How do you get in the arena when you’re told to stay at home? The COVID-19 outbreak has created quiet chaos for millions of Americans; interrupting our lives, plunging us into uncertainty, and causing us to question everything from our political structures to our own mental health. What can you do to keep yourself going when you don’t even know when you can start your life again? Here’s the most important thing to do to move toward your goals while social distancing.

Reach out.

Social distancing makes it difficult for us to do one of the main things that humans are hard-wired to do - connect with other humans. Isolation and loneliness can kill. Each day choose at least one person to reach out to and do it. Whether it’s calling a loved one, a Facebook messenger conversation, or even getting to know your neighbor (from a safe distance, of course) just a few minutes of connecting with another person releases endorphins and allows us to feel more like ourselves.

Reach out to someone every day.

Reach out even when it’s scary. Reach out even when you’re not sure how the other person feels. So many of us sit in quiet isolation thinking that no one reaches out to us because we’re unloved, while refusing to reach out at the same time. It takes courage and vulnerability to tell someone that you would like to connect, but there’s no winning without getting onto the field of play. So do it now. Find an old friend. Tell your family that you love them. Go outside and waive to the people passing by. We all need connection right now.