Hey, folks! So, I can’t take all the COVID-19 coverage. It’s just way too much! But what I’m not hearing enough of is the plethora of reasons we just need to stop the madness. Call it panic, call it hysteria, call it overkill, it’s not good for anyone. So, as a traveler, a people person, and a human being, here are my top 10 reasons I’m still not panicking about Coronavirus. Haven’t started panicking yet, won’t start now!

1. Because Panic Only Hurts; It Literally Never Helps

Name one time when panicking was the right things to do in a situation. Can’t? Neither can anyone else! Panicking is one of the worst things you can do in any situation. Panicking won’t make anyone well, it won’t keep anyone from getting sick, it won’t be helpful. In fact, it will make you and everyone around you miserable. So don’t let yourself spiral down the panic rabbit hole. Please, don’t panic!

2. Because I Wash My Hands Regularly

This is the one thing that all medical experts agree on: washing your hands gets rid of germs and keeps you safe from illnesses. Hand sanitizer is not as good as simply washing your hands! I get soap from Truly-Life, and not only do I smell good, I’m CLEAN! If you’re going to stock up on something, stock up on soap. Truly-Life offers flat-rate shipping, so take a look and get clean!

3. Because I’m Sanitizing My Phone Regularly

Fact: UV light can kill viruses. Did that just blow your mind? My mom got me this UV light phone sanitizer a couple of years ago, and at first I thought it was overkill, but then I found out your phone has more germs on it than anything else that has ever existed anywhere in the world (okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration). But seriously, think about where you put your phone every day: on the floor, on the little sanitary product trash can that hangs on the side of the toilet stall, on every surface in your house, etc., etc., etc. This can be used over and over again, and it is worth it! Sanitize your phone!

4. Because I’m Following, Watching, and Listening to Smart Her News

I don’t know Jenna Lee personally, but I love that she started her own news media outlet! She worked in New York for many years as an on-air news anchor for a major news network, and now she does it her way and on her terms. She is the only totally unbiased news source I’ve found and that I trust. She’s a busy mom, so her videos and stories are always concise and to the point (not wasting your time), and because of her background, she is actually in contact with the CDC, WHO, and more to make sure she is giving you the most accurate, up-to-date information. Follow her @smarthernews!

5. Because I’m NOT Watching Mainstream Media

What is another reason Smart Her News is my preferred media outlet? Because I have a communications degree, I know what words mean (and when they’re misused on purpose), and I know that the mainstream media is no longer a factual source for information. They are alarmist fear mongers. They have to make the unsensational into the sensational, so when something sensational does happen (like a new, never-before-seen virus), they think they have to blow it way out of proportion for people to listen. I refuse to let the negativity and bias into my life, so I don’t watch the mainstream media. It keeps me from getting swept up into the craziness.

6. Because I’m Self Aware

A man from Maryland tested positive for COVID-19 and was told to self-isolate. Instead, he came to Reston (the town I live in outside of D.C.) to play golf. Not okay.

I, on the other hand, would never do that! And I think most people are reasonable enough and self aware enough not to do that. I trust myself not to cough on people, sneeze on people, or wipe my nose before putting my hands all over the avocados at Trader Joe’s to select the perfect one. Y’all, let’s just be self aware and considerate. Let’s put our phones down and look around us for a few seconds.

7. Because I Don’t Have Immediate Travel Plans

Luckily for me, my husband Steve and I were both sick off and on in December, January, and February, and Steve had a detached retina just last weekend, so we have been slow about planning our spring travels. I don’t have travel plans until March 31, and we don’t have any set travel plans together until May 1! Hopefully this will all be in the past, or on the downward swing by then.

If you have travel plans between now and when this is all over, I’m truly sorry! I hope you’re able to change your plans with the least amount of stress, worry, and expense.

Just in case, here’s What to Do When Your Flight is Cancelled!

8. Because Necessity is the Mother of Invention

This is actually a pretty cool time to be alive, folks! This whole experience will bring us a new vaccine (set for human testing in weeks, not months), new cleaning products or procedures, and probably a lot more things I would never even think of! And aside from new inventions, this is already making business owners think more creatively, too.

Just yesterday I got five e-mails from companies letting me know they are doing everything they can to keep employees and customers safe. Small businesses just can’t take a huge economic hit from a loss of business, so they are being proactive and communicative, which I love! And bigger companies like Starbucks and CAVA have either beefed up or instated new paid leave options for hourly employees so they don’t have to choose between going to work sick or staying home without pay. That is going to keep people safe!

9. Because We Don’t Know What’s Next

Try as we might, we can’t predict the future. We have no idea how long this travel restriction with Europe will last, how long it will be before we can plan a trip to the Great Wall of China, or where we might pick up the Coronavirus. We can’t know, so we can’t let ourselves go nuts guessing. Maybe my trip on March 31 will get cancelled, maybe not. I can’t predict the future; I can only make plans and see how it goes!

10. Because the Mortality Rate is So Incredibly Low

There are all kinds of stats and figures going around, but when we look at them logically, we see very clearly that the vast majority of people who catch the coronavirus do recover. This virus has a 97% survival rate. That’s huge! The greatest risk is to older people, meaning people over 60, but especially those over 80. I’m not worried about catching it, certainly not worried about dying from it, and again, I’m self aware enough and responsible enough not to be around other people unless absolutely necessary, just in case I’m a carrier.

So that’s it, folks! Those are the top 10 reasons I’m definitely not panicking over the new coronavirus, and I don’t think you should either! Comment below with your reasons you’re not worried about COVID-19!

Want more? Check out my Health and Wellness Page for all my posts about COVID-19 and how we’ll all get through this together!

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