20 Things Only Highly Creative People Would Understand

There’s no argument anymore. Neuroscience confirms that highly creative people think and act differently than the average person. Our brains are literally hardwired in a unique way. But that gift can often strain relationships. I experience it firsthand while working with artists, manager, strategists ... etc

If you love a highly creative person, you probably experience moments when it seems like we live in a completely different world than you. Truth is, we do. But trying to change us isn’t nearly as effective as trying to understand us.

It all begins by seeing the world through our lens and remembering these 20 things:

1. We have a mind that never slows down.

The creative mind is a non-stop machine fueled by intense curiosity. There is no pause button and no way to power it down. This can be exhausting at times but it is also the source of some crazy fun activities and conversations.

2. We challenge the status quo.

Two questions drive every creative person more than any others: What if? and Why not? We question what everyone else takes at face value. While uncomfortable for those around them, it’s this ability that enables creatives to redefine what’s possible.

3. We embrace their genius even if others don’t.

Creative individuals would rather be authentic than popular. Staying true to who we are, without compromise, is how we define success even if means being misunderstood or marginalized.

4. We have difficulty staying on task.

Highly creative people are energized by taking big mental leaps and starting new things. Existing projects can turn into boring slogs when the promise of something new and exciting grabs our attention.

5. We create in cycles.

Creativity has a rhythm that flows between periods of high, sometimes manic, activity and slow times that can feel like slumps. Each period is necessary and can’t be skipped just like the natural seasons are interdependent and necessary.

6. We need time to feed their souls.

No one can drive cross-country on a single take of gas. In the same way, creative people need to frequently renew their source of inspiration and drive. Often, this requires solitude for periods of time.

7. We need space to create.

Having the right environment is essential to peak creativity. It may be a studio, a coffee shop, or a quiet corner of the house. Wherever it is, allow us to set the boundaries and respect them.

8. We focus intensely.

We as highly creative people tune the entire world out when we‘re focused on work. We cannot multi-task effectively and it can take twenty minutes to re-focus after being interrupted, even if the interruption was only twenty seconds.

9. We feel deeply.

Creativity is about human expression and communicating deeply. It’s impossible to give what you don’t have, and you can only take someone as far as you have gone yourself. An artist must scream at the page if they want a whisper to be heard. In the same way, a creative person must feel deep if we are to communicate deeply.

10. We live on the edge of joy and depression.

Because they feel deeply, highly we often can quickly shift from joy to sadness or even depression. Our sensitive heart, while the source of our brilliance, is also the source of our suffering.

11. We think and speak in stories.

Facts will never move the human heart like storytelling can. We highly creative people, especially artists, know this and weave stories into everything we do. It takes longer for us to explain something, explaining isn’t the point. The experience is.

“Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance.” 

*Steven Pressfield, author of The War of Art

12. We battle Resistance every day.

We wake up every morning, fully aware of the need to grow and push ourselves. But there is always the fear, Resistance as Pressfield calls it, that we don’t have what it takes. No matter how successful we are, that fear never goes away. We simply learn to deal with it, or not.

13. We take our work personally.

Creative work is a raw expression of the person who created it. Often, we aren’t able to separate ourselves from it, so every critique is seen either as a validation or condemnation of our self-worth.

14. We have a hard time believing in ourselves.

Even the seemingly self-confident creative person often wonders, Am I good enough? We constantly compare our work with others and fail to see our own brilliance, which may be obvious to everyone else.

15. We are deeply intuitive.

Science still fails to explain the How and Why of creativity. Yet, we know instinctively how to flow in it time and again. We will tell you that it can’t be understood, only experienced firsthand.

16. We often use procrastination as a tool.

We are notorious procrastinators because many of us do our best work under pressure. We will subconsciously, and sometimes purposefully, delay our work until the last minute simply to experience the rush of the challenge.

