In a recent interview for Yediot Achronot, a leading Israeli newspaper, Professor Dan Ariely, a renowned researcher in behavioral economics, offered his view on various aspects of the Coronavirus crisis. The interview concluded with Dr. Ariely’s five tips for reducing anxiety during this time, with the first being this:
“We routinely have long-term plans that give us hope and motivation. ‘In August I will fly for vacation and in April two years from now I will change the car’, and suddenly we have none. I think we need to make plans even though chances are they will not materialize. Schedule a flight to Thailand for February, for example, and take into account that it may be postponed to February of next year. Do not buy a ticket but buy a book about Thailand, check out places you would like to travel to. The temptation is to say it’s a waste of time, but it’s not – programs give us a future, motivate us and reduce anxiety.”
Imagination is a powerful tool that keeps the human spirit steady at times of stress. Many works of art of every genre were inspired by people struggling or suffering stress, and using their imagination to create an alternative reality that informed their art.
The practical application for us in our collective struggle through the Covid-19 pandemic is to employ our imagination for a good, self-serving cause. This private mental room can provide spiritual uplifting, shine hope, and dispel despair when other means of achieving that are limited. This idea can be utilized to make plans for a later time, when such plans could be acted on, or assess a current situation and draft goals to reach when you could, once the restrains of Covid are lifted.
Remember, even when you feel lonely, you are not alone. Reach out and call, text, email, or yell across the street. Friends and caring souls are everywhere. We are all in this together.
Stay healthy and safe.