We give you a few tips on How to Stay Positive and Maximize Your Time During Quarantine for a few reasons. Firstly, it is to help us take our minds off the increasingly devastating effects of the virus, secondly, it is to offer some solace to those who also want to look at something else to ease their anxieties, even if just a bit. We love our community and hope this light read can be helpful, even if it’s just one sentence. Let’s just say we’ll be taking a page out of our own book.
If you love spending time alone, then this COVID-19 quarantine/social distancing period may have little effect in your routine. However, if you are accustomed to being around others, and if socializing is big part of your life, you may be feeling a greater impact during this time of isolation.
We feel you. Days just seem a little longer and being alone can feel dreadful, even David is getting sick of playing video games (what? Can this be true?). In the midst of this, we’d like to help by offering some ways to combat the loneliness and boredom.
Here are some ideas to Stay Positive and Maximize Your Alone Time During the COVID-19 Quarantine, and to take your mind to a happier and calmer space:
Sign up for a Free Online Class (here are some great ones to start!):
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- Mountains 101 – Alright…if you’re an outdoor lover like us, this one might interest you! Taken from the course description, this is a “12-lesson course covers an interdisciplinary field of study focusing on the physical, biological, and human dimensions of mountain places in Alberta, Canada, and around the world.”
- Learn Mindfulness Meditation for a Calmer and Clearer Mind – To help develop ongoing resilience during a time of stress and anxiety
- Job Interviews Skills Training Course – We acknowledge that many of us are going to be going through challenges in our employment situations right now. If your employment has been affected, this may be a great one for you when the time comes to job hunt again.
If none of these pique your interest, here are some great websites that offer free (or paid) online courses: Udemy, Skillshare, or Coursera to name a few.
Learn a new Language:
If you were planning on taking a trip somewhere and your plans were foiled (ours were too so we 100% feel the sadness), this may be a good time to brush up on the language for the future when you are able to travel again. We’ve used both DuoLingo and Babbel. Personally, I prefer Babbel as I liked the user experience better, but keep in mind Babbel is a paid subscription (still priced more competively than Rosetta Stone.)
If you are torn between the two, here is a helpful comparison article that offers a side-by-side comparison between Duolingo and Babbel to help you find the one best for you!
Play those Video Games:
Okay, let’s be honest with each other, sometimes there is nothing better than just vegging out on the couch and playing a good ol’ fashioned RPG game. That, or any other game that brings back some nostalgia for you. David says the Final Fantasy VII remake will be released early April. We are not obligated to be productive 24/7, and trying to do too much at a time can do more harm than good. Take care of yourself and do something you enjoy!
Form a New Habit:
According to a study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology, it takes 66 days to form a new habit. If we are going to be practicing social distancing indefinitely, this is a fantastic opportunity to incorporate just one healthy new habit into our lives. We recommend choosing just 1 habit that you feel will make a positive impact on your day-to-day life, whether it be for your physical or mental health. This can be waking up earlier, fitting in a 30 minute workout a day, writing in a journal, or brushing up your skills on your favourite hobby. If you’re up for this challenge, here are 3 tips to help you get started:
Tips to Developing Your New Habit:
- Make it daily – consistency is key
- Keep it simple – making it simple and digestible helps make the habit stick
- Have an accountability partner – if you think it would be helpful, find a friend or family member that can send you messages here and there to encourage you to continue on.
Start a Blog or Journal:
Finally get started on that blog. You can build a simple blog for free via wordpress, which offers a wonderful platform to let your creativity soar. Some ideas could be to write about your own experiences during this time and how it’s affected you, or write about your life passions as a way to inspire others, or maybe even write about your previous adventures (we all love living vicariously!). If writing about yourself isn’t for you, try your hand at creative writing, like poetry or short stories.
Clean your Home and Reorganize your Furniture:
I can’t be the only one who actually looks forward to Spring Cleaning! If you haven’t done your spring cleaning yet, this is the perfect time to execute. Peruse through Pinterest to look for decorating/organization ideas and then actually do it. That is, if you don’t get trapped into the Pinterest rabbit hole. If you have some DIY ideas and have the proper materials at home, give those a go! Do Martha Stewart proud.
No Gym? No Problem!:
If you are feeling well enough, squeeze in a workout in your home every day because exercise improves your mood, strengthens your immune system, and promotes better sleep (among other benefits). My personal favourite online fitness instructor for a quick (but effective) home workout is Pamela Reif. No equipment necessary!
That concludes our list of things to do while in quarantine. If you are experiencing any symptoms or want to be better prepared, take a look at the list of resources below for more information.
COVID-19 RESOURCES (updated March 17th, 2020)
Symptoms and treatment of COVID-19
Travel advice regarding COVID-19
