Considering there are states across the country already starting to relax their pandemic restrictions, this post might be a little less timely than it would’ve been a month ago. However, I think we can all agree that COVID-19 is likely to hang around for many weeks–or months–more, and that the unpleasant mental, emotional, and financial strain that so many of us are facing is going to hang around too.
There has been a lot of justifiable discussion recently about how to cope with our new normal and what to do in light of all the additional time we have to spend at home. Many of us have begun exploring new hobbies or tackling personal projects or reading more. But for many more of us, the self-imposed isolation and the strain of these new circumstances are occupying so much space in our minds and in our lives that doing anything at all feels overwhelming.
The pandemic has been directly impacting my life since mid-March, and in that time I’ve fluctuated between these two groups. My husband and I moved less than two weeks after our state started closing down businesses and I started working remotely, which was atrocious timing, and there were two weeks at least where I did almost nothing that wasn’t directly tied to logistics, packing, or unpacking.
Since then, though, I’ve been pretty successful at channeling my lingering anxiety into a variety of personal projects, if only to help myself stay more or less off social media and away from the news. The days that I’ve spent baking or tackling writing stuff or messing around on my guitar have been the happiest days of my quarantine because I haven’t been fixated on how anxious I am or how uncertain everything feels. Doing something, anything I can control helps make the many, many things I can’t easier to bear.
Although I’m not trying to force productivity on anyone and I have the utmost of empathy for those who are seriously struggling right now, I do think it’s important to distract yourself with good things and to tend to your mental and physical health as best you can. Here’s a short list of ten simple things that I’ve done to pass the time in quarantine that have really helped me feel better.
1. Consume an absorbing, entertaining piece of media. I’ve already blogged about my recent escapist reads, but your escapism might come in the form of a new TV show or favorite movie, and that’s just fine too.
2. Listen to a song–or songs–you like that lifts your spirits. I’ve been obsessed with Halsey’s Badlands album, because I am a million years behind on music, as well as this song and this one.
3. Indulge in some comfort food. I’ve been baking a lot more because I have time and because it’s much cheaper than buying cookies, but your comfort food could be anything. Whether you make it yourself or order takeout is irrelevant so long as you’re getting a meal you enjoy.
4. Get outside if you can and if it’s safe. I’ve been going for lots of walks around my neighborhood where it’s relatively easy to social distance, and the combination of sunlight, fresh air, and blooming things always gives me an energy boost and helps me relax. If exercising feels too hard, you can still soak up some vitamin D if you sit on your porch/balcony/front steps for a few minutes.
5. Do one small thing you’ve been putting off. You don’t have to declutter your whole house or do any major cleaning or finish a project you’ve had lying around. But if you’re able to send one important email or make one phone call or do one small chore, I promise you will feel a little better.
6. Decide on the next step you’ll take on a personal project–or the next personal project you’ll undertake–once your motivation comes back. If you’re actually able to work on your personal projects a little like I have, that’s great, but if you can’t, that’s completely understandable. No pressure.
7. Reach out to someone you love and miss. Even if you’re an introvert like I am, not being able to see friends or family in person is hard. You don’t have to do Zoom calls if you’re already burnt out on those, but sending a text or a short Facebook message will still help you feel a little less alone.
8. Make a deliberate purchase that will improve your daily life, help you pass the time, or make you happier–assuming you can afford to. I’ve tweeted at length about how much I miss my books because they’re all still packed, so you’d better believe that I’ve bought a few of the books that have been hanging out on my to-buy list. Just remember to do your shopping locally if at all possible.
9. Do whatever you need to do to get good (enough) sleep. I struggle with insomnia on my best days, so it’s no surprise that sleep has been much more of an issue for me lately. I’m not a doctor or a sleep specialist and I’m not qualified to fire specific suggestions at anyone, but I personally have found that I sleep much better when I stick to a bedtime routine that involves LOTS of wind down time. Figure out what you need to do to get quality rest–whether it’s gentle stretching or a warm beverage or fifteen minutes of reading in bed–and do those things more often than not.
10. Try to be grateful for what you still have. I realize that this is cliche, and if you’ve been sick or lost your job or have loved ones who are struggling, you’re probably rolling your eyes right now. But if you’re fortunate enough to have a job–especially if it involves working from home–and if you and the people closest to you have stayed healthy, you’re in a much better position than you realize. Pausing to acknowledge how lucky you are won’t change your circumstances or vanquish COVID-19, but it will change the way you feel about them.
How have you been passing the time while you social distance? What strategies or activities have helped you (temporarily) forget about the pandemic? Leave me a comment and let me know!