There's no doubt this is a time of fear over the absolute unknown. As we're trapped in our homes and separated from our loved ones in an attempt to slow this pandemic, it's imperative that we focus on the few things that we can control to stay sane during this Coronavirus outbreak. Protecting your mental state and staying away from the lurking negative feelings is mission-critical.
While the aftermath is still unclear when it comes to the drastic impact to come from the virus, we as humans and as a community can control our perspective, our sanity, and our productivity during the COVID-19 quarantine.
Keep clean, stay in control, and don't forget to focus on what's important: your well-being and continuing to foster your relationships to create calm amidst the storm.
STAYING ACTIVE DURING QUARANTINE
Yoga! Or Stretching!
I highly recommend the ‘Down Dog’ app which is free through March 31st. You can choose how long you’d like to practice, your experience level and what style to practice, including everything from restorative to flow.
Practicing headstands.
On a similar and silly note, for non-yogis, when was the last time you tried to do a headstand? Let me tell you, it’ll fill you with a ton of laughter and as a bonus really kill your core. What’s better than hanging out upside down?
HELLO, TRAMPOLINE IT UP.
Have a yard? Always swear trampolines were too dangerous? Do yourself a favor and get over it: trampolines are the best.
Walk your dog or yourself.
And no I don’t mean yoga again. The fresh air will surely do you well and keep your heart rate up. Think about exploring on that one hike you’ve been meaning to do.
STAYING SANE DURING QUARANTINE
Read all the books that you’ve had on your shelf forever.
If you don’t have many options and are short a Kindle for downloading books, you can still purchase Amazon books in an online format and read through the Kindle app. Here are a few of my best book recommendations.
Stay informed without being inundated.
Listen to The Daily podcast by The New York Times or allow yourself a preset amount of time to tune into the news.
Do puzzles.
Puzzles are my jam and are a great way to flex your brain muscles without too much action involved.
Have deeper conversations.
Take this time to settle into deeper conversations. Need an idea for how to get started? The School of Life and BestSelf have conversation-starter packs ranging from intimacy to icebreaker prompts.
Get Writing.
Writing is one of the most therapeutic forms of release. Take some time each day to pen down both your gratitudes and your fears. Maybe try your hand at writing a poem or sharing your thinking on Medium.
Facetime with family and friends.
No better way to smooth the soul in times of fear than sharing a laugh with your loved one. Don’t let self-quarantine turn you into a recluse. Take this time to connect with the people in your life who might also be suffering from fear and stir-craziness from COVID-19.
Play games! Scrabble, chess, monopoly!
If you’re lucky enough to be trapped with a companion or two, this is the moment to wipe the dust off those old games of yours and give them a whirl. If you aren’t lucky enough to have someone in-person, there are a ton of great game-play app to take things virtual. Looking for a great two-player game? Skyjo is an entertaining card game that doesn’t require too much brainpower.
Stay Invested.
Turbulent times in the market and economy can lead to dramatic and regrettable investment decisions. Try not to look at your investment portfolios or retirement accounts until the outbreak settles down. It’s critical to stay invested throughout the low period. In fact, if you have some money tucked away, it might be a smart move to put it into the market while stock prices are low.
Watching old Golf Network replays.
Honestly, I never would have done this by choice but hi, boyfriend who loves golf. The pace and tone by which they speak is soothing and rhythmic. Also, it’s really great to nap to.
KEEPING CREATIVE DURING QUARANTINE
Painting! And Drawing! Even if you’re bad at it!
As Liz Gilbert has preached for years, the value of creativity is immeasurable. No matter your skill level, get your pencil or paintbrush flowing to tap into the healthy, yet frequently neglected part of your brain. Making colorful collages from those old magazines works too.
Paint your nails in cute ways.
Hello, smiley faces and polka dots and multi-colored fingers. No need to look professional while you work from home so take this time to design your fingers in a way that’ll bring you joy.
Doodle on these adult activity pages.
Artist and creator Adam JK has released a few free pages from his creative prompt journal ‘One Page at A Time’ for printing and doodling. The activities are therapeutic and engaging.
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Send cards to your loved ones.
For as long as mail resumes, this is a way to stay connected and creatively express your love to the ones you care deepest for during the quarantine.
Chalk up the sidewalks.
Order a big ole’ case of chalk and take to the streets to spread messages of joy. From flowering up the sidewalks to “Hey we’re in this together,” snap pics of your chalk masterpieces and tag #Chalktimism!
STAYING PRODUCTIVE DURING QUARANTINE
Make a dream trip itinerary to plan post-chaos.
Need a few ideas for where to start? Might I suggest exploring in Sedona, AZ, adventuring around Utah, or road tripping Southern California?
Clean out your closets and drawers.
This isn’t a fun one but it’s a productive way to spend your time during the quarantine. Talk about tackling the tasks you’ve been putting off for months (cough cough years, even?) Plan to donate the clothes, kitchen items, etc that you settle on getting rid of once you can leave lockdown.
Go through all those old magazines you've been meaning to read.
Catch up on the good and bad of all those saved papers and magazines that you couldn’t get yourself to throw away.
Make your bed.
Even if you normally don’t in a regular world. Keeping your bed made will give you a sense of purpose and accomplishment, despite how small the act.
Write Google Reviews for your favorite Businesses.
There isn’t much we can tangibly do to manage or control what’s happening to the economy right now so here’s something small that can make a big difference once the world normalizes. Write reviews and rate your favorite establishments on Google to help promote and push traffic to small businesses.
PIMP OUT YOUR PATIO
Spring doesn’t stop for anything, including global pandemics. Use this time to refresh your outdoor spaces and so you can get some fresh air and feel good about where you’re at. Check out these outdoor sale items on Wayfair for some inspiration. Fire pit, anyone?
WASH YOUR CAR.
Just because you aren’t driving as much, doesn’t mean your car doesn’t want to look pretty. Bonus points for polishing. Plus, it’s a fun way to cool off on a hot day.
Order pictures online for printing.
What better time to force yourself to sit down and go through the thousands of phone pictures that have been dying to escape into the real world. Shutterfly is my favorite site for printing as it usually has a TON of coupons and free things to throw on top of already affordable pricing.
Fill out the Census!
Do your civic duty and head online to fill out the census. All you need to do is click “Respond” in the top right corner or their government website here. This only happens once every decade and is critical for the country to help allot the appropriate budgeting, resources and electoral votes from state to state.
Unsubscribe to unwanted emails.
If you’re a human being living on planet Earth right now, your inbox has been flooded with “How We’re Coping with COVID-19” emails from companies you didn’t even know had your email address. Take this time to unsubscribe as the emails keep coming. Maybe cancel those magazine subscriptions, too while you’re at it.
HOW ARE YOU STAYING SANE DURING QUARANTINE?
-Be Well