Survive & Thrive Resource Roundup

Dear Readers,

Early in the pandemic, I did little else but try to keep up with non-stop developments and post the best resources I could find for you (and for myself).

Things just kept changing, though, and it became too much for me to keep updating this page. I’m sure you understand, and can maybe even relate…?

I also wrote some blog posts that you might still find informative, useful, reassuring, or comforting:

Thriving in the Midst of Chaos

Our Ancestors and the 1918 Spanish Flu

Are you wasting your “free time”?

Are you feeling adrift too?

If you haven’t seen these videos, I recommend them for a bit of perspective and levity:

Explaining the Pandemic to my Past Self

Explaining the Pandemic to my Past Self Part 2

Explaining the Pandemic to my Past Self Part 3

There’s still plenty of good stuff on the list, too, though!

And I continue to post helpful resources on social media.

Meanwhile, I hope you are surviving, if not thriving, in this unbelievable year!

— Hazel Thornton 10/9/20

LAST UPDATED May 18, 2020:

What do organizers do when the going gets tough?

Flatten the Curve — TP edition (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

They gather resources and make lists, of course!

Normally, I provide resources to help you find the freedom of getting Organized for Life. To become and stay organized in various ways.

But this era of the COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic is not normal. Things have changed, and time will tell which changes are temporary and which are permanent.

Getting organized allows you to gain control — and peace of mind — over your space, time, and life. And life feels scary right now because everything seems out of control.

But not everything has to change.

(And, let’s not be so hasty in getting back to “normal” after The Great Pause.)

Things are scary right now, but not everything has to change. You can not only survive, but thrive, in the midst of chaos. Share on X

You can still control many of the things in your everyday life.

How? Here’s a list. Let me know if something you find here helps you in some way, OK?

Please share this list with people you care about ….and keep calm, stay home, and wash your hands!

Stay Informed

World Health Organization
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Coronavirus Tracker (the one created by a smart high-school kid, which is continually adding new features)
COVID-19 Projections (Charts for every state showing projected hospital resource use based on COVID-19 deaths. The model assumes continued social distancing until the end of May 2020. By IHME, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation)
Allsides.com (provides news from all viewpoints, so you can decide for yourself)
The Workers Who Face the Greatest Coronavirus Risk (New York Times)
How Bad Will the Coronavirus Outbreak Get? Here Are 6 Key Factors (New York Times)
The US has one week to enforce social distancing and ‘flatten the curve’ as the coronavirus outbreak escalates. Here’s why these days are so critical. (Business Insider — written March 17)
Covid Conversations (new weekly YouTube series by an Albuquerque doctor)
Fact Check: Coronavirus Viral Rumor Rundown (AllSides)
Prepare for the Ultimate Gaslighting: You are not crazy, my friends (Medium) Let’s not be so hasty in getting back to “normal” after The Great Pause.
Albuquerque

