If you find yourself not being able to catch a breath that’s completely okay. A lot of people right now can’t shake the feeling of angst and dread while trying to endure through loss, an increasing pandemic, online schooling, and a crumbling political system. Research has shown that cases of depression have more than tripled during COVID-19 alone. We’re in a time where checking in on friends and family is crucial. If you’re not sure how to connect with them, or maybe you yourself need to take some time away from social media, here are some simple quarantine activities to do while you’re at home:
- Get Your Body Moving
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I know its really easy to stay slumped in bed all day, especially for students whose Zoom class is only a button away—guilty—but staying in bed can increase your chance of Seasonal Affective Disorder, a mental illness that is thought to prevail in the winter due to shorter days and a lack of sunlight. A fun activity to do to stray away from this is to go on a walk around your neighborhood taking pictures of only certain colors you find. It would be like an I-spy game; it would keep your mind actively engaged, you’d get the walking exercise, the sunlight, and the cool picture collage!
- Friendly Competition
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Friendly competition is always a must, a great way to interact with people right now is through online gaming. The biggest games trending right now through Youtube and Twitch are Among Us, Minecraft, PUBG, and Garena Free Fire. Any of these games are a great way to interact and collaborate with friends, family, or on your own without other online gamers. Of course, if online gaming isn’t your thing you can always go to board games and play things like Uno, Jenga, or download some online games like Heads Up.
- Relax Creatively
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A recent trend that took over the social media app TikTok was Powerpoint Night. It’s a riff off of the academic powerpoints where the goal is to be silly and present on a topic that makes you giggle; typically these are hosted over Zoom through screen sharing. I’ve personally seen topics such as Why Girls Hate Me, Harry Styles outfits rated, and ranking artists on dateability. Have fun with it! There are no right answers or right ways of doing it.
Whatever it is you choose to do, try not to stress too much on yourself, make time for your mental health, and keep an eye out for your loved ones.