Remember New Year’s Eve of 2019, when we were with our friends and loved ones, counting down to midnight and praying that 2020 would be our year? Well, I don’t know how that is going for all of you, but I feel like I am practically ten months into the year sent straight from hell. There have been plenty of times that I have felt like I have done everything acceptable to do in the middle of a pandemic, and I am sure that many of you are in the same boat as me. However, after doing a little looking around, I have managed to compile a list of activities you CAN do when you are in, what I like to call, a quarantine rut.
1. Find a new hiking trail.
Finding a new hiking trail and taking your close friends, family or even your dog with you for an adventure is a great way to ease stress and get out of the house all in one activity. Hiking is a form of exercise that you can modify to your liking. There are plenty of trails in KW and the surrounding areas, so I am positive that if you Google hiking trails near you, there will be a result that sparks your interest. You could also make it a day trip and go to one a little farther away, such as a trail in Algonquin Park. The best part about hiking though is that you not only get out of the house and into nature, but you usually get some amazing photos as a way to remember the experience as well.
2. Take up a new hobby.
I have seen people all over Facebook and Instagram getting creative while in quarantine. Take this time to find a new hobby, or maybe finally get around to the one you have been putting off for so long. There are no excuses anymore, this is the time to get creative and find a hobby that can stick with you long after this pandemic is finally over. Who knows, maybe you’re an excellent painter or good at playing an instrument. You would never know though because you haven’t tried. Take this time to step out of the comfortable bubble you stay in and try a sport or an instrument or maybe some DIY projects. Take this time to have some faith in your abilities and try something new.
3. Find a form of exercise you enjoy and add it to your daily routine.
Another thing that has become widely popular during quarantine is home workouts. Since many of the gyms were closed for months at a time, people began doing their workouts at home instead. However, many of the gyms and studios have begun opening back up and are taking safety measures in order to welcome people back through their doors. I encourage everyone to find a form of exercise you enjoy and incorporate it into your daily routine; this doesn’t mean you have to go to a gym though. Exercise comes in many forms. I just wanted to mention that the gyms are an option that are open again. If you don’t like the gym then try yoga, hiking or even Zumba. There are many ways to get active, so there is going to be one that works for you.
4. Start a new Netflix series.
Starting a new series on Netflix may be kind of an obvious thing to do and is certainly something that many people have done, myself included. That being said though, take this time to get to the show you keep hearing so much about or the one that you keep meaning to watch. Stop watching reruns of The Office or Friends and watch something new. Maybe you will find something that you like even more than your current favourite. I personally am a huge fan of The Office, but recently my boyfriend and I have started watching Lucifer and we are loving it. I highly recommend the show to anyone who is looking for something new. You could even have a Netflix Party with all your friends and start watching a new series together.
5. Clean up the space around you.
Having a clean living space has always been very important to me, I like to keep all my things organized, even if my thoughts aren’t always organized. Taking the time to organize or clean-up your room and workspace can make a world of difference. Cleaning up the areas that you are going to be spending large amounts of time in will change your perspective and make you actually want to be present in them. I recently even cleaned up my desktop and organized it in a way that makes me happy looking at it. It makes opening up my computer to get work done more appealing believe it or not. Not so long ago I rearranged the furniture in my bedroom as well, and that made me want to be more present in that space. It has made doing work in that room much more enjoyable. Wanting to be present in the space will leave you more willing to get work done and increase your productivity. Let’s face it, no one wants to work in a room that looks like a pigsty.
6. Read something new.
Reading isn’t a hobby that everyone enjoys and that’s okay, but there are so many writing outlets that I bet there is at least one that everyone would enjoy. There are comics, novels, newspaper articles, magazines and so many more outlets, so give it a try. If you don’t like it then at least you can say that you gave it a go and if you do like it then you may have just found a new hobby. For the people that do like reading however, I encourage you to read something new. You can either take that to mean reading something that you have been meaning to read for weeks now or read a new genre or style of writing. I implore you nevertheless, to read something new and educate yourself. No harm can come from becoming more knowledgeable.
7. Take a day trip.
Taking a day trip to a winery for a tour or up north for a small getaway can make a huge difference in your happiness. It’s not fun and certainly not ideal to be trapped inside the same four walls all of the time. Take a day trip or take a longer one if you have the time. Go and see a provincial park, spend the day exploring all that nature has to offer. Another option is a brewery or winery tour, which is something I have been seeing everyone do lately. If you’re of legal drinking age, then this is a great way to get out of the house for a day with your friends and have a great time. Something else that could be done is a (safe and social distanced) trip to Toronto or Niagara for the day, where you can explore the city. You’ll probably even get some killer pictures out of the experience that you can post on your social media. Make memories that you’ll keep with you forever. Do you really want to remember this whole year as you in sweatpants with a bag of popcorn or Cheetos in your hand?
8. Take some time to care for yourself.
Finally, take some time for self-care. This is one thing that is essential to living a healthy and happy life, and yet we always seem to neglect this. Take some time out of your day to have a bath, meditate, paint your nails or do whatever it is that you do to relax. More times than not people have a “go-go-go” mentality, always running around and always busy with something. We want to feel accomplished in the world and be successful in the eyes of ourselves and others. There is nothing wrong with wanting these things but how do you expect to get there if you’re feeling run down and tired? You wouldn’t leave your phone out to die, you would charge it when the battery gets low. If you’re willing to do that for your phone, then why do you choose not to do that for yourself? The all-nighter you’re thinking of doing to work on an assignment or study for a test isn’t worth it. I’ve been there and so I can promise you, the sleep-deprivation is not worth it. Take this time in quarantine to take care of yourself again, but don’t just do it now because you have time. Start again now because you have time but continue self-care even after the pandemic is over because you are worth it. Learn to love and respect yourself, starting with daily self-care in the way that works the best for you.
I know that this year hasn’t turned out the way we had all hoped it would. On New Year’s Eve, many of us were hoping this was going to be our year or that we would finally stick with the resolution that we have been re-attempting for the last 5 years. However, just because we are taking safety measures for the benefit of ourselves and others, doesn’t mean that we can’t make this a great year. This is just a small list of the things you CAN still do, so go and have some fun, just make sure you’re being safe while you do it.