17. We are addicted to creative flow.

Recent discoveries in neuroscience reveal that “the flow state” might be the most addictive experience on earth. The mental and emotional payoff is why highly creative people will suffer through the highs and lows of creativity. It’s the staying power. In a real sense, we are addicted to the thrill of creating.

18. We have difficulty finishing projects.

The initial stage of the creative process is fast moving and charged with excitement. Often, they will abandon projects that are too familiar in order to experience the initial flow that comes at the beginning.

19. We connect dots better than others.

True creativity, Steve Jobs once said, is little more than connecting the dots. It’s seeing patterns before they become obvious to everyone else.

20. We will never grow up.

We long to see through the eyes of a child and never lose a sense of wonder. For us, life is about mystery, adventure, and growing young. Everything else is simply existing, and not true living.

Difficulties of a returning expat

The idea of relocating abroad is nothing new, although this is something that is becoming increasingly popular among British citizens in the modern age. An estimated 323,000 citizens emigrated during 2015, which represented the highest number on record since the height of the great recession in 2008.

An estimated 43% of these emigrants were British, many of whom had reached retirement age and wished to see out their idle years in the warmer climes of Spain and Portugal. Some emigrants are younger and may relocate for work or other reasons, however, and this demographic is more likely to return to the UK at some point in the future. As expats they will need to be prepared for a period of transition when returning to their country of birth, while also keeping the following points in mind:

1. Returning Expats must manage their return in increments

One of the main issues with returning home is reintegrating into local customs, as this can often be as overwhelming as moving abroad in the first place. You should therefore consider your return home as another form of international relocation, as you look to manage your move in increments and gradually rediscover your sense of home.

According to Singapore based medical professional Gwen Sawchuk, the best method is to buy a property back home while still living abroad, planning regular visits and holiday’s to build familiarity and relationships within the local community.

2. Returning expats may face jealousy from friends and loved ones

When you return home, you are likely to have a myriad of tales to share with friends and loved ones. These individuals may be a little jealous of your adventures, however, especially if their lives have remained largely unchanged or uninspiring during this time. By overwhelming them with information about where you have been and the things that you have experienced, you may alienate loved ones or build feelings of resentment.

Instead, find natural conversational openings to share your stories, doling out information slowly and rspecting the feelings of those around you.

3. Returning Expats will need to manage their expectations

Occasionally, expats may return home for reasons outside of their control or due to an unexpected career development. This is the situation that faced young soccer starlet Jack Harper, after the Scottish youth player fulfilled a boyhood dream by Real Madrid and moving to Spain at the age of 13. Having decided that this career path was not bearing fruit, he returned to the UK and currently plies his trade in the south of England with Brighton.

The proactive nature of this decision and willingness to embrace even unwanted career developments is a lesson to all expats, who must manage their expectations when returning home. Not only will their surroundings change dramatically, but their career and work-life balance may also suffer for a transitional period of time.

4. Returning expats may need to adjust in a Transient Community

With cultural and career shifts in mind, there will be a pronounced period of adjustment when returning home as an expat. This may influence the type of region and neighborhood that you look to move into, and attempting to return to your previous home or move into a close-knit community that is resistant to new-comes may prove challenging.

Instead, consider relocating to an area that has a more transient population, where there is a higher turnover of newcomers and a more open sense of community. This will ease your transition and help you to adjust quickly to your new surroundings.

5. Returning Expats should prepare for the fact that old friends may have moved

When planning your return, it may be of some comfort to note that you are returning to the bosom of friends, family and loved ones. Even if you do choose to relocate to your home town and previous abode, however, you will need to prepare for the fact that things may have changed considerably in your absence. Some friends may have relocated themselves, while others may have changed in terms of their personal and outlook.

This means that while some relationships cannot be restored others will need to be rebuilt, so keep this in mind when returning. As engineer and expat Don Merritt has confirmed, we must strive hard to ignore the notions that everything will stay the same back home in our absence.

