2 Ways to Refresh Without Social Media in Quarantine

Social Media can either be the best place for entertainment or the most toxic place for your mental health. As a person who is part of Gen-Z, I have grown up on the idea that social media platforms are the way to share the quintessential image of perfection, an idea that most of us seek but never be achieved. It can be detrimental to teenagers and young adults to look up to a platform with influencers and algorithms that broadcast a message that can be harmful. In the age of COVID-19 and lockdowns, social media is sometimes the only place we can find to take breaks from school and/or work. Here are some ways to refresh your mind and body while also taking a break from social media. 

The first one is as easy as walking outside for ten minutes a day. Exercise helps keep your blood pumping and your muscles from straining and falling asleep. There are even options for people who work a 9 to 5 while sitting all day such as the sit-stand workstation or the treadmill desk, which increases “their sense of well being and decreases their fatigue and appetite”, according to TIME. Another option is stretching. There are different stretches that you can do without moving too much or disturbing the quiet such as the posterior shoulder stretch where you hold one arm across your body and pull your elbow into your chest. You can find many more at Bupa or Healthline with helpful animations and descriptions. Finally, my favorite way is to wake up and do a quick ten minute workout. For quick and easy workouts that require no additional equipment check out Katie Austin’s Youtube channel and download the app Workout for Women which has different levels for short workouts.

Another way to refresh your mind and body is to journal your day, plan for the future, or even DIY a few things. Surrounding yourself with creativity can help refocus your mind, and keep you calm while having an outlet outside of your regular day to day, according to Forbes. If you can’t think of any good DIY ideas yourself, magazines always have inspiration for the latest trends in the season and the cutest colors. You can also do some light reading at the same time. If journaling is more your way to go, pick a time where you can sit and spend at least an hour writing in an ample space with lots of natural light to help your eyes and body refresh from the computer screen. Another idea is to walk around the neighborhood, find a park and breathe in the fresh air, combining both exercise and creativity to ease yourself out of a stressful day. 

Quarantine can take a toll when you’re not taking the time to stimulate your body and mind in positive ways. Hopefully, you can use these ideas to refresh yourself a little bit when you need that extra boost. 

 

• break
• mental health
• quarantine
• relax
• social media