It’s a scary time. The COVID-19 outbreak worsens by the day in the United States, with more and more people getting diagnosed.

While we’re all coming together to slow the spread by practicing social distancing or quarantining, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t other challenges that are arising.

For example, businesses have been forced to shut their doors temporarily, which causes them to lose money and force layoffs. With schools being closed and parents working from home, kids are bored and parents are stressed. Weddings and other large social events are being forced to be canceled or heavily postponed. And let’s not even talk about what’s happening in the stock market.

It might feel like we’ve reached a point of total hopelessness. However, maybe there is something we can do to help lighten our spirits in a time of darkness.

Just recently, a Twitter user named @lanegrindle suggested that we put our Christmas lights back up—yes, even at the beginning of spring.

What if we all put our Christmas lights back up? Then we could get in the car and drive around and look at them. That seems like a fair social distancing activity.

— Lane Grindle (@lanegrindle) March 15, 2020

The rationale is that it would help people take their minds off of things, plus driving around looking at all the lights is a good, unique social distancing activity (a kid-friendly one at that, for parents struggling to keep their kids entertained).

In addition to providing hope, there’s actually research that putting Christmas decorations up early makes you happier. Sure, March is a bit earlier than usual for a December holiday, but times are dire. It can’t hurt, right?

The suggestion was met with lots of positivity and people everywhere began to string their lights. So if you drive by a house with Christmas lights on it, now you know why!

What do you think about the idea of putting up Christmas lights during the coronavirus pandemic? Do you have any other ideas on ways we can provide some hope in these dark times?