As the school year finally winds down, but this quarantine continues, you may be feeling unsure about your summer plans. This has certainly been an unprecedented and confusing time for us students, as we have never faced something quite like it. Questions may be looming about the state of your summer jobs or other plans such as traveling and even just hanging out with friends.
There is no doubt that this is a challenging time for us all, and while staying at home may be relaxing on the surface, it is becoming more and more obvious that social distancing and self-isolation can hurt our mood and motivation. I have personally noticed these impacts already in the month I have been at home, and with this time continuing indefinitely, I thought I would share some ideas as to how to stay busy, productive and entertained.
- Be active
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This quarantine is the perfect time to get more active and prioritize you! Whether you have always wanted to increase your activity or were already active before social distancing, you now have more time to dedicate to your goals. Even if you can’t go to the gym, there are so many ways to get active at home: go for a walk, follow a yoga routine on YouTube or look up circuit workouts on Pinterest. Find what you like and stick to it. It’s important for your overall health to be active and eat healthily.
- Get creative
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Ever wanted to start a bullet journal or try to recreate a Bob Ross painting? Well, now is a good time to try! Getting creative is a great way to pass the time and express yourself, and there are tons of ways to be creative. Find something that interests you. Start a journal or sketchbook, colour or paint with your family at home, try tie-dying or bleaching old clothes to give them a new spin. Even reading and listening to music is a great way to unwind and unleash your creative side.
- Stay social
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The term social distancing makes it seem like any social contact is bad, but luckily, it’s 2020 and we have so many ways to stay socially connected while physically distanced. Call or video call your friends, or host a Netflix party. Staying in contact with friends and family is important for you but also for them. You may think they are busy at home, but they are probably feeling just as bored and lonely as you may be. Even just checking in with your loved ones every once in a while can make a huge difference in both of your moods, so don’t be afraid to reach out!
I hope these tips helped to spark some ideas of how to enjoy and thrive in quarantine. Hopefully it won’t be long until we can all go out, see friends, grab food and return to normal. In the meantime, do what makes you happy and stay busy. Before you know it, this will all be over, and you may wish you did more while you had the freedom to. So, don’t waste this precious time!