#ThankYouNurses: 5 Ways to Show Appreciation to Healthcare Workers During Coronavirus

Coronavirus safety begins with you. Every day, nurses, doctors and other medical personnel face the harrowing challenges of treating countless patients. Do your part to help lighten their load and ensure their safety by adhering to social distancing guidelines and donning masks and gloves on your outings, even as cities and states slowly start opening up across the country.

Sending a card to the healthcare worker in your life is a great way to express your gratitude. A handwritten note is an opportunity to personalize an intimate message of appreciation for all the hard work they do.

Whether you have extra masks sitting around or are able to make ones out of cloth on your own, donating masks is a great way to help with shortages that have been reported throughout the pandemic.

If you know a healthcare worker in your life, make time to connect with them and listen to their experiences. The rigors of working in a hospital, compounded with the overwhelming challenges of the ongoing outbreak, may make it hard for nurses or doctors to process and reflect on their experiences. Check in with them by making yourself available to listen and giving them a chance to vent outside of their job.

According to Bill Browning, a founder of New York-based sustainability consulting firm Terrapin Bright Green, biophilic design promotes a connection with nature "can help reduce stress, improve cognitive performance, elevate our mood and have various physiological benefits." Brighten up the mood of the nurse or healthcare worker in your life by sending them flowers, either at their home or in the hospital, where they are spending long days.