"10 Ways to Stay Active While Stuck at Home"
As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to haunt the world, health experts have advised for mass gatherings to be suspended; schools, malls, leisure parks, and tourist spots to be temporarily shut down; and community quarantine (stay-at-home) imposed to curb the spread of the deadly virus.
That's right, staying at home is a good measure to protect yourself and others from the virus, but prolonged periods of time at home can pose significant challenges such as stress and boredom.
Here are 10 ways to help you get through that stress and boredom - and perhaps will make your quarantine time interesting and productive.
1. Do some de-cluttering
This is the perfect time to de-clutter, organize your things and clean your surroundings. You can start with your refrigerator or your closet or junk cabinet. A clean and organized home will help lighten your mood and give you a positive mindset. Try it and you will see it.
2. Catch up on your reading or read something new
Why not use this time to read that stack of books on your shelf? Or you can subscribe to an ebook about happiness, successes, or inspirational stories. You will realize that reading something positive is an effective antidote to all the gloomy news about COVID-19.
3. Pamper yourself
Quarantine means no more trips to the spa and salon. But it does not mean that you stop caring for yourself. In fact, this is the perfect time to treat yourself without spending much because you can do pampering right in the comfort of your home. You can take that long and soothing bath of your dreams. You can also relax with a beauty face mask or destress with a foot spa or home manicure. Why not also try nail art? A friend of mine actually grabbed this opportune time to practice henna tattoo. Her tattoo designs were actually kinda cute and sassy.
4. Find the perfect workout plan and exercise
Take time to move around a little. Your body will thank you for it in the future. Health experts have always recommended exercising as the best measure to boost your immune system. Moving around can also help you manage stress and anxiety. Plenty of free workouts or exercise videos that you can do right at your home are available online.
5. Get a good sleep
If your hectic work schedule before the quarantine doesn't give you enough time to sleep, why not take advantage of the quarantine period to catch up on sleep?
6. Start your own survival garden
Just because you have to stay at home doesn’t mean you can’t grow your own garden. In fact, local government units and non-government organizations are encouraging the public to grow a vegetable garden in their backyards and have a sustainable supply of vegetables while the quarantine is ongoing. Having some veggie plants in the backyard could help families in this trying time especially if there's a shortage of veggie produce. Aside from veggies, you can also grow herbs that you can use in your dishes. If you don't have a backyard, you can improvise a container garden instead.
7. Learn basic cooking skills or new recipes
Why not learn how to cook and eat some delicious food in the process? There are plenty of cooking videos that you can download for free online. If you are already a pro in cooking, why not conjure something tasty and healthy for your family? This is also an opportune time to perfect your culinary skill, and while you're at it, why not teach this skill to your family members?
8. Binge-watch
Everyone has their own way of coping with isolation and some of them include binge-watching. Now, you have all the time in your hands, with limited distractions, to watch reality series, movies, and even K-drama on streaming platforms. Have you tried watching Crash Landing On You?
9. Start a journal or blog
If you love to write and you have been wanting more time to focus on this craft, here is the best time to write.
10. Reconnect with family and friends
You are not the only one dealing with quarantine so it is important to stay connected with your family and friends and know how they are doing too. Connecting with them is not hard nowadays because of many apps and programs that allow you to be connected with someone without leaving your home. You can also call (via phone) a friend or relative that you have not spoken to in a while.
While it is meaningful to stay connected with people far away, don't forget to bond with the people you are in quarantine with. Cooking, gardening, binge-watching, de-cluttering, and home spa are just some of the activities that you can do together with them.
Doing something can be a great stress reliever during this trying time. I hope these tips can help you beat boredom and make you productive. 💕
Photo credits: pixabay.com
