• April 2, 2020

Remember those Monday mornings when you’d begrudgingly silence your alarm and wonder where the weekend went? Nowadays, things are a bit different. Thanks to COVID-19, work, school, exercise -…everything- has to happen within the confines of your home. While you may understand that social distancing is integral in our fight against the spread of the Coronavirus, it probably hasn’t stopped you from going a little stir crazy. Here are some tips that may help.

Get some fresh air

Resist the urge to take up residence on the couch with snacks and Netflix for the duration of the quarantine. Open your windows and let in some fresh air. Schedule daily outdoor time. You can go for a walk or ride your bike through your neighborhood. Take up an outdoor hobby like gardening or finish the yard work project you’ve been putting off. Being outdoors will help you feel less ‘trapped’ which may improve the experience for you.

Stay Social

Social distancing does not mean that you become a hermit. There are lots of ways for you to remain a social butterfly during a quarantine. Take advantage of social media tools like FaceTime or Skype to stay connected with your friends and family. You can even throw a themed virtual party using tools like Zoom. The point is you don’t have to let social distancing separate you from the people you love.

Stay Busy

Fight boredom by staying active. Homeschooling and working from home can only take up so much of your day. And what do you do on weekends? Now is the time to work on those home projects you haven’t had the time for. Clean out your closets, reorganize your kitchen, come up with a fun family project that will take time to complete.  Busyness will help the days not feel so long. Plus, you’ll have the added benefit of checking off tasks from your ‘To Do’ list

Stay on a Schedule

Having nowhere to go day in and day out may cause you to want to sleep in which may make it harder for you to get back to normal once the COVID-19 threat is over. Maintain your Circadian rhythm by waking up the same time you would if you were physically going to work or school. If you are working from home, get dressed as if you are going to the office. Pack lunch. Go to a dedicated workspace in your house. Basically, behave as you would (as much as possible) if you were on your normal routine. This may help you feel more like ‘normal’.

Stay Positive

While you should be aware of what’s happening around you, remember to take a break from the COVID-19 pandemic. Turn off the news. Listen to some music or watch a funny movie instead. The reality is that there are no definites as to how long COVID-19 will be a threat. But you can fight the temptation to worry or be fearful. Maintain a positive outlook that the crisis will eventually come to an end. Think of it as a time to build family relationships, work on self-improvement or complete a personal project that you would not have had the time to do otherwise. Your perspective can help to improve the experience. Sometimes though, having a positive perspective isn’t always easy. If you find that you are having a hard time, reach out to a loved one or mental health professional to help you cope. 

These are unusual times. COVID-19 is something the world has never experienced before. Don’t beat yourself up for feeling out-of-sorts adjusting to mandatory curfews and emergency orders. It is a stressful time for everyone. The important thing is that you do what you can to keep you and your loved ones safe.