6. Returning Expats must prepare for cultural and political Transitions

When we first relocate abroad, there is an innate sense of excitement and wonder. This means that we treat even irritating or uncomfortable experiences as cultural anomalies, which in turn helps us to learn and maintain a sense of balance. Such an outlook is reversed when we return home, however, as we no longer have the illusion of cultural or political differences. This means that we must prepare for cultural and political transitions, while also adjusting our outlook in order to remain positive.

Serial-expat Elliott Chen believes that this issue is even more pronounced when returning to the East from the West, thanks primarily to the huge cultural differences that exist and the stifling regulations that are placed on personal liberties in the west.

7. Returning Expats may struggle with slang and everyday communication

It may seem strange to think of communication as an issue for expats, especially as they are returning home and to the land of their native tongue. Despite this, senior content manager Matt Schiavenza struggled to understand the common slang words and phrases that entered the lexicon while he was away and found everyday conversations a struggle.

In this respect, maintaining regular content with folks back home prior to your move may help you to familiarize yourself with new and popular slang words. You may also want to check out the Urban Dictionary online, as this will help you to identify that latest phrases to have entered the mainstream.

8. Returning Expats should have their career plans in place before moving

We have already touched on the importance of treating your return home like the process of international relocation, so it is crucial that you have the next stage of your career development mapped out before you make your move. If you fail to do this, you may find it difficult to source work or realign your business venture while also adjusting to a new environment. This is even more important if you own your own business, as you and you alone are responsible for making such a commercial transition work.

According to the-travel-franchise.com, the UK’s franchise industry alone has seen 20% over the last five years. This is creating a higher number of entrepreneurs and encouraging more people to move regularly between countries, but we must never lose sight of the importance of proactive planning and making preparations ahead of time.

9. Returning Expats should be prepared for a new kind of home sickness

Home is a malleable and fluid concept, and one that changes as we progress through life. It essentially refers to a place where we seek refuge from the pressures of work, raise our families and share intimate moments with the ones that we love. So while we miss our place of birth and homeland when we first relocate abroad, we our outlook changes as we live overseas and make a brand new home in our new surroundings.

This means that when we return as expats, we tend to develop a new kind of home-sickness where we miss the place and country that we have just left. This may manifest itself in several ways, as you seek out new friends of a specific nationality and try to integrate associated customs where possible. According to content manager Schiavenza, the best remedy is to break this spell and plan a holiday to your second home prior to your return.

10. Returning Expats should be proactive when attending to financial matters

Returning to your homeland is an emotionally challenging experience, but it is also one that requires numerous practical steps. You may have been classed as a non-resident for taxation purposes during your absence, for example, so it is crucial that you re-register with the relevant bodies when repatriating.

This type of attention to detail is crucial, especially when it comes to financial matters. It is also important to calculate any changes that may have altered the cost of living in your home nation, along with increases in property, fuel and vehicle prices. This will help you to budget and make viable plans that make your return more manageable.

LinkedIn And The Humblebrag

A few years ago I happened across a meme that showed the five main characters from that great movie, ‘The Breakfast Club,’ and it likened them to various social media sites.  

I believe that the best memes have the ability to condense complex issues into one humorous image that people ‘get’ in an instant, and this meme excelled in achieving that.  The five markedly different characters are forced to spend a Saturday together in detention, and over the course of the film we get to know, and like, each of them.

Judd Nelson’s character is ‘the Criminal’, an angry rebel who can be abrasive and cruel, but also surprisingly kind and compassionate.  He shares traits with 4Chan, a community that has been described as,“lunatic, juvenile... brilliant, ridiculous and alarming.”  If you are not familiar with 4Chan, it is probably best keeping it that way.

Emilio Estevez, as ‘the Athlete’ is likened to Facebook.  He admits that he is unable to think for himself and that he is a bully.  These are traits that have sadly become more and more synonymous with Facebook in the 3 years since the meme was originally published.

