Besides trying to stay on track with routine, exercise and diet, here's what I've been doing to cope with the Covid-19 lockdown.

I made friends with my Instant Pot... having a big pot of stew in the fridge removes much of the stress of what to make for dinner and reduces trips to the grocery store. I'm fine with eating the same thing day after day; variety can wait until Covid is over. And, so far, so good, I've even lost a few pounds.

I figured out that you can order almost anything online. Got my new printer that way, got some Vitamin D drops that way, got a new popcorn maker that way.

Speaking of Vitamin D, there is some evidence that people with high Vitamin D levels do better, if they contract Covid, than people with low levels. You have to take it daily for it to be properly effective, though. I've taken Vitamin D drops for decades and I never get the flu, so I'm going to keep taking it!

I discovered that if I put library books on hold online, the librarian will bring them right to the library door for me. I can pick up ten books that way; easy-peasy!

I learned how to use Zoom. My friends and I are having our monthly brunch together on Zoom. Our family celebrated my grandsons’ birthdays on Zoom. No, it’s not ideal, it’s not very warm and fuzzy, but we do this to keep ourselves -- and each other -- safe!

When I walk my dogs, I don't socialize with other dog owners now or let strangers pet my dogs. Why? Because dogs and cats can get Covid-19, too. So, protect your pets like you're protecting the rest of your family. A visit to the vet is not what you want right now. Fortunately, dogs and cats don't seem to be able to infect humans.

Even though I never get the flu, to be on the safe side I got a flu shot in early November. I also plan to get a pneumonia shot. There’s an enhanced flu shot for people who have underlying conditions, by the way. One of the big issues with Covid-19 is that it affects the lungs, so protect your lungs!

I now look for ways to do things online that I would normally do in person, like grocery shopping, buying insurance, signing documents (DocuSign), banking and so on.

I recently signed up for Acorn TV (British shows!). I might resubscribe to Netflix and Amazon Prime, too. Even funny cat videos on YouTube are getting old now!

Enjoying my hobbies has sometimes been hard during Covid, but finding some human connections online has helped a lot. I found a Twitch/YouTube streamer who also loves doing housing in the game I play. She has a lovely, supportive community that I'm now part of. Behind their cute or funny online handles are normal people struggling with the craziness, fear and uncertainty that we're all living through. We've had some discussions in Twitch and Discord chats that are very real and very raw at times. These folks help keep me grounded and connected.

I've also been talking to a bunch of cousins that I recently discovered on Ancestry.com. Now that's a real hoot! One of my cousins swears we're related to the legendary Welsh king, Coel Hen! Well, we do have some Welsh in our DNA, so... maybe!

But, regardless of all that, the most important tools in my Covid-19 lockdown toolkit are still: wearing a mask, maintaining social distance and washing my hands! I wear a mask whenever I leave home… and I make sure it covers my nose! I encourage you to do the same: wear a mask, stay away from people, and sanitize the heck out of everything. Only leave home when necessary. When you get home, remove your shoes at the door and put your slippers on; do not track germs into the house. And wash your hands thoroughly as soon as you get home.

Stay safe, don't let up on the protocols... a vaccine isn't too far away and we can survive until then, if we stay vigilant.

And, if you would like specific tools for keeping healthy as someone with a vestibular disorder, check out our Wellness Toolkit.

~ Andrea Wilson, Webmaster, Balance & Dizziness Canada