With the pandemic still raging and most states still under quarantine, it can be hard for the situation to not take a toll on your mental health. You may still be feeling antsy or uneasy, stressed and sick of staying at home. If you feel like you’re falling apart, now is the time to take control of your life and focus on what’s important. I’ve created a list on how to stay sane during quarantine, help pass the time, and bring some positivity during these unprecedented times.
1. Limit Your News Intake
While watching or reading the news can be helpful to provide you with more information on what’s happening in the world or how the COVID-19 situation is unfolding, it can also be a little stressful or make you feel more paranoid afterwards. So if you’re wondering how to stay sane during quarantine, then definitely reduce your news intake and give yourself some piece of mind.
Try catching up on the news on a weekly basis instead of daily, so you can have some peaceful time during the week to enjoy and destress. Also, it may help to focus on specific news topics (ie. only for your state), as opposed to taking in news from all over the world as that can cause you to feel overwhelmed.
2. Create a Routine
When you’re stuck inside all day, it’s easy for your normal routine to go whack. Take some time out and create a new routine for yourself and family and stick to it. It can do wonders for your mental health. Following a routine can help you feel that sense of normalcy and it will also make you more productive. If you’re someone who struggles with making routines or following them, check out How to Be Organized:12 Great Tips for some help.
3. Try a New Hobby
If you have extra time on your hands, I would recommend picking up a new hobby. This is a great way to pass time and keep from getting bored. The internet provides a vast amount of resources to learn something new, and you never know, you might learn some new things about yourself along the way. So step outside of your comfort zone, and try something new.
4. Get Some Fresh Air
It’s important to go outside and get some fresh air. As long as you’re still practicing social distancing it’s a great way on how to stay sane during quarantine and to beat the indoor boredom. So go for a walk around your neighborhood or explore nearby parks or your city on foot. It can be a nice change from staying inside most of the time, and the sun and breeze are sure to uplift your mood.
5. Try New Recipes
Since indoor dining is out of the question, and only takeout is available from restaurants, this is a great time to try out some new recipes at home. There are thousands of recipes and cooking tutorials available online, so check out some interesting ones and make yourself some new tasty meals. You may discover some new tastes or cooking skills. Remember to have fun with it, and even get the family involved if you can.
6. Accept This as the ‘New Normal’
Accepting the situation around you as the ‘new normal’ can trick your mind into not feeling so down and negative about it. Keep in mind that this is temporary and that things will eventually start changing. As with life, change is inevitable, and the only way to get through it is to adapt. So focus on the positives of the situation such as being able to have more free time, or having more time to spend with family.
7. Grow Something
Another great way on how to stay sane during quarantine is to grow something. This can be a great way to pass time and you may even have a beautiful garden at the end. There are a variety of things you can choose to grow, from flowers to vegetables or even herbs that you can then use for cooking. If you have kids, get each of them to plant a seed in a small pot and then take care of it till it grows fully. This is sure to keep them occupied and have something to look forward to.
8. Host a Virtual Party
If you can’t meet your friends or family in person because of the quarantine, then there’s no better way than hosting a virtual party. Through Zoom or Google Meet, you can have conversations with multiple people at once and it’s a great way to catch up and keep in touch with everyone. So next time you’re craving some company, throw a virtual party and make it fun by having everyone dress up.
9. Color
Remember when adult coloring books were all the rage? While that fad may have died down, coloring is still a therapeutic and stress relieving activity. So if you find yourself with extra time with nothing to do, and want to take your mind off things, take up coloring. Today, there are also various coloring apps available on your mobile devices or tablets so you can enjoy the concept digitally. Check out 7 of the Best Free Coloring Apps for Adults, to know which ones are worth downloading.
10. Workout
Since most of us are confined to our homes, exercise is truly important right now, not just for your body, but also for your mind. So try to take some time out to get some movement or even a home workout in during your day. It will also help you from gaining any quarantine weight and keeping your body in shape.
