HOW TO SURVIVE A QUARANTINE
If somebody had asked me to stay at home, rest and watch Netflix a couple of days ago I would have gladly accepted, just the thought of munching on my buttered popcorn while watching series the whole day was enough for a small tear of joy to escape.
After some days at home though, and after watching half of Netflix’s horrible reality shows, I am bored to tears (not the happy kind).
With the quarantine in place the world has come at a standstill, concerts and social activities have been canceled, work and schools closed down and any place for people to assemble and talk, such as bars, restaurants and coffee shops have been rapidly shut down. Of course self-isolation or quarantine is one of the key strategies in “flattening the curve” of infection rates, thus we have to endure this situation together to get back to our normal lives.
As the time passes more people have resorted to sharing activities one can do to survive these long days, be it alone or with your family or roommates, so I have decided to compile some of these activities, mainly not to go stir crazy, but also to build the public’s positivity and share ideas with other’s.
These are the activities I find more doable and that I want to do myself:
De-stress with an in-home workout.
If social isolation has you feeling down, try exercise, a proven mood-booster. I am not the most athletic person as I prefer walking or doing sports where I have other people to motivate me, however as gyms and studios are closing down their doors we have to turn to the technology at our disposal to both learn and teach.
There are plenty of free fitness apps like FitOn, Freeletics, and Simply Yoga. And don’t forget YouTube, offering a wealth of kickboxing, yoga and other video-streamed routines.
Also check your local studio and gym Facebook pages as many are turning to streaming classes.
Host an online dinner party, happy hour, or hangout.
Finding new ways to keep connected even in social distancing is now easier with apps such as Zoom, FaceTime, Google Hangouts, and Skype, which enable you to organize social meet-ups virtually, so that the socialization does not have to stop. Share a drink with your friends, engage in conversation over dinner, or host a group meditation — all without leaving your house.
Dive into a good book.
While libraries are closed there are many other ways to get your hands on that book you have been trying to read but had no time to. A good way is for example E-books, although not as good as holding a book in your hands they provide a good way to read with just a touch of your finger (I recommend Albert Camus’s The Plague, for a more thematic reading.
Catch up on podcasts
Although Netflix is a must we cannot forget podcasts of course, which you can listen to while cooking or exercising. They are an awesome way to get your news about the world or if you need a distraction you can find podcast in every type of subject such as cooking, true crime, sports etc.
Take a virtual tour of museums both locally and around the world.
For those of us who like museums it is sad to see most of them temporarily closed due to the coronavirus. But thanks to Google Arts & Culture, you can still explore hundreds of them virtually, from Amsterdam to Seul you can visit on-line museums and galleries from all over the world.
If you’re not sure where to start, Google compiled a top 10 list.
Write, write, and write!
Although many of you may find this a daunting task, writing can be a good way to vent your feelings in a form of a journal or a diary. If you are feeling more creative why not write a story even? It can be as good as watching a series or reading, since you can create your own characters and play out whatever scenario you can come up with.
Baking and cooking
Baking may not be my forte but it can be a sweet way to de-stress … Who doesn’t like some brownies in times of anxiety? Put on a playlist, cook your favorite plate and treat yourself to a good meal without rushing.
Get those board games out!
This is a something you can do with your family, roommates and children. Get that monopoly out or if you are feeling daring (and ready to break some family ties or friendships) get those UNO cards ready! This type of activities are always fun and make time pass more quickly.
This is also the time to get that self-care on, I found a video for those who want to relax, slow down their lifestyle and take care of themselves.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQxpQ94Euic
For even more activities to do is a page that lists 100 of them:
https://eu.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2020/03/16/coronavirus-quarantine-100-things-do-while-trapped-inside/5054632002/
For parents who have to quarantine with their kids, I found several websites that can help you schedule activities for the little ones, from learning activities to stimulate them to more active ones for them to channel their energies.
https://www.deseret.com/entertainment/2020/3/16/21181147/coronavirus-covid19-quarantine-parents-kids-children-activities-learn-school
https://parade.com/1009774/stephanieosmanski/things-to-do-with-kids-during-coronavirus-quarantine/
These are just a few of the things I found and that may help someone fight the boredom of the days to come. I hope everybody stays safe, stay in the house as much as you can so that soon we can be together again. Be optimistic and see this as a way to do different things and protect those at risk.
With BR, Ana