How to overcome the COVID-19 blues through smart home-staying and a medical perspective

Photo credit: Kheir Clinic "Corona Blue"

With each resurgence of COVID-19, the government's strengthened social distancing policy has led to a decrease in unnecessary daily gatherings, and the ban on indoor sports facilities and other facilities has significantly increased the amount of time spent at home. According to the "National Leisure Activity Survey" released by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute in December of last year, Koreans spend an average of 29.7 hours of leisure time per week, up 3.7 hours on weekdays and 5.6 hours on holidays, a 12-minute increase each year. Furthermore, the proportion of time spent alone on leisure activities reached 60%, a 5.7% increase year-on-year, while the proportion spent with family and friends decreased by 4.7% to 40%. These statistics reflect that many people, including those working from home, are experiencing significant boredom, depression, and anxiety, and that an increasing number of people are complaining of mental fatigue.

Corona Blue

This new social phenomenon is called "Corona Blue," but why blue, of all things? In the United States, when someone is feeling down or depressed, they often say, "I feel blue today." This is how the new word "Corona Blue" was created, combining "Corona" from the coronavirus and "Blue" to express a depressed mood, and it has become widely used in everyday life. However, the depression caused by Corona Blue is quite different from everyday expressions like "I'm not in a good mood today" or "I'm feeling depressed today." In Korea, new expressions have even emerged, such as "Corona Red," which expresses emotions like irritation and anger caused by the prolonged physical and mental fatigue due to COVID-19, and "Corona Black," which describes serious emotions close to depression.

Adrian James, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, commented that the COVID-19 pandemic “will be the biggest mental health shock since World War II.” In Korea, the use of mental health care has actually increased by 10-20%.

​Also, according to a report by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korean Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, the high-risk group for depression accounted for over 20% in three surveys conducted in March, June, and September of last year. Of course, the above results are self-reported, but if we look back to the case of 2003 when the suicide rate among the elderly in Hong Kong suddenly increased during the SARS outbreak that year, we can no longer overlook the importance of mental health management.

Humanity has evolved by adapting to various changes. Now that 'stay-at-home life' has become the 'new normal,' as hobby patterns have changed, people have naturally become very interested in various 'untact (non-face-to-face) hobbies' that can be enjoyed at home. Various 'untact hobbies' that allow for creativity, such as 'untact interior design' including 'home training', 'home cooking', 'home art', playing instruments, and baking, are gaining popularity.

The rise of remote work, telecommuting, and staying at home is revolutionizing interior design. Home is no longer just a place to eat and sleep; it's a new trend toward personalized "smart homes" that allow for convenient work and hobbies. Home cooking and baking have become a creative outlet for new recipes and menus. Electronic pianos are rapidly gaining popularity to minimize noise between floors, and art kits for "home art" are gaining popularity among families with children.

What are the medical implications of the new pattern of people seeking out various "untact hobbies" in the new "new normal"? A study published in the American Journal of Public Health in 2010 (The Connection Between Art, Healing, and Public Health: A Review of Current Literature, H. Stuckey, J. Nobel) found that creative artistic activities such as art and music through art therapy were very helpful in improving the physical and mental health of breast cancer patients and the elderly. According to another study published by Elsevier in 2020 (Integrative Medicine Considerations for Convalescence from Mild-to-Moderate COVID-19 Disease, L. Alschuler et al.), visual arts, music, and creative activities as part of integrative medicine may help improve mental health, lung function, and immune health in people who are emotionally struggling and suffering in the COVID-19 era.

​The important takeaway from these two papers is that various "untact hobbies" aren't simply leisure pursuits; the emotional stability, anxiety relief, and improved quality of life gained through creative activities are far greater than we realize. Furthermore, one of the "new normals" of the COVID-19 era is that it will likely lead us to pay more attention to the mental health of ourselves, our friends, and our families, which we often neglect in our normal work and daily lives.

Finally, some in the mental health community believe that, despite K-Quarantine's success thus far, psychological quarantine measures were not only put on the back burner, but also require significant improvement. Therefore, in addition to the free mental health counseling and support currently being provided by the government and some local governments, it is worth considering including support for "untact hobbies" specifically for low-income families and seniors living alone.

<Reference Materials>

[1] Corona Blues - ytn

[2] See the British case - Herald Economy

[3] See Changes in Leisure Activities - Asia Economy

[4] Connection b/w creative activity and an improvement in mental health (2010) American Journal Public Health, Stuckey, H & Nobel, J

[5] Integrative medicine considerations for convalescence from mild-to-moderate COVID-19 disease (2020), Explore, Alschuler et al.

[6] Corona Black and Red Related Information - Maeil Business Newspaper

[7] See Healthy Place (health blog)