Here is a list of things that occupy my time in quarantine.
My DSi
Boredom can easily creep into one's life which makes each day pass by slowly. I recently dug through some boxes from my childhood and I found my most prized possession: my hot pink DSi. Digging through stuffed animals and childhood memorabilia, I uncovered an assortment of DS games. I have spent the majority of my social distancing playing Nintendogs and Pokemon. It has saved me from being bored and I truly feel like a child again. I will never lose my DSi again.
Painting
Creative expression is an important part of keeping someone's mind busy and healthy. My mom is a crafty woman so we have plenty of painting supplies my parent's house already. I love to sit outside and feel the fresh air as I paint whatever my heart desires. I have painted everything from crazy abstract human beings to delicate lavender fields. Some individuals may think expressing yourself is hard and that art is something they are not talented at. It is not about how good you are at painting, but the joy that is felt while releasing inner emotions.
Reading
I have loved reading since I was a child. Escaping my own reality is a notion that I truly enjoy diving into. Books can send you away from the scary world that we are all living in right now with COVID-19. As with painting, I like to sit outside and read a book that peeks my interest. It helps me stay busy and my days go by a little faster. Plus, it keeps your mind focused on something which personally, calms my anxiety that I have been experiencing during this quarantine.
Movies and Youtube
I am one who can admit to watching way too many movies and YouTube videos for my brain to handle. I sit or lay on my bed for what seems like hours as I consume as much blue-light as I can for the day. I have been watching a lot of documentaries and craft videos so I can work my brain and I can find inspiration to hopefully build something. So far, I have built floating and I repainted my bedroom.
Learning a New Skill
I love to learn new things so recently I have been learning a new instrument, the beautiful viola. It is really annoying to my family but I think it is fun. Being stuck inside and learning a new instrument is not the best idea for family members who find loud, out-oft-tune, screeching annoying, but at least in entertained. I am a self-taught multilingual and I have been keeping myself busy by trying to learn a new language to add to the list. I find learning a new language super fun and I can interact with my friends who speak the language I am learning.
Spending a lot of time to myself while being quarantined has helped me find creative outlets to help keep me sane. I hate being bored and being bored does not help with mental health. Keeping your mind busy lets you forget all of the scary things going around you. It can help with anxiety and stress that is often felt by people during social distancing. Everything will be okay and will be back to normal soon. Just remember to stay at home and help keep your loved ones safe.