Ally Sheedy plays ‘the Basketcase’, a girl who is a fascinating, unfathomable, deeply complex character, prone to eccentricity, introspection, and fabrication.  I’m not an expert on Tumblr, but this matches with the little that I do know about it.

Molly Ringwald is ‘the Princess’ or wannabe prom queen, who craves attention and popularity.  She introduces herself by announcing, “Do you know how popular I am? I am so popular, everybody loves me so much at this school.”  It transpires that her battling parents are horrendously unpleasant and that she wants to escape her reality by surrounding herself with love and affection.  That sounds like an allegory of Instagram.

Finally, Anthony Michael Hall plays ‘the Brain’, a serious nerd who is focused on achieving the best grades that he can manage.  He is a member of the math, physics, and Latin club, and acquired a fake ID, not to buy alcohol or cigarettes, but to gain the right to vote.  He represents LinkedIn, although members of other sites such as Reddit and Quora have tried to claim him as their own.

 

Different platforms, different behaviours

The reason that I mention this is not to self-indulgently reminisce about a classic movie, but to highlight how different social media platforms have very different personalities, cultures, users, goals and ways of conducting themselves.  Members typically operate in a certain way on different sites.  However, I have been noticing an increasing number of humblebrag posts on LinkedIn, which I would normally expect to see on Instagram or in the more tedious corners of Facebook.

For those who do not have English as a first language, let me allow to use Urban Dictionary to explain what a humblebrag is.  They loosely describe it as when somebody consciously tries to get away with bragging about oneself by hiding behind an inauthentic show of humility. This type of insincerity is not very pretty when seen on LinkedIn (least of all to North-European eyes who I believe have a lower threshold to it). 

The increased number of humblebrag posts got me thinking about what I considered the role of LinkedIn to be to me.  I see it as a great resource to connect, keep up to date with old colleagues, pick up industry knowledge, explore career options, gain inspiration, have exposure to new working practices, exchange and develop ideas, etc.  It is a business tool and it has lots of great uses.  It is not Instagram, or Facebook, and it is most definitely not 4Chan.

We all may have accidentally over-shared in a state of excitement about winning a new client, or doing something cool (I'm sure I have), and this article most definitely is not about that.  Nor is this anything to do with our profile pages, which by their very definition are our best sides, hidden away, unless someone wants to check them out.  I am writing about the intentional and endemic ‘blowing of one’s own trumpet’ on the main feed that wilfully crosses the boundary between ‘of interest to many’ and ‘self-promotion’ and just keeps on travelling into the territory of cringe.

 

Why do we frown on humblebragging?

People who intentionally brag can be tiresome.  They suck the joy out of normal interactions and suffocate conversation.  Their need to brag often stems from insecurity, low self-esteem, a fear of abandonment, a lack of social-awareness or a need for aggression.  So perhaps we should pity them, rather than become irritated?  Maybe, but some form of irritation is a valid response to someone purposefully attempting to elevate himself above us (and it tends to be a him in my experience).

  

In the Nordics, they have a wonderful way-of-being which they call the ‘Law of Jante’.   It is an informal code of conduct that warns against being overtly personally ambitious, and denigrates those who try to stand out as individual achievers by bragging. Did you ever wonder why virtually all of the Scandinavians that you meet are so likeable?

The humblebrag is a more considered and inauthentic form of brag and receives greater opprobrium due to the deceit and manipulation involved. A study has shown that humblebraggers are seen as less likeable, less competent and less likely to influence others.  They are even seen in a dimmer light than the common-or-garden braggart.

 

Shouldn’t we just let this go and mind our own business?

I think this issue matters because these kinds of posts dilute the great, inspiring, and helpful content that circulates on LinkedIn and diminishes its utility.  I also think it creates an arms race of braggarts trying to outdo each other with more frequent and more inane posts in an attempt to stand out. 

