Throughout the past few weeks life as we know it has been drastically changed. Movie theatres, gyms, and restaurants have all been forced to close in one way or another, making life dull and lonely to some during our time in quarantine.
Not to mention vacations being cancelled or postponed, which makes it hard to find something to look forward to right now. But these days don’t have to be so long or so bleak. Here’s some things I’ve been doing to make my time in quarantine more positive and enjoyable.
First, if you’re like me and enjoy the feeling of living a structured life, try and set a routine. Waking up at the same time everyday can help keep your sleep schedule on track for when life goes back to normal. Set goals for each day and try to accomplish them in an allotted amount of time.
For example, I wake up at 8:30 and eat breakfast. By 10 I have my homework or lectures for the day set up and ready to go. Doing these productive things early in the day lays a good groundwork for the rest of the day so you don’t get a feeling of lethargy or laziness.
Also, doing homework or chores early in the day leaves you with plenty of time for leisure. But that’s the hard part. What do I do if I’m sick of Hulu, my phone, and video games? That’s where my main advice comes in.
Think about how your last month went before we went into quarantine. How many times did you wish life would slow down so you could de-stress and relax? For me, it was a lot. Now you’ve gotten that wish. You have lots of time! You have time to get back to that hobby you didn’t have time for, or that activity that was put on the back burner for your classes or jobs.
Use this time you’ve been given to hone a craft, like baking or painting. I’ve done both, and it has really helped me. It’s important to stay in touch with your creative side during this time! Using creativity to make something positive like good food or art gives a feeling of productivity and clarity.
If art or cooking isn’t really your thing, then you can try working out. Exercise is allowed during the stay at home order, and getting outside drastically improves my mood. Going for jogs, kicking a soccer ball, or shooting a basketball are all small things that take up time and get you outside. If it’s a bad weather day, stay inside and practice yoga or pushups. It really doesn’t matter what you do! Again, you have time to decide what’s best for YOU.
I encourage you to try and find the silver lining right now. Look for the good in things, and find the best in every situation you’re put in. Life always seems to fly by and demand a lot from us, but right now we’ve been given a pause button. Get in touch with yourself and realize that there is good in this quarantine. You can do anything!
