Good afternoon. Tonks is here to remind you that COVID numbers are surging and we are still in a pandemic and winter is HERE. Get plans in place to handle quarantine in the dead of winter.

Some suggestions:
- set up a weekly Zoom game night with friends you'd normally see during the week.
- Get a light therapy lamp!
- Look online for a hobby you can try to learn during this time and order the supplies you need
- Set aside a physical zone in your house for selfcare

For example, a friend of mine has a screened in front porch, so she set up a table out there (where the cats can't get at it) and has designated it "the puzzle porch."

You are not a bad person if you don't succeed at a hobby or have to put it down and switch to something else. This is purely a mental health thing: finding a way to entertain yourself can help keep you grounded.

Maybe this is the winter you get really into learning how to make pasta from scratch, or try cooking new dishes you've never done before. I've made it a goal to learn new baking techniques and processes - which has the bonus of being able to safely give gifts to friends!

I've also been auditing a class this fall, which has been a real boon to my psyche as I get to delve into research again (auditing in a loose sense - I follow the syllabus and attend public lectures via Zoom).

Whatever you do, get a safety net and support network in place. You cannot do your normal winter of meeting up with friends for a drink at the pub and hot toddy's at Christmas. Prepare yourself for the worst case scenario here: a long dark winter of quarantine.