The excellent LinkedIn Commentator Mike Winnet has also noticed the rise of LinkedIn's humblebragging and is speaking up about it.  He thinks a backlash towards the humblebrag is on its way, but warns of the looming threat of 'struggle porn' that may replace it – tiresome posts by people claiming to have woken up earlier, worked harder and endured more to succeed than you or I. 

 

What do you think?

My favourite saying is that none of us are wiser than all of us, so I would really value any feedback on these reflections and the questions that I am left with.

1. Are there informal ‘rules of behaviour’ on LinkedIn?  If not should there be?
2. Am I just being over-sensitive and should I pipe down about the humblebrag.
3. Is one of LinkedIn’s roles to be a tool to fish for compliments and provide an ego massage when needed?
4. Where is the line between tedious bragging and an interesting update?
5. Is anyone aware of people who have been forced to post on LinkedIn by their employer?

We are the community.  We make it what it is.  Surely we can exert some influence over the environment.  Perhaps by not engaging with humblebrags they may diminish?

How to manage a relationship during isolation

Here in UK on the 23rd March, Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the country under lockdown, banning all non-essential travel and telling people to stay at home unless they meet one of a few criteria.

These include shopping for food or medication, travelling to work as a key worker or your once-daily form of exercise. With many of us now being made redundant, being on furlough, working from home full-time or simply looking after children due to school closures, this is an impact on our relationships. 

I, myself, realise the dramatic change in the routine, the flow and the dynamic within the family. 

But whether that is a couple who are both working from home, a whole family with children who need to be entertained or housemates who are finding communal living difficult, it is not yet known how long these measures may last. While it is not yet known, I have read that divorce lawyers have already forecast a spike in splits later this year due to self-isolation.

I was wondering and looking for any ideas of how to do better since it is surely not wrong to look out for advise. I found out that Aidan Jones, chief executive at relationship charity, Relate, says: “Our relationships will be hugely important for getting us through this unprecedented time but self-isolation, social distancing and concerns about issues like finances may also place them under added pressure.” 

So how can you ensure tensions do not arise and if they do, are quickly dispelled? That is what I found:

With your partner: 

Don’t make assumptions about how the other person feels

The coronavirus is unprecedented, not only on a societal level but for your relationship – you may have dealt with testing times before but this is likely to be a new experience. Relationship therapist Aoife Drury says the key is not to assume the other person will feel the same way about everything you’re going through. “Often we feel that others are experiencing the same emotions or thoughts that we are. 

“Assumptions breed resentments as they lay down false expectations. The antithesis to assumptions are clear and open dialogues so avoid mind reading. None of us have experienced this before so we will all cope with this differently and that’s okay.”

Keep communicating

With so much going on and tensions running high, it can be hard to keep an open dialogue – especially if you’re feeling scared or upset. But Drury says it is key to keeping your relationship solid throughout. “This heightened anxiety may create strong negative emotional reactions; anger or frustration. When experiencing these emotions try and stay mindful of your responses. 

If you’re struggling with your anxiety and how you respond, the best thing you can do is communicate. Giving yourself time or telling your loved ones you’re struggling and that you may react uncharacteristically. Of course this doesn’t justify being cruel but helps ease the possibility of reacting in a way that you might regret and add to stress.

It is very easy to slip into the blame game when we are stressed and it doesn't help anyone..."

Relationship psychotherapist Kate Moyle tells The Independent: “Communication is key. Try and be as clear as possible with each other. If you are frustrated or stressed then try to use ‘I’ statements to communicate how you are feeling. ‘I feel’ is very different to ‘When you x, I x’ or ‘You make me feel’, it’s very easy to slip into the blame game when we are stressed and it doesn’t help anyone.”

Accept these circumstances are going to be testing

Aidan Jones from Relate says that you do need to give yourself some period of grace – this is an unusual time for everyone. “Understand that with the best will in the world, rows are quite likely in these circumstances. It’s how you deal with them that counts. If you tend to argue or bicker then accept that you may transfer that onto what you each think about the virus.

