I am tired of all of the negative and scary portrayal that this Coronavirus is adding to everyone’s life. Yes, the idea of having a worldwide pandemic that we cannot control is absolutely terrifying, but we shouldn’t allow for it to affect our health in more aspects than it already has. Mental health, especially during a time of international crisis, is so important. We should focus on fixing what we can control.
Here’s a list of some things to consider while you’re stuck at home.
1. Create a New Routine
Although some of us have been able to slightly alter our routines, others have had their worlds turn upside down. The best way to get through this hardship is to keep as stable of a routine as possible. I’m currently on an extended Spring Break at home with my parents, but I am still making sure I get up before 8 am each day because when I was student teaching, my day would begin by 7:30-8:00 a.m. every day. If I continue to keep up this routine, it’ll not only help me sleep better every night but when we do eventually get back into our old routines again, it won’t be as straining on my body to readjust again. I’ve also found that still actively using my planner is helping me get done everything that I want to during this waiting period. In fact, most stores are having sales on daily/weekly planners during this time. Take advantage of this opportunity! I have never felt more put together during a crisis than I have with my planner.
2. Exercise
I’ll admit it. Since I’ve been home, I have definitely up’d my dosage of sweet treats, chips and candy. Whenever I’m bored, food is the first thing I’ll turn to. I need to remind myself, however, that this pandemic will pass eventually. And when it does, I don’t want to come out of it with any more added weight than college has already blessed me with. So, I’m going to turn to exercise. There are so many at-home programs that you can do once a day. My mom and I have decided that we’re going to do a yoga program each day that I’m home, as well as a heavier fitness program, too. This will help keep our minds and bodies active and engaged. It will also ensure that my graduation pictures don’t have any additional pounds in them.
The other day, my mom, dad and I decided that we wanted to get out of the house, so we walked around the neighborhood to our local coffee shop to get ourselves a drink to reward ourselves. Although we didn’t really see any people, it was still nice to walk around and get some sunshine. Instead of being cooped up in the house all day, it made me feel as though I was actually going about a normal Spring Break day with my family. Even if you’re just walking your dog down the block, or to the end of the driveway to pick up your mail, going outside for a short period of time each day is ensured to make you feel slightly normal again.
4. Shop Local!
So many individuals right now are going through financial hardships during this time in our country. Although us college kids may be home or in alternate classes for the rest of the school year, so many members of the community are now temporarily unemployed during this pandemic. If you want to do whatever you can to give back, instead of going to the scarcely empty grocery stores, call up one of your local restaurants and buy a meal that you can pick up curbside or get delivered. And it isn’t just restaurants that you can help, either. One of my many workplaces schedules wood-stenciled workshops. Although these workshops are closed, they are still selling workshops, gift cards, and are willing to customize and create some signs to deliver or get picked up curbside. And although it is so important to shop at big-name companies, odds are that they will be able to recover much easier than these smaller businesses. By helping out your community, you’re helping someone put a meal on their table for their family. That concept alone should make you smile.
5. Allow Yourself to Relax
Who says you can’t enjoy a spa day at home during this quarantine? Take advantage of this time off to spend some quality time with any ladies in your house! Odds are you have some nail polish, hair beauty products and makeup to do some makeovers. You can even dress up in your finest outfits and do a photo shoot when you’re done! And if you have any oatmeal, honey and olive oil, you can even create your own face mask to ease any of the added stresses you’ve been feeling.
6. Stay Social
We are humans. A majority of us thrive off of the ability to socialize with one another. Just because you may not be able to communicate with your friends or family members as much in person right now, that doesn’t mean that you can’t speak with them as often anymore. On almost every phone now, you are able to do phone calls with more than one person at a time. You can even download applications onto your phones, computers or tablet devices that allow for multiple-person video chats. My brother, although he stays in his room most of the time playing on his Xbox anyways, has been having more conversations with his friends by using his headset to communicate with them. There are so many outlets that we can use to talk with one another and it is so important that we continue to find ways to check up on one another.
7. Avoid Social Media
Ever since the Coronavirus began, the only thing that I see on my social media homepages is more information on the Coronavirus. The more that I read about this stuff, the more I worry about it. I’m getting to a point where I can’t even enjoy going on social media sites because the only news that they give me is news that keeps our nation in this quarantine longer. Although it is important that we stay updated on what’s going on during this pandemic, it is also important that we read things that help support our mental health. Instead of reading about the news, grab a new book off of your shelf, or find some new material online to read. Many libraries are now allowing free downloads of reading materials. You can also read a new recipe and bake or cook something for yourself and anyone else living with you.
Although the future is still unknown, we need to trust in ourselves and lean on each other during this time of uncertainty. Even if we are feeling alone, we have to remember that this pandemic is making us realize that we’re actually all in this together.