In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, I wanted to take this opportunity to capitalize on the importance of self care and sympathy. For many, quarantine equates to being trapped at home in fear and boredom, and in times of crisis remembering to extend compassion to both yourself and others can prove exhausting. I find it necessary to remind myself that it’s okay to hit the pause button. It’s okay to extend grace, and it’s even okay to place faith in uncertainty. What follows are some of my personal suggestions for how to live through this pandemic mindfully and considerately, through a lens of love and empathy.
- Take some time to journal.
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Being at home provides a valuable opportunity for introspection, and starting a journal offers honest insight into your own thoughts and feelings. While in quarantine, consider taking some time to nourish your relationship with yourself. Write yourself a love letter. Take the space you need to rant. Explore the impact of this sudden influx in alone time on your mental health. Entertain your innermost thoughts. Be gentle with yourself.
- Reach out to someone you haven’t talked to in awhile.
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If you’re like me, the hustle and bustle of daily life can overshadow communication, often testing relationships already strained by space and time. With this newfound increase in quarantine free time, consider reaching out to someone you love. Facetime a friend who lives across the country or ocean. Text a family member and let them know you are thinking of them. Spread love and light.
- Cook yourself a meal.
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One of the best things I’ve done for myself over the last few weeks has been cooking, allowing me to nourish and appreciate my body with a newfound enthusiasm. Through actively considering the ingredients going into my meals, and opting for ingredients rich in nutritional value, quarantine cooking continues to inspire a more intimate relationship between my mind and body. Consider making a meal. Cook for yourself. Cook for your family. Promote healthy and mindful living.
- As hard as it might be, please stay home.
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Regardless of your own views on health or personal attitudes towards quarantine, this pandemic presents a serious threat to our society. As death tolls surge and case numbers spread, every member of our community is at risk. Stay home for your loved ones. Stay home for yourself. Stay home for the healthcare professionals extending compassion and for the members of our communities whose lives are seriously threatened by this virus. Do your part to keep society as safe a place as possible for as many people as possible.
- Engage in a new hobby.
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Read a book. Learn how to sew. Meditate. Embrace yoga. Dance around your room. Do something that enriches your soul for no other reason than you enjoy doing it. Contemplate the ways in which quarantine offers you the opportunity to give yourself a gift you’ve always wanted.
To each lovely human reading this, you matter. You have the capacity to spread positive energy, and you are loved. <3