“You may want to know as much as possible about the situation whereas your partner may prefer to take each day as it comes. Remember that there are many different ways of coping in stressful situations and your way isn’t the only way.”

Try to put big arguments on hold 

Although it is normal to expect some tension during this ongoing situation, you shouldn’t use it as a chance to vent all of your ongoing relationship issues says Jones, some things will need to be parked. “Big and difficult conversations may need to be put on hold while you deal with the current situation – this is especially true if one of you is ill or thinks they may have symptoms,” he says.

“You may have elderly parents or other family members with health problems and you may have particular worries about these people. Try to understand if your partner needs to prioritise these people at the moment. Choose your battles and weigh up if they are worth it at this time.”

Ensure you aren’t just working all the time

If you and your partner are struggling to manage working from home and your relationship then try to establish clearer ‘home life’ and ‘work life’ from now on. Moyle says that it can be hard at the beginning to separate the two and this can have a detrimental impact. 

“If you are working at home, there will still be home and life admin to do – set a time for this. It may feel like the house is a tip or needs cleaning, but make an executive decision to do this outside of ‘working hours’. Many of us will struggle with working from home as it limits our capacity in different ways, so try not to pile extra home stress on work stress.”

Murray Blacket, a couples counsellor, says: “If you are working from home try to establish a routine. Don’t work all day in your pyjamas. Make sure you build in breaks – tea, coffee, meals. If you have a garden go outside for an oxygen break. Don’t work all hours”. 

Moyle also recommends finding shared interests or activities to do together so that you have something to share that isn’t just housework, like a new Netflix series. 

For the whole family 

Establish a routine

It can be tricky to establish a routine when your whole day happens within four walls but it is crucial for long-term success. Drury says: “The brain loves patterns and hates randomness, so to give it some patterns to ease it.

Moyle agrees: “Make your own routine. Children especially thrive on routine, but it’s helpful for adults too. It can be particularly challenging if there is more than one of you working from home, so try and carve out time to be spent together and time to be spent apart. E.g. at 11am you all sit down and have a coffee together.”

Set family goals and expectations 

Couples therapist Dr Kalanit Ben-Ari says now we know we’re likely to be indoors for a long time, sit down with your family – especially your children – and discuss how this is going to work. 

For example, children will be expected to do homework at this time, or help with laundry and the dishwasher. “If you and your partner are now working from home, be aware that this is a change of the unspoken contract between you. Talk about expectations and if you need to change up certain responsibilities,” she says.

Dr Ben-Ari also thinks this is a good opportunity to come up with a family project. “[It is] a great way to occupy everyone and do the things you’ve wanted for years but didn’t think you had the time. Organise all your old family photographs into photo books – the perfect way to reminisce, bond and pass the time.”

Designate areas of the house 

Psychotherapist Lucy Beresford says even if you live in a one-bedroom flat you should try to designate different areas as ‘work’, ‘chill-out’, ‘privacy’ and ‘interaction’. 

“If you are not living alone, sit down quickly to draw up rules about these spaces, so that your partner or flatmate or child know what happens where. You wouldn’t go to the loo in the kitchen sink, so similarly everyone needs to know that ‘that sofa is for chill-out’ not for work.

Moyle suggests making activity corners in different spaces. “ It will help you to feel that you are doing things differently. Have a book or reading corner, an art corner, a building games corner.”

While making these spaces, Blacket says it would be a good idea to make a “timeout zone” – this isn’t necessarily just for children. “When we are stuck close together the opportunity to be by yourself for a while is important,” he says. Take a short break in this space and do something you want to do for yourself – whether this is writing a diary or watching a quick TV show.

Don’t avoid answering kids questions about coronavirus

Many parents probably feel like they don’t want to talk anymore about the coronavirus – especially as it is the reason you are stuck in the house in the first place. But if children have legitimate questions and you refuse to answer them this could cause more tension.

