With stay-at-home orders being extended longer than we all expected, a lot of us have taken the opportunity to take up some new hobbies to pass the time and cure boredom. If you haven’t already, I highly recommend starting a quarantine journal to help reduce the pandemic-induced anxiety you may be feeling. There’s no doubt that journaling daily, weekly, or even monthly can act as a coping mechanism for stress. In our current situation, journaling would be a great way to clear your mind, get rid of negative thoughts and keep a historical account of your experience while living through a crisis.
If you’re having trouble getting started, I’ve listed out some prompts made specifically for quarantine.
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What are you most excited to do again once this is all over?
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How are you taking care of yourself right now?
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What has been your daily routine in quarantine?
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What activities are you taking on in quarantine and will you continue doing them when this is over?
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What have you learned about life from this experience?
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What is getting you through quarantine?
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How has this experience changed any of your social, economic, or political views?
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What have you gotten to do during quarantine that you normally would not get to do?
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If you could self-isolate with any celebrity, who would it be and why?
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What are some plans that have been canceled for you?
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What movies and TV shows have you been watching?
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How has quarantine changed your mental health?
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Who are you spending quarantine with? What have you been doing together?
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How are you staying in touch with friends?
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Write a letter to your future self when out of quarantine?
While you definitely don’t have to write about quarantine, it can definitely be a fun way to detail your experiences and have something to look back on later. The best part about journaling is that there are no rules. All it takes is a pen, some paper, and your thoughts. It’s important to keep in mind that your journal is for you and you only. In other words, you shouldn’t feel limited when expressing your feelings as if someone else is going to read your entries. Instead, you should think of your journal as your own private place to open up and express any little judgment or concern for what’s on your mind.
I hope that you find journaling as fun and relaxing as I do. Happy writing!