I’ve been home from college since the middle of March. Now, some schools are bringing students back and others are still doing remote learning. I’m doing remote learning with my college, which essentially means my life hasn’t changed too much since March. While there aren’t as many restrictions anymore, I’m spending most of my time in my house to stay safe and to keep others around me safe. But as we all know, this isn’t easy! Here are some of the things that brighten up my days at home.
- Video chats
-
Okay, so whether it’s a zoom call with my teammates or a facetime with one of my friends, video chats are the best form of communication that’s not in person that we have access to! Something about seeing someone’s face and the expressions they make as they talk makes the connection feel a little more real. If I can’t see my friends in person, I feel like this is the next best thing.
- My quarantine puppy!
-
Back in April, my family adopted a Boston Terrier! Her name is Chelsea, and if you know me, you know how much I love her. Pets are so good for lifting spirits, whether you’re playing with them or just cuddling them. I always find that being with Chelsea is a huge mood booster, and I know that even sending my friends photos of her is a huge mood booster for them as well.
- Decorating my room the way I like it
-
I spend so much time in my room when I’m at home. Between online classes and my internship, my room has become my workspace in addition to my hangout space. While I’ve been at home, I actually moved to a different bedroom in my parents’ house and bought a couple of cheap things to spice things up. I added a lot of photos of my friends, and my room now is a space that I like and enjoy being in. I’ve found that that’s been a real lifesaver since I spend so much time there.
- Listening to music I listened to as a kid
-
Okay, so this one is something you might not have heard before. When I was little, I listened to a lot of Oldies with my parents, and as I grew older, I began listening to country music with my mom. Country music from that time period and oldies are songs I know well and are predictable and comforting. Our world right now is anything but predictable, and I think that the music you listen to can have a huge impact on your mood and your outlook on things. Listening to old music I know well sometimes gives me that little boost I need to get through the day.
- Having a goal!
-
When I moved back home from college, I realized how many books I owned at home that I haven’t read yet and really want to read, or are ones that I’ve already read but I want to read again. In all, I had about 60 books I wanted to read, and I set the goal of finishing most (if not all of them) by the time I leave my parents’ house. Having a goal has been good for me because when I’m feeling bored, I know I have something that I can work on. I also know that the books I read are going to educate me in some way or another, and so I’m gaining from that as well. I would highly recommend setting some sort of quarantine goal if you haven’t already!