Staying home can make it hard to focus on studies and work, and with the absence of friends and your normal social life, it can be boring. I gave some ideas about What to Do When You’re Bored in a previous article; while most of those ideas are more centered around being social and finding things to do with your friends, it can be modified to activities to do at home. The following are more like ‘things to keep you sane and healthy during social isolation.’
Painting is fun and can help keep your mind busy, but it’s not too much so it’s still relaxing. You can also watch a show or a movie at the same time. It doesn’t have to be painting, either — any kind of art like drawing/sketching too. There are plenty of apps to use on a phone or tablet as well. It’s also not limited to tablets or paper; in middle school and high school when I got bored I repainted my whole room. It didn’t take too long and it was actually a lot of fun. It was also like giving myself a little fresh start.
It’s not a bad idea to take this extra time to get your living situation organized. Empty out your closet, clean your floors, go through old papers and notebooks, or throw out any junk you don’t want/need.
There was a lot of panic, especially in my family, when the gyms closed down, but there are at-home workouts all over YouTube; some require resistance bands or light weights but some only the floor and maybe a mat or some kind of rug.
Don’t be afraid to work out at home either. There are low intensity versions and no-jumping exercises available so you won’t annoy your neighbors up or downstairs.
Chloe Ting has a website with free workout programs (linked here). Her YouTube videos are linked on her site, or you could go straight to YouTube and follow any of her videos or make your own routine. She has a wide variety of exercises from HIIT to targeting muscles like abs.
Natacha Océane also has a few workouts on YouTube; some are gym based, but there are many at-home which require no equipment or equipment you already have at home. She uploaded a video on YouTube (linked here) that went through a few different exercises timed with rest periods (it actually killed my legs). But I highly recommend her workouts and her channel. Her workout playlist is linked here. In general, hers are a little more intense than Chloe’s.
Yoga is also easy to do at home. It’s not a bad idea to invest in a yoga mat either — it’s a good idea to use it for working out in addition to using it for yoga.
Whether staying active means working out like I mentioned above or going for a walk, do something to keep your body moving. Regular exercise/physical activity is good for health and well being. And get fresh air. A stay-at-home order still means you can go for a walk or enjoy the outside world from your back/front yard.
That can mean classwork, working from home, responsibilities/chores, and hobbies. Try not to sit around all day — it doesn’t help. It might be nice in the beginning to be able to take a break and not be working or going to school but don’t fall behind.
Don’t hesitate to call your family, friends, loved ones or even acquaintances. Everyone that is isolated beyond comfort or control is likely struggling right now, so we could all use someone to talk with.
The best way to stay focused is to have a routine. Space out meals, breaks, working, and activity throughout your day. Don’t plan to do all your homework at once and don’t spend all your time watching netflix. Structure and scheduled activities will help you stay focused.
If you want to get work done, it helps to change your clothes and do your normal morning routine. You don’t have to put on your suit, jeans, or jacket, but changing out of your pajamas helps to shift your focus back to work or school mode.
We all need to stay home, stay safe and keep others safe. As of right now, that looks like social distancing. Hopefully this list gave you some sort of idea what to do to stay focused, busy, and mentally and physically healthy.