10 Ways To Stay Socially And Emotionally Healthy During Quarantine
A Listicle by Ella Bode
A Listicle by Ella Bode
While school is out and we are all experiencing some pretty big changes in our lives from the Coronavirus, it’s easy for us to get anxious, upset, confused, bored, etc.. Instead of spending a nice long break from school getting worked up about the future and this virus, a good goal is to find ways to enjoy yourself and keep your mental and social health in a good place. Here are 10 tips to stay in high spirits during this low time.
They’ve told us to stay indoors, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be social. Although it can be tempting sometimes to let yourself disappear during a big break like this, social interaction is important and healthy. And, even though you can’t see your friends in person - it doesn’t mean game over. Keep your relationships strong by staying in touch with friends. Maybe you make a group chat with friends to send memes and funny videos. Maybe you plan weekly face-time “dates” with your significant other. Working with friends and loved ones to create time together, even if it is online, can really help when you’re feeling lonely from being inside all day. Make it fun! Seeing those you care about is the perfect medicine to cheer you up.
If you don’t want to do it for your gym teacher, do it for yourself! Science shows how exercise releases dopamine (the happy chemical) and it can be super helpful in giving your mental health a boost. Create a workout goal for yourself, and get to it! In our normally busy lives, it can be rare to find enough consistent time to squeeze that workout in - take advantage of this "break" and reach those goals. You can search the internet and find all sorts of workout programs if you need some structure.
Similar to exercising, artistic expression is a fantastic outlet. There is no better time to get creative. Get out that old sketchpad, try your luck with clay, maybe write a song? Make some positive memes! Chalk the walk - and spread positivity for those strolling through your neighborhood. Paint a picture of your dog, a sibling, create a self portrait. It’s an opportunity to take your energy and ideas and dive into the creative process which helps reduce anxiety and stress.
Even if you' are not a bookworm, there’s a book out there for everyone...surprise yourself and read a book! Finding the perfect book itself can be a good distraction. Not only will your English teacher praise your effort, but you can enjoy yourself by escaping to somewhere new, learn about something new, all while increasing your vocabulary - win, win! Why suffer in boredom? Escape to somewhere new in a good book.
Although staying inside is important to prevent contamination, don’t forget about sunlight- your body needs that sunshine to stay healthy and happy. Open your window curtains, maybe even the windows if it’s warm. Spend some time out on your front porch. Maybe invest in a UV light- it’s like your own little personal ray of sunshine you can conveniently bring with you anywhere in the house. If the days are looking cloudy, eating fish, eggs, and dairy is the way to go. So make yourself some eggs in the morning and eat your happiness for breakfast if you need to. Getting vitamin D can help you stay healthy and happy.
Do some things you enjoy and let yourself relax! Maybe that’s letting yourself sleep in a little later, taking the tie to sit and eat breakfast with your family for once - it's nice to reconnect with traditions that our normally busy schedule didn't allow time for. Consider checking your phone less and spending more time with your family, family game night! Have you considered a new skincare routine? Whatever it is you choose, make time for yourself and forget about everything else for a little while.
This is one of the only times that we all have a perfectly acceptable excuse to binge our favorite shows and watch our favorite movies more than we should. Obviously don’t let it consume your life, but again, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Even if you’ve watched everything already, re-watch your favorite shows or movies to keep yourself busy and intrigued. So make some popcorn, grab that giant blanket, and get comfy.
In all appropriate moments, jam out to your favorite songs and sing along if you’re feeling down. Create the perfect playlists for your different moods, and play away while you get stuff done. Need to feel good - start a dance party in your kitchen. If you need a good cry or just some sound in a quiet space, there is a playlist perfect for every mood. Maybe use this time to explore with your music tastes and find some new artists? Not a huge fan of music? Try listening to podcasts, you might be surprised.
It’s not something you would think you would enjoy while stuck at home but, the outcome is really rewarding. Now's the perfect time to finally get to cleaning your room. While you're at it, don't forget your closet. There’s something about organizing your space that can make you feel better - especially when you're stuck to spend so much time in one place. Make it your own! So throw out your burdens along with all 56 of the water bottles behind your bed and enjoy your "new" space.
Last, but definitely not least, try to put positive messages out in the world. These stressful times can seriously take a hit on everyone’s social and emotional health which makes it even more important that we're all kind, encouraging, and uplifting to each other. Maybe this means giving a call to a friend you know isn’t doing too well, helping out your parents, or being polite to a sibling who you've spent entirely too much time with at this point. It’s so easy to become aggressive and afraid of others during a situation like this, so be different. Help out and spread some cheer. Positive attitudes go miles and won’t just help others, but also yourself.