Photo: Mimi Thian via Unsplash
Take this time to just slow down and practice some much needed self-care.
By Unwritten — Written on Mar 20, 2020
By Catie Kovelman
As Coronavirus, or COVID-19, sweeps the globe, medical professionals have instructed a greater number of people to stay home and practice social distancing to slow the spread of disease.
Thousands of people in Northern Italy are under strict self-quarantine rules, and companies across the United States are mandating that their employees work from home for the foreseeable future.
This forced self-quarantine may seem like a drag, but there are plenty of ways to make your “inside time” more bearable.
Now is the perfect opportunity to slow down a bit and have an enjoyable staycation.
Here are 10 things to do while you’re cooped up at home during your Coronavirus quarantine:
1. Catch up on rest.
One of the best ways to stay healthy is to get enough rest. Thanks to the quarantine, now is a great time to catch up on some much-needed Zs.
If you find yourself especially tired, don’t hesitate to sleep in or go to bed early. You can also take a nap during the day if you need one. Many schools and workplaces are switching to virtual learning and online communication, so you should have more flexibility to give yourself the rest you need.
2. Start your spring cleaning early.
Practicing good hygiene is always a good idea, but it’s especially important to clean everything during a pandemic. Being at home gives you a chance to work beyond your normal cleaning routine and sanitize more objects more frequently.
In your spare time, you can wipe out those dust bunnies that you normally ignore or knock out the ever-growing mountain of dishes in your sink.
3. Reorganize your home and mail.
The quarantine is the perfect excuse to reorganize your home. Clean out your closet and re-organize your desk.
Donate any clothes or items that you don’t need anymore, especially if they’re cluttering up your living space. You can even get creative and redecorate a bit to spruce up your place!
If your email is exploding with spam messages or your phone is almost out of memory, use this time to clean out and organize your electronics, too. Using this time to de-clutter your life will set yourself up for success once the world returns to normal again.
Plus, you’ll know that you’ve accomplished something productive with your time.
4. Catch up on your streaming queue!
Right now, there are countless streaming services on the market, and many of them are free or low-cost. Make yourself cozy on the couch during this self-quarantine, and start watching some new content!
Now is a great time to start that Netflix series that you’ve been dying to watch, or binge-watch some of your favorite movies. If a movie you wanted to see is no longer in theaters, you can likely find it online or on demand.
5. Read a book.
You might not be able to leave home, but reading books allows you to escape to all kinds of places! If you’re like me, you may love to read, but may not usually have the time to sit down with a good book.
This “break period” is a great chance to revisit your bookshelf and get to know some new characters.
6. Give yourself a spa day.
When was the last time that you treated yourself to some self-care? Paint your nails your favorite color or comb your hair in your favorite style to feel a little more beautiful.
While you’re at it, unwind in the tub with a luxurious bath bomb or give yourself a facial. Refresh your mind and body with a special self-quarantine day just for you!
7. Learn something new.
Knowledge is power, and now is as good a time as any to learn something new. Take an online class from an online platform, like Skillshare or LinkedIn Learning. If you choose to take online classes, you’ll be more employable, and you can even earn a certification in online platforms, such as Google or Facebook.
If online learning isn’t your thing, watch a documentary about a topic that fascinates you, cook a new recipe, or teach yourself a dance — you’re sure to learn something new.
8. Catch up with friends and family.
You may not be able to see all of your loved ones in person, but now is a great time to FaceTime or call your friends and family. Reach out to the people you haven’t spoken to in a while, and enjoy catching up with them.
You can also make sure that everyone is healthy and sane. In these times, showing a little extra love can make someone’s day.
9. Exercise at home.
Since it’s not considered safe to go to the gym right now, make your home your gym space. You can go for a walk or jog around your neighborhood.
If you have a Wii Fit, now’s a good time to play some virtual sports or break out those Just Dance games. You can even try workout videos – there are hundreds, if not thousands, of options on YouTube alone.
10. Pursue a passion project.
You know that one project you’ve been dreaming about doing, but haven’t yet started? Now’s the time to get the ball rolling. Whatever your passion project is, it’s time to stop procrastinating and set your vision into motion.
If you can’t start your project from home, do your research and make a solid plan that you can follow, so you can get started as soon as possible. You likely won’t have this much time at home ever again, so bring your ideas to life!
Thanks to Coronavirus, we’re living in strange, unpredictable times. While an indefinite self-quarantine can be mentally and physically challenging, staying out of public spaces will ultimately help stop the virus’ spread.
Try these activities to help you stay positive, remain calm, and make the most of the situation you’re in. We can get through this!
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Catie Kovelman is a writer who focuses on health and wellness, self-care, and mental health. For more of her health and wellness content, visit her author profile on Unwritten.
This article was originally published at Unwritten. Reprinted with permission from the author.