days since the Luzon lockdown. Just continue coping, and you’ll continue to be okay.

12. Write your will — if you want to be sure that your children will not quarrel after your death. Give instructions and leave authorization letters to your family, including your pass code to ATM, emails, and where to find the key to your safety deposit box. Or better yet, distribute your wealth while you’re alive and live a simple life during the crisis.

13. Prepare for emergencies. Assemble your emergency preparedness kit and keep the legal documents about your property, and a few key survival items in an easy-to-carry kit. Prepare for the worst — mass evacuation or your untimely demise.

Don’t tell me I didn’t warn you — these are crazy tips to keep your sanity. Nothing beats preparation. As long as you’re prepared for any eventuality, you can avoid stress or anxiety. When I see stress or anxiety coming my way, I always say, “Sorry, but my calendar is full. I can’t entertain you now or next week.”

American writer Steve Maraboli wrote: “Nothing is as chaotic as it seems. Nothing is worth diminishing your health. Nothing is worth poisoning yourself into stress, anxiety and fear.”

Here’s one more tip. As you live your life today, keep planning for something significant and meaningful to do in the future. Viktor Emil Frankl, an Austrian neurologist, scientist and Holocaust survivor said: “This is the core of the human spirit … If we can find something to live for — if we can find some meaning to put at the center of our lives — even the worst kind of suffering becomes bearable.”

Ernie Cecilia is the chairman of the Human Capital Committee and the Publication Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham); co-chairman of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines’ (ECOP’s) TWG on Labor Policy and Social Issues; and past president of the People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP). He can be reached at