Stay Healthy

The Risks – Know Them – Avoid Them (Erin Bromage – her background) This very practical, science-based article describes a variety of everyday situations and explains why some are more dangerous than others.
So you really want to see your friends? Here’s how to assess the risk. (LA Times) More very practical situations.
Masks: I don’t think there exists an article or video that covers ALL aspects of this topic, from who should wear what type of mask, under what circumstances, and why. And that’s the problem. We all get bits and pieces of information that sounds good, but we never get the whole picture….and things change….and then we argue about it.
- COVID-19: What you need to know before wearing a mask (CBC.CA video — Dr. Samir Gupta) This is the most succinct and most helpful explanation I’ve seen thus far (April 8, 2020).
- How NOT to Wear a Mask (New York Times)
- Regarding DIY masks: There are umpteen videos on YouTube about how to make your own cloth mask, from sew to no-sew, from fitted to not so much. (I’m guessing that if you’re inclined to sew masks you’ve already scoped out a pattern you like.) My current understanding (which has evolved as we all learn) is that they’re ALL helpful in the situations described in the COVID-19 CBC.CA video above. (So, please watch it!) And wearing a cloth mask in public is more for protecting others (because you may carry the virus and not know it) than it is for protecting yourself. And a DIY mask would not be enough protection if caring for a known COVID-19 patient. My personal advice is to conduct your own experiment. If you have a spray bottle, try spraying water through your cloth mask (imperfectly simulating yourself coughing or sneezing) while holding the mask/cloth up to a background that allows you to see the spray. If the spray goes straight through the mask or proposed material, add another layer. When I did this with a cotton t-shirt, one layer stopped nothing. But two layers were surprisingly effective. I had to fold my thin, worn bandana into 4 layers to get the same effect. Too many layers, of course, and you can’t breathe. (I didn’t try this, but a friend suggests trying to blow out a candle through your mask.)
How coronavirus symptoms compare with those of the flu, allergies, and the common cold (Business Insider)
Self-care Tips if you become sick with COVID-19 <– PLEASE NOTE: These tips include the advice to alternate between ibuprofen (Advil) and acetaminophen/paracetamol (Tylenol). You may have seen (as I have) conflicting advice on this point. Please note the date on any advice you see. AS OF MARCH 19, W.H.O. does NOT recommend AGAINST the use of ibuprofen.
How to safely order food delivery, takeout and groceries during coronavirus quarantines (CNET)
How to properly wipe down your groceries (Video — CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta)
Should You Keep Your Health Care Appointments During the COVID-19 Outbreak?
Viral video with gloves and paint shows why we should be following the handwashing diagrams exactly (Metro)
I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor handwashing video)
Why you shouldn’t make your own hand sanitizer (CNET)
The Sanitizer Everyone Has at Home and Will Never Run Out Of (Apartment Therapy)
Why hand washing really could slow down an epidemic (MedicalNewsToday)
A Tale of Two Cities: The Catastrophic 1918 Flu Pandemic Can Guide City Policymakers Today (CityHealth) The story of how differently St. Louis and Philadelphia handled the Spanish Flu, and their vastly different outcomes.
Sleep Resource Roundup (Org4life — having trouble sleeping?)
Stand Up! (It’s an Apple app — They call it “The Work Break Timer”; I use it to remind me to stand up, stretch, walk around, and get a drink of water.)
Avoiding Secondary Traumatization & Survivor Guilt During the Covid-19 Pandemic (VIDEO — Debbie Stanley)
That Discomfort You’re Feeling Is Grief (Harvard Business Review)
How virus transmits? Japanese captured it on highly powerful camera. (Kasauli TV)
Belgian-Dutch Study: Why in times of COVID-19 you should not walk/run/bike close to each other. (Medium)

Stay Prepared and Helpful

Emergency Preparedness Resource Roundup (Org4life)
Organizing to De-Stress a Major or Chronic Illness (in case you or someone you love gets sick)
Is it Ethical to Order Delivery During a Pandemic? (Wired — My strategy: Be nice — because there WILL be shortages and delays — and tip generously.)
Instacart Tipping Etiquette: Should You Tip Your Driver? (Gigworker) Spoiler alert: Of course you should!
7 Ways to Help Your Neighbors During Coronavirus (Nextdoor Blog)
Disinfecting wipes are being flushed down toilets and causing major pipe problems (CNN — Don’t do that!)
Stories of Caremongering during the COVID-19 pandemic (The Globe and Mail Canada)
A Facebook group matches RVs that are sitting idle with health care workers who need a place to isolate after long hospital shifts (CNN)
Planning my virtual funeral – who’s with me? (Org4life — People are dying and we can’t have in-person funerals for a while. Just sayin’.)

