How Patricia Heaton's Getting Through the Coronavirus Pandemic

1. Get busy

The first week of quarantine, I slept a lot, watched a ton of TV and ate whatever. Then I got sick of myself. Now I clean and cook for my husband and sons and am also taking walks, learning Spanish and doing the keto diet. I'm best when I have a schedule.

2. See both sides

Politics has become so polarized that I've pulled away. But I gently tweeted recently about protecting the vulnerable and opening the economy — and got 30,000 hits.

3. Look good

I've had Botox and fillers, so when my dermatologist's office opened back up, I was first in line. Nothing drastic; I'm just trying to preserve whatever I have that might be good.

4. Just pray

I miss going to Mass. But you can do that anywhere in the world now online. I log on and — I hate to say it — I'm in my pajamas sometimes!

Courtesy Patricia Heaton

5. Stick with it

It's a wonderful time for older women to explore dreams we've put off. In Your Second Act, I write about taking a painting class and the mental hoops I had to jump through to finish, because the other women were so great. The teacher came up to me and said, “Wow, you're a messy painter.” I had paint on my face and my clothes. But you can't worry about what others think when you're starting a second act.

6. Go your own way

Being 62 is great! With mortality even more present now and the end looming, you realize, I don't need to do anything I don't want to do. I don't have to tolerate people who aren't good for me. —As told to Natasha Stoynoff

In July former Everybody Loves Raymond star Patricia Heaton published Your Second Act: Inspiring Stories of Reinvention.