Just like everyone else, you’ve probably been in home quarantine for longer than anywhere else you’ve been this year. The first couple of weeks may have proved to be tolerable, but with continued community lockdowns, you’d wish you could go back to the life you enjoyed before.
The good news is, you don’t have to continue feeling the blues. Strike a balance between dealing with the so-called new normal and doing fun activities while there’s a pandemic. Whether you’re at home or stuck elsewhere, you can stay happy while being safe and healthy, too.
Nice-to-Do Things during Quarantines and Lockdowns
1. Keep yourself busy
Most likely, you’re working or studying from home these days as part of the new normal. This gives you something to do every day and keep your mind distracted from the not-so-good stuff, mostly news about the pandemic.
Understandably, there will be days when you’ll have more struggles, but do what you have to do, anyway. Given the circumstances, you need to accept the fact that there will be highs and lows, but you also have to remember that those aren’t your only options.
You can take advantage of home quarantines as an opportunity to discover new ways of enjoying life. Perhaps you can renovate your bedroom or make your work-from-home area cozier. Look for old photographs that have been collecting dust and make a lovely family album.
Engaging in arts and crafts, poetry, or other creative activities can also stimulate positive energy and good vibes and make you feel happier.
2. Maintain social interactions
Thanks to technology, you can stay connected with family and friends despite not being able to meet them in person as often as you want to. Call, text, or video chat them in appropriate times during the day.
As much as possible, try not to talk about the current situation and instead keep things light and fun. If it can’t be helped to discuss the pandemic, focus more on the bright side by sharing your post-pandemic plans or new hobbies you’ve been doing lately.
In the same manner, you may want to limit scrolling on your social media feed so that you won’t be saturated with alarming news about the virus outbreak. You can use your phone’s screen time functionality to see how much time you’re spending on apps or social media and set limits for yourself to protect your mental health.
3. Do healthy activities
You may want to join the new fitness trend of biking, which is also a great way to experience the outdoors still and get some fresh air, even if it’s just within your neighborhood and nearby areas.
From eating to exercising and sleeping habits, make sure to stay on the healthy side of things. This will help in strengthening your immune system and, ultimately, improve your overall mood.
4. Help those in need
If you have the means, helping others can give a deep sense of joy to you. It doesn’t have to be in monetary form like raising or donating funds—although that’s one sure way to alleviate the suffering of others—even the simple act of cheering someone who’s feeling vulnerable can mean so much to that person.
Or perhaps you’ve received goods from your local government, but you feel that someone else could use them instead, feel free to pass them on to your less fortunate neighbors.
Living a Balanced Life During the Pandemic
The current situation has been a test of physical, mental, and emotional fortitude. But, now more than ever, we need to hang in there with positivity by focusing on things that we have and can do despite the odds.
Author Bio:
Keely is a young, energetic professional from Spiralytics, a Globe Telecom Partner who enhances her company’s voice and presence through online and offline channels. She can combine creative thinking with performance analytics that drives traffic and awareness across various industry verticals.