Drury says: “Kids are smart and will have lots of questions. Shutting down questions will only create confusion, upset and anxiety. Talking to them about what is happening in a factual way can alleviate that. Take your cues from your child and prepare but don’t prompt for questions.”

Treat each other with kindness 

Regardless of who you are sharing your home with during self-isolation, every relationship can be improved with kindness. Beresford says: “Recognise that everyone is going to be feeling some strain. Even children who are delighted to be off school will sense there is a negative backdrop to it all. Practice gratitude, and daily thank those around you. 

“Pat yourself on the back every day for what you have dealing with, and extend such generosity of spirit to those you live with. If you feel yourself about to snap at anyone – or berate yourself – try the ‘5 second breather’ technique: inhale for 5 seconds, hold for 5 seconds, exhale for 5 seconds.”

Source: Independent

Let's Talk About the Coronavirus

We need to talk about the coronavirus, so I thought I send out my opinion about this via my blog.

Personally, I prefer to live my life by the maxim "most emergencies aren't." Adhering to this sentiment, I avoid overreacting or panicking. Of course, every so often, there are real emergencies. Even then, it's better to prepare than to panic. We never look in the rearview and wish we would have panicked more.

As of today, we are unsure whether the novel coronavirus, aka COVID-19, is a widespread emergency or an overreaction. To be clear, it's already an emergency for some. Many people have died, many more are ill, and many healthcare providers are risking their lives to keep people alive. And there’s a significant likelihood it will get worse in the coming months.

While you and I don't know whether we'll be directly affected, we’ll certainly be indirectly affected. The stock market is tanking, factories are ceasing production, stores are running out of inventory, schools and museums are closing, and many public gatherings are being canceled or postponed. To date, ITB Berlin, IMEX Frankfurt, the NBA & NFL suspended their entire season. FIFA World Cup Qualifiers are postponed, several music gigs and festivals cancelled. Hundreds of other events, conferences, and rallies have shuttered under the threat of infection.
Covid-19 has also made its way to Scotland, with the first case in the region confirmed on 1 March. In that same consideration for safety, I consider to postpone meetings, planned visits for my familie's and my own safety. Flights have been cancelled from/to Edinburgh and Glasgow and the travel and event industry doesface a massive impact in the industry already.

While all of this can be extremely aggravating, these setbacks are mere inconveniences in the grand scheme of things. The actual problem might be far more serious than shifting around our calendars—it might mean changing how we live for the foreseeable future. As we learn more about the severity of this pandemic, I'm being vigilant by:
 

• washin my hands with soap and water often – I do this for at least 20 seconds 
• I always wash my hands when I get home or before i eat
• I use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available 
• I cover my mouth and nose with a tissue or my sleeve (not my hands) when I cough or sneeze 
• I put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash my hands afterwards  
• I try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell

That might sound like the hyperbole of a hypochondriac, but this is unlike anything we've seen in our lifetime. According to the NHS and as of 9am on 12 March 2020, 29,764 people have been tested in the UK, of which 29,174 were confirmed negative and 590 were confirmed as positive. Eight patients who tested positive for COVID-19 have died. The government published its coronavirus action plan on 3 March. An update on numbers worldwide you will find on the website here.

Look, I know our individualistic society is not very good at slowing down or self-regulating. But we must. At least for a while. It’s no longer about just you and me—we must consider everyone else. Which seems like a paradox when we talk about "social distancing," but, right now, one of the best things we can do is love people from afar. Because even if you aren't worried about the virus yourself, you can transmit it to others if you're not careful, and spreading the disease will lead to greater human suffering.

LET'S NOT PANIC, but let's be cautious and act accordingly. Even from a distance, we are all in this together. And if you are, indeed, panicking, please remember, it is possible to take this seriously, but also to lighten the mood with a little humor!