How Earth Institute Experts De-Stress Under Lockdown

This year, spring arrived a little earlier than usual. Cherry blossom flowers have been blooming with vivid shades of pink and white all over New York. Under normal circumstances, most people would have loved to bask in the warmer weather and admire the mesmerizing beauty of the spring blooms.

Instead, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic is weighing on everyone's minds. The news is all doom and gloom. Reading, watching or hearing about the latest case numbers, hospitalizations, and deaths is unavoidable. And anxiety-inducing. Being under quarantine and stuck at home makes everything even more stressful.

During these times of increasing uncertainty, economic depression, isolation, and loneliness, it can be challenging to stay sane. So, to learn how researchers and other experts within the Earth Institute at Columbia University have been dealing with the stress and anxiety, we asked them to share their coping mechanisms. In the slideshow below, they explain in their own words what helps them to de-stress and stay positive and productive.