Recently, due to the coronavirus pandemic, many people have been advised to “self-quarantine” and remain a social distance. Since most of the universities have sent their students home and continue the rest of the semester online, many other public gatherings have been on hold as well. Concerts have been postponed, vacations canceled and sporting events called off. It is no secret boredom will strike and the best way to stay off the couch most of the day is to stay busy. Easier said than done, I’m sure. Here are a few of the ways I intend to keep busy during my self-quarantine.
1. Organizing
There’s no doubt moving everything back from an apartment/dorm can be stressful. That’s why it’s always important to be organized. Make sure to separate everything you need from everything that doesn’t really demand space in your closet. For example, take aside your game day gear and your cute white booties. Put them in a storage space or somewhere that creates enough room to stay organized. You won’t need them during your self-quarantine, trust me. Even after organizing your own room, take the time to organize your home. We’re in the middle of a pandemic, so it’s important you and your loved ones are living in a clean, healthy environment.
2. Read
Reading used to be one of my favorite things to do. Since being busy and occupied with my internship, I never really dedicated any of my time to reading. Since being self-quarantined, I have been able to get back to that little by little. The advantage of it all is that it’ll prepare me for when I go back for fall semester and have to take more writing-based courses for my major. Even if reading isn’t your “thing,” there are many other ways to keep yourself busy and avoid binge-watching your favorite show. Don’t get me wrong, resting is great, but it’s important to find other activities to keep you busy. For example, if you don’t share any particular interest in reading, you can play a board game with your family or get crafty with your mom.
3. Exercise
Since the majority of public places are being closed down, some gyms, at least in my area, have shut down temporarily. In my personal opinion, exercising isn’t my favorite thing to do, but it does keep me busy and it’s an outlet for my stress. Since I can’t go to the gym, I have resorted to video exercising on my TV. There are so many options for people who don’t necessarily like exercising in public places or lifting weights. You can purchase a dance exercise class like Zumba or yoga on your TV, not only to keep you busy, but to keep you active as well. So far, I’ve taken a couple of classes and in my opinion, I feel much more comfortable exercising in my own space. Another alternative could be creating your own exercise indoors such as sets of different exercises such as a certain amount of sit-ups, push-ups, etc.
4. Cooking
For a long time, I’ve had a list of recipes I’ve been wanting to try. Since having a little more free time than usual, I have been able to set some time and make homemade gnocchi mac and cheese and Mexican rice. It’s not the easiest activity to keep you busy, but it’ll pass the time of boredom. Plus, you’ll have a delicious meal at the end for you and your family.
These activities don’t have to be the ones that keep you busy, but it’s always great to have an alternative to scrolling through Tik Tok or Instagram for hours. At the same time, it’s also important to not overwhelm yourself with so much. Take each day one day at a time and find a healthy balance. It’s a stressful time for a lot of people, but the most important thing to do is to stay healthy and safe.
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