Niagara writer’s 101 ways to deal with lockdown living
Former Niagara resident Laura Bruce has always had an eye for human nature, first as a public relations consultant and then as a standup comedian.
So when COVID-19 forced her and everyone she knows into self-quarantine, her first thought was how to help people deal with it. Which prompted her to quickly write a book: “Lockdown Living: 101 Ways to Stay Positive During the Pandemic.”
Bruce, a former consultant with OEB International and former president of Niagara Symphony, moved to Ireland in 2002 and founded her own firm in Belfast in 2006. She moved to New Zealand last year.
Riding out the COVID-19 crisis at home, she took time out for some Q&A with The Niagara Falls Review:
Review: As a former Niagara resident now living in New Zealand, do you still have friends and family here you’re worried about?
Bruce: “My brother Rory is in St. Catharines and my sister Christine’s two children are in Welland. Besides them, I have many friends in Niagara that I’m concerned about, and I’m hoping they are keeping well.”
Review: How soon after the pandemic started did you get the idea for a book on how to cope?
Bruce: “We had travelled to Canada for my brother Kevin’s funeral in mid-February, and by the time we travelled back on the 22nd it was clear a crisis was developing. I spent those first few weeks in March simply being anxious and helping clients to prepare for any eventuality.
“We went into ‘lockdown’ on March 19th, and I think the idea for the book came within a day or two. I was speaking to friends and family that weekend and it was clear that some people were already going a bit stir crazy, with no idea what to do to stay busy and stop worrying.”
Review: What is the biggest mistake people make when faced with the prospect of weeks or months quarantined at home?
Bruce: “I think people let their routines go, and this can be a mistake. Routines can be a nuisance, but they also provide a sense of security. Putting some structure into each day, getting showered and dressed, eating proper meals, going for a walk each afternoon — these things help to provide some comfort.”
Review: Most of us have never been through something like this. What kind of research did you do? Bruce: “To be frank, I did none. Over a number of days, I brainstormed the sorts of activities most people would be equipped to do in their home, and then wrote about each one. Many of the 101 tasks or tactics are about using what you already have, and then supplementing these in-house assets with online resources like videos, podcasts, ebooks and platforms like Zoom, Netflix and WhatsApp.”
Review: Once the pandemic is over, are there tips you hope people carry over into their daily routine? Bruce: “Absolutely! I think a routine is essential. Having a few tasks to complete each day creates a sense of accomplishment. That’s crucial. In some ways, being in lockdown during this pandemic is similar to grieving. You lose something integral to your life, and you have to find new ways to cope, uncover strengths you didn’t know you had. And when you come out of it, you’re stronger and more resilient.” “Lockdown Living: 101 Ways to Stay Positive During the Pandemic” will be available this week on Amazon.