As our islands move into high alert and we close and self isolate to break the back of contagion, our process of change should be viewed as less of a threat and more of opportunity.  It’s a chance to re think, use our resilience and show what we do, how we do it and, in this suddenly new world, how we adapt.

One of the major side effects of COVID-19 must inevitably be frustration and all the ensuing psychological difficulties which come with it.

We are human.  We work with trial and error, but generally we love consistency and order, a set of simple repetitive procedures which keep us confident and content.

The very idea of confinement raises thoughts of claustrophobia and imprisonment, irritation and an impending flood of wasted time. “What am I going to do now?”

Well here are some thoughts which may assist your new schedule from becoming less incarceration and more preparation and opportunity.

• If we need continuity, then make sure that you wake up at the same time you have always done when going to work.

Bathe, clean clothes, wash hands.  
Don’t touch face.

• Maintain a breakfast, lunch and dinner protocol.  Same time as usual, or should be!

Wash hands.

• Reduce on portions, keep a balanced diet.  
  Worry or stress can make you eat. Unfocused days will make you do the same.  
  “I was not affected by the virus, but I put on some weight” is not the ideal endgame from this pandemic!

Wash hands.  Don’t touch face.

• If you are a walker, or runner, keep it going, every day if you can.  It reduces accumulated stress, while making sure that your machinery is well oiled and flexible.  Be sensible.  
  This is not the exercise yard.  You don’t need to make friends. You need to avoid them.

After, bathe, clean clothes, wash hands.  Don’t touch face.  

• Runner or not, make room for consistent hydration; not only water, but hot drinks too.  They make you perspire, reduce your temperature and kill any impending virus in your throat which may find its way to your lungs.
• You are in the Caribbean, the market for fresh and healthy!  Ginger, cinnamon, clove and bayleaf make a tea which is out of this world!  
  Time to ask your elders just what they do! ..but call, don’t visit!
• In fact, within reason, spreading the love helps everyone. Whenever you get the chance in the middle of your new schedule, call someone you care about, someone you know and let them know you are thinking of them.  
  It’s the true secret to recovery.

• Cough?
  Cover with disposable tissue and discard to a sealed bag.

Wash hands.  Don’t touch face.

• Set goals.  Monday I will clean the closets, Tuesday clean the garage, Wednesday prune the trees, etc.  The key is ‘cleaning’, creating order.  There is nothing more satisfying than tidying up confusion.  

During this, Wash hands.  
Don’t touch face.

• Now you have transformed your home to a clean machine, try to make these cleaning forays in the morning.  
• Leave the afternoon for more intense efforts like maintenance, making solid plans for projects you have promised yourself, sourcing materials and howto’s and begin those preparations.
• Writing it down makes it real.  You don’t lose good ideas or misplace useful thoughts, especially when you are planning long term.
• To be really organised, use a notebook or individual pages for each project.  Sketch what you are going to do.  No, you may not be Leonardo. but if you understand it, that’s what you need to know!
• Spend some time on YouTube.  Experience shows there are very few projects that are not covered in part, or completely with many versions, on this true information highway.
  But beware. The Caribbean generally does not carry many of the quick fix products which may be easily found in US stores.  Adaptation, as always, is the Caribbean skill!

Now wash hands.  Don’t touch face.  Rehydrate.  Hot tea, piece of fruit, some nuts. Back to it.

At ECMIL we continue to service our customers, in the knowledge that locally, 'at home' means a chance to catch up with home work; mending roofs and guttering, cleaning, casting paths, fixing fences, installing new PVC pipes and connecting up water tanks.

For the moment our materials are available, however, due to WHO health and safety guidelines and recommended social distancing, calling ahead, confirming orders and collection should be done, with the least social contact possible, respecting cleanliness and space.

For our international customers, gladly, inter island shipping is still available for cargo, although schedules may vary dependant upon the availability of boats, or independent Government protocols.

We urge everyone to view this time as a moment to reflect, rest recharge, tidy, organise and be cognisant that following common sense directives are for the good of all of us.  

If we work together by keeping our distance, increasing our sanitation, caring for our most vulnerable and being our brother and sister’s keeper, our time of crisis will evolve to become our greatest benefit.

The Caribbean and its people are resilient and by nature, are survivors.

Let’s be close in spirit, keep our distance, wash hands, don’t touch our faces and weather this, as we do every other storm.