These days, when you ask how someone is, it’s not just being polite. “How are you?” has much more meaning.

We are quick to say we are well, which was my go-to when someone would ask out of politeness or habit. Now we wish to convey we are virus-free.

That may or may not be true, considering COVID-19 can be at work in our systems for a couple of weeks before symptoms appear. While the CDC says we are most contagious when we have symptoms (fever, cough), it’s possible this coronavirus can spread when we are asymptomatic.

So while I may feel well, I may be harboring a coronavirus that can kill.

Truthfully, are any of us well right now? Mentally? Emotionally? Physically? Spiritually?

This global pandemic has spread fear and forced isolation. Each day we are greeted with more changes to keep the virus from spreading and hurting or killing those most at risk and from overwhelming our medical systems.

How are you with stress?

It’s not easy. You know, because you are in this, too. There is a toll on our ability to handle stress and anxiety.

For example, I am not in contact with anyone at high risk for severe complications. I am healthy, I eat well and get good sleep. Yet every time I leave the house my chest tightens up. I find myself holding my breath on rare trips to the grocery store.

Last week, I awoke one day and the first conscious thought I had was, “What fresh hell awaits us today?”

Not a good way to start the day. So I reframed it, and despite having a migraine try to take hold, it was an OK day.

I suspect others have similar experiences — physical, mental or emotional.

Staying home, which we all are supposed to do, will be challenging for everyone, even those of us who are used to being home most of the time. It’s different when you choose to stay in rather than have someone decide for you.

Find ways to improve wellness

While we wait this out, we all need to work on wellness. Find something to do in the next few weeks that will improve your wellness in some way.

Maybe being home means you can cook more and eat healthier rather than dining out as often. Perhaps you can start an exercise routine. Spend some time on a hobby or pastime you enjoy. Tackle that project you keep putting off — writing a book, setting up a website or creating something.

There are so many possibilities.

Take advantage of this time to be productive. While we need to know what’s happening, it doesn’t have to consume us or all of our time. You may find the anxiety, stress and fear have less hold on you. And when someone asks, “How are you?,” you can honestly say, “I am well.”

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How to be a Better Writer Tip

Write what you feel

I took part in my first online women’s circle recently. It was a way to connect with other people (remotedly) and share our thoughts and feelings in a nonjudgmental way. One of the parts of the session was a sort of mindfulness exercise. We wrote in our journal how we were feeling. Then, we circled the words that were negative and wrote them on a different piece of paper.

Then, we folded that piece of paper, held it to our hearts, and put it away on a shelf or someplace where we would know where it was. The idea is we don’t have to hold those negative emotions or feelings in our hearts. We can have them, and then put them away.

If we wish, we can go back and look at them again, but we don’t have to carry them with us.

I liked this idea, and it was helpful.

If you are feeling anxious, worried, stressed, fearful or anything else negative, give this exercise a try. Our leader took us through a brief guided meditation, but you can do this if you have a few minutes of quiet, to just be still and really focus on what you’re feeling right now. It may help you let negative feelings go.