Stay Productive and Focused (…or not…)

Are you wasting your “free time”? (Org4life)
The Now Normal: When the New Normal Changes Quickly (Julie Bestry)
Maximizing Productivity While Working from Home – COVID 19 (Ellen Faye)
Reconsidering Productivity (Seana Turner suggests we need to give ourselves a break, and I agree.)
19 Ways To Be Productive During COVID-19 (Lori Vandekrol covers everything from offices, schedules, homes, yourself, and others. If you aren’t feeling motivated, I recommend reading the list in reverse order!)
COVID-19 Daily Schedule (This much-parodied and ridiculed graphic was created for parents and kids who do crave a bit of structure in their day. If you don’t, look away! Are you kid-less? Try using it as inspiration for scheduling your own day.)
Business Tools for Introverts (…and for extraverts during social distancing.)
Resource Roundups for DIY Organizing (Org4life — So many topics! Here’s one that may interest you at this time: Spring Cleaning Resource Roundup (Spoiler alert: Some of the resources are about not cleaning.)
Growing a Vegetable Garden Might Be Just What You Need During the Coronavirus Crisis (Architectural Digest)
Getting Back on Track (Org4life — I’d say we’ve ALL been forced off the track lately!)
Working from Home – Productivity & Organizing Blog Carnival (Janet Barclay – Finding it a challenge to work from home? This blog carnival covers all the bases: productivity, distractions, kids, environment, time, technology, weight gain, you name it!)
Don’t feel like ‘getting things done’? It’s okay not to be productive during a pandemic. (Washington Post)

Stay Grateful, Creative, Entertained, and Inspired

Thriving in the Midst of Chaos (Org4life)
Social Distancing: Introverts, we’re up! (Introvert Retreat)
No, Your Coronavirus Quarantine Is Not Just Like Being in Prison (The Marshall Project)
Stuck at Home? These 12 Famous Museums Offer Virtual Tours You Can Take on Your Couch (Video) (Travel + Leisure)
The Hidden Worlds of the National Parks (virtual Google tours and interactive learning)
Beat the COVID-19 Blues With Your Photos (Pix & TALES)
Fun With Photos Series (PPO Studio blog posts)
50 Plus Easy Indoor Activities for Kids (Hello, Wonderful)
193 Exciting Free Educational Resources for Kids (Ronni Eisenberg — Not just for kids!)
Albuquerque Library Digital Resources (ebooks, audiobooks, videos, educational resources)
28+ Free Online Courses Being Offered During the Coronavirus Pandemic (Parade)
WashYourLyrics (Generate your own handwashing infographics based on your favorite song lyrics!)
Toilet Roll Calculator (How long will yours last?)
Conference Call Fun (E Gilliam)
Some Good News (new YouTube series by John Krasinski)
Bluprint (online arts, crafts, cooking and home DIY classes)
Silver Linings (#WeRemember video, The Social Co.)
The Perfect Jigsaw for Every Type of Puzzler (Slate)

Stay Connected

Video chats on Zoom (They’re not just for business anymore!), Facetime (Apple), Messenger (Facebook), Skype, WhatsApp, etc.
Social media — so many platforms to choose from!
Jacquie Lawson (inexpensive e-card subscription)
SendOutCards (electronically-generated paper cards…. they offer a free basic plan these days)
How Writing Letters Can Help You Stay Connected in the New Normal (Thrive Global)
4 tips for seniors to stay connected during coronavirus outbreak (PBS)

Stay Calm

Organizing for Stressful Times (Org4life)
5 Daily Mantras To Get Through The Tougher Anxious Moments (mbgmindfulness)
A Coronavirus Cheat Sheet to Help You Navigate Your Every Freak Out (Medium flow chart)
Don’t panic about shopping, getting delivery or accepting packages (Washington Post)
Is the Virus on My Clothes? My Shoes? My Hair? My Newspaper? (New York Times)
The Great Bell Chant (The End of Suffering) (YouTube video — Wanna lower your blood pressure? Sit back, breathe deeply, and relax for 7 minutes.)
There are reasons to be optimistic regarding the coronavirus (Washington Post)
Let Me Remind You How Smart You Are (Psychology Today)
Always Believe in Yourself (Org4life)
Yoga With Adriene (YouTube channel)
Live Jelly Cam (Monterey Bay Aquarium)

Hazel Thornton