I'll be honest, this whole social-distancing thing has been a surprisingly positive experience for me. I've discovered that I can thrive while being physically far from a lot of the people I genuinely care about (of course I still miss them!) So, I wanted to share some of the activities I've done while in "quarantine" to hopefully encourage some other struggling college-students that we will make it through this! And even if all you can manage to do today is wake up and roll around in bed, that's okay too. Tomorrow try one of these ideas- maybe it'll brighten up your day!
1) Rearrange your bedroom!
If you're itching for some sort of change or excitement in what is turning into a monotonous never-ending quarantine, try redoing your bedroom! Start by giving your room a good deep-cleaning, and then try a new version of furniture placement. A new environment can really hit the reset button on your mindset and may give you a new sense of determination in your daily life. You can even add some new decorations to the walls (if they're available to you) like lights, pictures, or posters that can really spruce up the mood of a room.
2) Do an exercise challenge!
Listen, I know everyone and their mother has said: "Take a walk!" or "Get some exercise!" But I'm here to tell you, getting your body moving in any capacity can be so helpful to alleviate stressful or anxious thoughts, especially in a time like this. It's important to keep in mind that not everyone has access to the space or resources to work out in a way that they're used to, so I instead encourage you to start small! Tell yourself you're going to do "x" amount of jumping jacks, squats, crunches, or planks a day and try to honor that promise. As you get stronger or more used to a certain routine, continue to try and ask more from yourself (we're often much stronger than we know!) There are also so many online resources for working out, from 10 minute ab workouts to 45 minute full body cardio workouts!
3) Acknowledge your fears!
If your head seems full of anxious, quick, or incessant thoughts about everything going on around you- try writing them down! You'd be surprised how good it feels mentally to purge all of your feelings and emotions onto a piece of paper. If writing isn't really your thing try recording a voice memo of yourself just talking through your thoughts, no matter how scatter-brained they may be. Often, when we sift through our feelings we begin to understand them more, so keeping them bottled up can be extremely draining day-to-day.
4) Read a favorite book!
You know that book series that you absolutely loved as a kid? Consider picking them back up and allowing yourself to enjoy the story. Not only will it be extremely nostalgic, but you'll most likely get a break from the present (and from every negative news headline) and be able to enjoy a moment of child-like naivety. Take it a step further and you and your friends could start trading books (through online copies or PDFs) and having virtual book clubs discussing either your terrible taste in books as a pre-teen or some current favorites that you discovered in college.
5) Netflix Party!
As I'm sure you've heard, there's a fun new way to watch movies with friends- even when you can't be with them in real life! Netflix Party is a browser extension that allows people to watch a show or movie on Netflix at the same time and participate in a live chat. Personally, I've gotten to participate in a few movie nights in this fashion and for the circumstances it's a great way to stay in contact with friends. You may even discover a new favorite binge-worthy TV show!
6) Cook or bake!
Whether it's a daunting new dinner idea or a tried and true baked-good, cooking for your family (or just yourself, no judgement) can be extremely fulfilling and a great way to pass the time. If there's a recipe that you've always wanted to try but never had the time, if the resources are available to you, now's the perfect time to try it out! You'd be surprised how fun cooking can be, especially if you do have a recipe but ultimately choose to just trust your instincts. Put on some good music or a favorite show, wash your hands, and make something delicious (or mediocre, as long as it's edible I'd say that's a success!)
7) Sleep in!
As simple as this sounds, take advantage of this abnormal time we find ourselves in and be lazy (if you can!) Unless you have responsibilities or engagements you are required to take part in, I'd say don't worry about an alarm. There's not very many times in our life where our schedules are completely empty of any in-person engagements, so I'd say keep that in mind and be abnormal right along with the world. Sleep until you feel like it's time to wake up, and then start your day and get what you need to get done, done!
8) Get some work done!
In the middle of the uncertainty of our new normal, it's important that we keep some semblance of a routine. Whether that's doing your schoolwork at the same time that you normally would in-class, or just having a daily to-do list and working on assignments in a flexible time frame, it's ultimately up to you! It's important to complete assignments not only for the deadlines and grades but so that we can feel accomplished mentally. Although it can seem nice to have nothing to do all day, ultimately I'm left feeling very unmotivated and out-of-control if I don't do any concrete work.
And remember- nothing lasts forever. Especially not a bad quarantine haircut (yes, I'm talking to you.)
