Well…Coronavirus. It is our new daily normal and has hit our lives, I think we all can agree, in a very unexpected, sudden way. It is easy to fall into the trap that the virus has set perfectly for people around the globe. We are all stuck in our houses and with everything from school, concerts and even the Olympics being cancelled, the ever looming thought (besides that of the virus itself) is: Will 2020 ever recover from this? The answer to that remains unknown and very much out of our control. But, one aspect that is in your control is you! Yes, you. You get to determine the impact this virus will have on your year. And, I don’t know about you, but I won’t let it defeat me and I don’t want it to do the same to all of you. So, with that being said, here are five things you can do to ensure you come out of quarantine stronger, healthier and happier than before.
- Accomplish a goal you have been keeping on the backburner.
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Do you have a book you’ve been wanting to read but have had no time to even open to page one? Has the Duolingo bird been harrassing you, asking when you will finally start learning French again? Well, good news! You now have time to sit back and to pick up that book or learn that language. Accomplishing a goal that you have been wanting to for a while will help you feel productive and accomplished at the end of it. One goal that I have been meaning to accomplish is learning how to drive and finally using the license I got a year ago (I know, it makes no sense to have a license and not know how to drive… it’s a long story). But since I have been in Kansas City for school, I haven’t had time to do so. Because of this quarantine, I have been able to go back to Chicago and practice driving around with my mom so I can finally use a car this summer. I call that a hidden blessing.
- Work out.
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This was a personal goal of mine that took me a while to start (I just started working out again a few days ago). Working out is said to improve mental health and mood and I can personally attest to that. I am following Blogilates’ 14-Day Quarantine Workout Plan, the link to which you can find here.
- Meditate.
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This has changed my life for the better. I started meditating toward the end of 2019 when my mental health wasn’t in the best place. Through meditation, I was able to look and understand my thoughts in a relaxed state rather than having them race through my head while I was going about my day. It is the best stress reliever and a daily habit I have picked back up during this quarantine. I would highly recommend trying it out!
- Spend time with your family.
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As a full-time college student, I’m not in my hometown of Chicago for more than a month at a time. But, with the unknown timeline of this virus, it is the best time to spend quality time with your family. Personally, I have spent my time beating my sister in UNO as well as binging Netflix shows with my mom (Tiger King is her favorite). Along with that, I have had experiences that I wouldn’t have had had it not been for this quarantine, such as my mom teaching me how to make meat pies. So try making that TikTok dance together or cook that Tasty recipe. This is the best time to appreciate each other’s company.
- Imagine your future self.
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I feel like this comes natural to me with all the boredom I am facing. We are all longing for the outside world and the day they say, “Okay, everyone can go back to regular lives now.” I have thought of who I want to be when I introduce myself to the rest of the world. One thing’s for sure: I want bangs. Like…I really want bangs to the point where it’s not a want, it’s a need. But, another thing for myself, is that I will be moving into a new apartment this summer with my sister. So, I have started looking at Pinterest board ideas for that. Think of this as a good way to remove yourself from reality for a bit.
We are being tested as a society right now and I think it is most important, of course, to remember our roles in shaping this pandemic and helping to flatten the curve by staying home and self-isolating. But, I give you this advice because, honestly, two weeks ago, I needed it. The weight of the coronavirus was heavy on my spirit and I let it take me down for a bit. But, little things such as what I have listed above have transformed me and I know it can do the same for you. In that way, we can take this daunting event that we are currently in and instead turn it into something positive for ourselves.