When I do get any energy reserves at all, I cope by periodically donating, organizing, and then deep cleaning - one small area at a time.

I've made a few contactless donations and a couple of in-person donations between last year and this year. I gave away furniture, household goods, clothing, and more. I gave more items away at the beginning of the pandemic. I have since purchased some new items and decorated my place. I don't go out anywhere with anyone, unless it is to a doctor's appointment, so my "fun" is in decorating. I have a storage area I rent down the hall from my apartment. All of my spare furniture and decorations are in there, along with many backup items. I'll need to find my bigger clothing again, and soon. And I'll need to place my thinner clothing back in there. My weight fluctuates anywhere between 10 and 30 pounds! I go through periodic weight changes throughout the year. So this is the best way I can cope with that without having to move and rent a two-bedroom apartment.

I plan on organizing and decorating my storage space next. I hate that it looks - well - like a storage room. I would rather it be super organized and uniform, if at all possible. That's going to be my next goal.

I love donating because there were a few brand new items (like fans) that I was saving for when I needed them, but there were families that advertised on one of the local mutual aid sites, and they needed those items more. I plan on donating again this winter. I still have a brand new box fan for a classroom, in case a teacher had to buy her own air purifying supplies. I also have tons of food that I can no longer eat - doctor's orders, so they will become treats to healthier and younger people. I have to go through my storage and organize that anyway, which means "exercise" for me (in the middle of the night, with a mask and goggles on, so as to avoid neighbors and shared air space in the hallways).

There are many ways to cope, but these are some of my most favorite ways to cope. I like periodically cleaning and organizing my life. It feels like I'm moving forward and accomplishing something.