What to do with your quarantined life
- The Crux
- Apr 16, 2020
- 3 min read
By Areeba M. Siddiqui
This virus has hit us hard. It’s terrifying to watch news and stories everyday of people just like us dealing with this deadly virus. As I sat down to write, I only began to wonder what it must be like if someone close to me suddenly becomes infected. While keeping abreast of the daily news, I still try not to think too much about the dynamics and consequences of the current situation. With the nationwide quarantine in order, it only serves my best interest to make the most out of this critical time.
Although staying inside is a best way to protect yourself and others from the COVID-19, it could lead to a lesser evil: boredom and stir craziness. If you are thinking, being stuck at home one can only do so much, then think again. Here are some ways to stay productive while killing boredom, and fighting negativity.
1. Quality time with your loved ones
Use this time to finally achieve your goals that you never quite had time to work on. Time is key and you can’t do much if you don’t have enough of it. You can start by connecting with your loved ones, calling your parents more often or chatting with a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while. Relax while reading books you intended to read but never got a chance or catch up with your favorite TV shows and movies. Netflix party is a new way to enjoy movies and TV shows with your best friends remotely. It’s a Chrome extension, that lets synchronize viewing with multiple user log in. If you live with your significant other, this is the best time to spend quality time with them. Go on romantic dinner dates with home cooked food. Dress up and look nice for the occasion. Step up your game with a touch of candlelight and soft background music.
2. Relax and De-clutter
Take this opportunity to work out, and relax your mind while doing yoga and/or meditate. Keeping strict advisory to ‘social distance’, its important to take calming walks and even long strolls outside on sunny days. This is a perfect way to commune with nature and naturally form Vitamin D for your body. Enjoy reading your favorite books; you can download free ebooks from Google Ebookstore, Project Gutenberg or Amazon free kindle books. Make sure to also add self-care to your routine by following a healthy diet, setting up proper skin care routine, and drinking lots of water. Additionally, its essential to get a proper 8-10 hours sleep, for a healthier immune system.
3. Learn a new skill
Now that we have spare time, it can be utilized to develop useful skills. You can learn several new skills while staying indoors, for instance trying out new recipes from YouTube and cooking apps with all the supplies you recently stocked up. You can also try learning a new language, or teach yourself to paint or sketch or take interesting online courses from Udemy and Coursera such as web designing, image and video editing or robotics. Moreover, learning how to make small home repairs with DIY videos will help you in the long run.
4. Reach out for help
While there’s a lot you can do to kill time in the comfort of your homes. Don’t forget to take care of your loved ones, stay safe and only go out when absolutely necessary such as for medical care and grocery shopping but make sure you are not clearing out shelves for others while stocking up more than you need; reach out and help anyone you can (with donations, etc.), especially those who don’t have the luxury of working from homes or those who cant afford to stock up with necessities, and all those who just went out of businesses or lost their jobs recently.
Most importantly, while trying to keep up with current news and being aware of your surroundings, don’t panic, think positive, and be kind towards everyone. I hope we all find ways to cope with the uncertainty that we are combating. This too shall pass like all others in the past. Fingers crossed.
Areeba M. Siddiqui
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