Recent reports from mental health professionals have shown that spending hours indoors can lead to a decrease in productivity. We are all slowly getting to know what it's like to be stir crazy, and at times the walls can seem to be closing in around you. Here are ten things you can do to make the best out of your time quarantined at home.
We are alone together during these unprecedented times, and it's up to each one of us to keep our brains active while we're sheltering in place. Whether this is picking up a new hobby, or sitting outside to soak up whatever Vitamin D you can - I encourage you to try one - or all - of these things.
1. Learn A New Language
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Learning a new language is a great way to stimulate a part of your brain that you normally don't use.
Duolingo is a website/app where you can make a free account and learn a new language a little by little every day. A common trend I've heard, that I found very intriguing, is to challenge yourself to wake up and complete a lesson a day.
When you learn a new language you are using parts of your brain located in the Broca's area, which is in the left frontal lobe. This is responsible for your ability to articulate and produce speech. You also use the Wernicke's area located in the left temporal lobe. This section of your brain is associated with language development and comprehension.
2. Pick Up A New Instrument
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Speaking of using the left side of your brain, picking up a new instrument is an immersive way to transport yourself out of that cloud of boredom you've been stuck in. And I know what you're thinking, instruments can be very expensive! Before quarantine, my advice would have been to pick up a used guitar at any local antique shop. Even if you were to pay someone else to fix it up, or refurbish it yourself - you will be spending less than you would at a store like Guitar Center. We have to get creative with our creative outlets these days, so head to your app store and look for an app called Piano Academy. There you can learn the basics of piano for free, and all from your phone.
3. Take An Online Exercise Class
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Even if you have never been to a gym before there is no time like the present to exercise. You don't even need equipment to get started. Many companies are offering live workouts for free on their websites or through Youtube. Every day at 8am, 1pm, and 5pm Core Power Yoga hosts live Yoga classes- both meditation and body sculpting oriented- on their YouTube channel. Other fitness companies such as Peloton have a one free month trial. You can take classes with a multitude of different instructors online, even if you don't have the actual Peloton machine. Getting your blood pumping and your heart racing sends endorphins to your brain that help fight depression. Therefore proving to be one of the best ways to get yourself out of that quarantine funk.
4. Soak Up Some Sun
Photo by Claudette Gallant
Sometimes it's easy to forget that it's spring time, after we've lost count of the days we've been stuck at home. Although it is advised that you don't go to a public place to find some sunshine, you can still grab a chair and find the nearest safe spot to sit. While once you might've felt embarrassed to sit out in the sunshine on your drive way, now you have an excuse. Grab a lawn chair or towel and soak up that vitamin D. Research has shown that vitamin D plays a crucial role in mood regulation and fighting off depression. After sitting outside in the fresh air, the feeling of being trapped in quarantine seems to fade. Doing your other activities in the sunshine can help you stay feeling productive as well.
5. Foster An Animal
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There is no better time to house an animal in need than when you are spending all day at home. Animal shelters are still open during quarantine to make sure that displaced pets have help, but shelters are being inundated with new animals all the time and are always looking for volunteers to foster them. Some animal shelters have what's called a "sleepover program" where you can foster the animal for 30 days or more before officially adopting, or finding a home for the animal. Call your local shelter ahead of time to ask what specific programs they have in place for foster care. Spending time with an animal will keep you from feeling lonely and bring you joy. If you have the means to do so, foster.
6. Pick Up A New Hobby
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You know that pile of books that you've collected over the years and just never have gotten the chance to read? Now's the time to start making a dent in it. Always wanted to learn how to fish in the lake that's in your neighborhood? Now's the time to order a pole and some bait online and start fishing. We have been handed all this extra time, with which we can either choose to do nothing, or choose to enrich ourselves and our lives. Pick up a new hobby that enriches your every day experience. Whether its diving into a new artist's discography or planting a garden, choosing to do something that utilizes your creative skills is sure to kick the cabin fever.
7. Get Crafty With D-I-Ys
Courtesy of Elissa Capelle Vaughn
Similar to picking up a new hobby, crafting a project of your own can be very gratifying. It may feel like a mess when it's in the making, but in the end, it always seems to come together. There are hundreds of Youtube channels dedicated to DIY or Do it Yourself crafting. Whether you're more in to redoing furniture or crafting some things for the kids in your life - there is a video for you. One website shows 50 Fun DIYs for Adults that will make your time at home pass by with a breeze. And by the end of all of this, you'll have a bunch of projects to show for all that extra time you have.
8. Refresh Your Living Space
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Looking at the same four walls can be extremely boring. So why don't you change what you're looking at? Getting creative and changing the layout of your furniture, or the art on your walls is one of the best ways to refresh your living space. Switch out some pictures on the wall, change the color of your sheets, bring in some plants, and light some candles. Changing the way the room looks, smells, and feels will refresh your senses. If you've been cooped up inside for a long period of time, odds are you're ready for a change. Stimulate your senses, and get your Feng Shui on. 9 Tips to Feng Shui your Home offers advice on how to change the flow of energy in your living space. Japanese culture says this is proven to affect your mood and well being.
9. Change Up The Color
Courtesy of Petr Kratochvil
Just like re-arranging the furniture in your room can help give your living space a different energy, changing the color of your walls can liven up the space. Order some paint online to start your project, and don't forget painter's tape to limit the inevitable mess you're about to make. Put a tarp over any furniture to prevent stains, and get to coloring those walls. Bright colors like yellow are proven to boost the serotonin levels in your brain. An article on the Psychology of Color explains what colors correlate with different emotions and moods. Yellow is associated with laughter, happiness, and optimism. We could all use a little yellow right now.
10. Get Some Plants
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If you are not in a position to be housing critters during quarantine, try adopting some new plants. Brightening up your house with some flowering plants near a window is a great way to bring the great outdoors inside. If you're sheltering in place and find yourself in need of some fresh air, try adopting some of these plants that release oxygen into the air at night: Spider plant, Peace lily, Snake Plant, Pothos, Weeping Fig, Philodendrum, Aloe Vera, and Chrysanthemums. These plants will liven up your apartment, give you fresh air, and add a little aesthetic flair to your window sills. Personalize the pots if you're feeling extra bold.
There are plenty of things to do while you're waiting for this storm of a pandemic to pass. It is better to spend our time utilizing our brains and being creative, rather than idly sitting on our phones all day. While it's important to stay informed, it is also important to step away from the breaking news and wavering statistics and give yourself a break.
Stay safe, and take care of yourselves!
