COVID-19, for many of us has meant quarantine, and with quarantine comes the boredom of social distancing. Now, more than ever, it is incredibly tempting to fall into the black hole of watching Netflix all day long and eating tubs of ice cream. Adjusting back to normal life (eventually) may prove a harder task, but by all means; live your quarantine days in bed if that’s how you wish to spend them. For those wanting to feel perhaps more normal, productive and a tad more sane in these days at home, here are a few ways you can occupy your time feeling just that!
Don’t bite me. I’m sure you’ve heard this one before, but the times you wake up and go to sleep really do affect your productivity (yes, quarantine included). Sticking to a reasonable sleeping schedule will keep you disciplined and energised for those of you craving routine. You’ll also have a lot more time in the day to get your life on track (at a leisurely pace)! It’s all about keeping calm this quarantine.
Let’s be real, many of you were hoping exercise wouldn’t make it on the quarantine to-do list. Sorry to say it, but getting your blood pumping will make a huge difference in making your days more bearable! I know what you’re thinking; “no one is going to see me, why should I bother?” or “let me just have this time to eat!” or maybe you’re just “not feeling it”. I’m not saying we should all train like athletes in quarantine – there’s days where I don’t feel like jumping up and down until I can’t breathe anymore, so I don’t! All I’m saying is that you might want to think about doing it as much as you can… and why not? Your energy will be through the roof and it should help with sleeping at night. Let’s not forget that nobody knows when quarantine will be over, so you don’t want to suddenly be unleashed back into the outside world not feeling your best. If all of that fails to entice you, just think; it will take time out of your day! I don’t know about you, but that sounds pretty appealing to me.
Changing out of your pyjamas, even if into (somewhat) presentable loungewear or simply applying a light graze of makeup can make you feel like a whole new person in quarantine. There’s something about the small details in my outfit that makes the world of difference. Whether you decide some jewellery or a change in top is enough to feel put together, it’s the small details that have the power to put you in a state of mind to get more things done and feel less down in the dumps. These little changes have helped me in quarantine, even on days where I just wanted to sleep it away. Fingers crossed this works for you too!
What better time than now to do things for you; to expand your mind? Get creative, you won’t regret it and you may find something that you continue to do even when life returns back to normal. Always wanted to draw or paint? Grab the pencils or that paint set you’ve had since school. Always wanted to bake? Get the oven on! Point is, we quite literally have all the time in the world to do what we’ve always wanted and now we can, so what’s stopping you?
Boring but necessary; dedicate time in your days to do the things that need to get done, and that you may have been putting off for some time. Reply to emails, clean your room, write that essay; you may not have the best time doing it, but the feeling of accomplishment after will be worth it (don’t hesitate in treating yourself to a reward once you’re done… it’s quarantine, after all). You’re most likely going to have to do these things at some point, so may as well get them over and done with. Besides, you’ll only have the rest of the unforeseeable future to do what you want. Did someone say one less thing to worry about? Don’t mind if I do!
In this time being stuck indoors, some may feel trapped. Make the most of the time we are allowed outside. Try to avoid communal spaces where possible, maybe just take the most scenic route in your neighbourhood for your daily walk – remind yourself of nature and that it will all still be there when quarantine is over. Make the most out of where you live, whether you live by a beach or in a city; explore your area and have fun doing so.
This is the perfect opportunity to expand your horizons; to learn a new skill. If you’ve ever dreamt speaking Spanish, there are bound to be so many services on the internet to get your learning underway; Rosetta Stone, for example. The point is that you don’t even have to leave your house. You can learn a lot in this (presumably) extra free time, so much so that I’m sure you’ll be saying a lot more than “hola” by the time quarantine is over! You may be someone that just-so-happens to have a musical instrument lying around the house. If so, take a shot at it. What’s the harm? You may even become the next Mozart. It’s a long shot, but don’t let that stop you from dreaming big!
Cleansers, face masks, serums, scrubs; slap them all on! Give your skin the attention it deserves; we won’t be getting new skin in this lifetime so treat it well. Get those pores open by steaming your face and feed your skin all the good stuff. Skincare doesn’t have to be expensive; you can make a lot of it at home and can find recipes for face masks and scrubs online.
Let’s not forget we live in a digital age, so don’t think quarantine means breaking off from the relationships in your life. This is a crucial time where we need the people in our lives. A phone or video call can leave you feeling connected again and not so alone, particularly if you’re flying solo in quarantine. If you’re not up to a voice or video call, voice notes should do the trick. Sometimes, just hearing the voices of loved ones is enough.
Read, read, read! I can’t stress what a great way this is to pass time, and how enjoyable this is too! The digital age has meant that many people have lost touch with reading books. Since we aren’t as free to get out and leave the walls of our homes, reading offers us an escape into whichever fantasy world we choose! It’s also an idea if you’re wanting to cut back on screen time entertainment (not just talking to the millennials).
You may have chosen to do one or all of these ideas. Whichever, I hope you’re left feeling more productive and in control of your life during these testing times. Learn to love this time to yourself, rather than resent it! We can’t do much about the situation, so make the most of it. If you are a public service or healthcare worker, saving lives and keeping the country (whichever country this may be) afloat; on behalf of everyone, I would just like to say thank you for being the heroes that you are! Stay safe everyone đŸ™‚
