Living through a pandemic is scary, and not exactly something we thought would be a part of our life story. Along with the serious implications we also miss out on things we had planned and looked forward too -- for us, last weekend was supposed to be a fun cabin trip with friends we haven't seen in a long time, and I was heading to D.C. in a few weeks for a big swing dance weekend. Of course all of these things, along with everything else (our April calendar just says "canceled" lol), are no longer happening for the safety of everyone. It's easy to feel bummed out by these things.
But instead of feeling forced to stay at home and bored out of your mind, you can make use of this time and improve both yourself, your life, and the lives of people around you. Read on for 15 things to do to improve your life in quarantine! 
1. Stay social
Just because we're in quarantine doesn't mean you have to totally isolate yourself! Stay in contact through phone calls, FaceTime, letter writing, or by taking what my neighbor and I call "responsible walks"; we walk our dogs 6 ft apart and cross the street every time someone comes our direction. Last weekend my dance group had a lesson and dance party on Zoom -- you can do a lot if you're creative!
2. Tackle house projects
Now's the time to tackle those house projects! This weekend we painted a bathroom, finally put up the new towel and toilet paper holders in another, and replaced the blinds and curtain rod in the bedroom window. So dig up those procrastinated projects and pictures that have yet made it up on the wall! You're gonna spend a lot of time at home -- make it a nicer place to be!
3. Work on hobbies
Whether it's something you've been doing for years or something you meant to learn, but somehow never got to -- what better time to work on it than now? Dust off the guitar, refresh those dance moves, or start a new knitting project.
This weekend I finished a needlepoint I have been working on on and off for THIRTEEN YEARS, y'all!! It's almost sad. . . . 
4. Make PPE for your local hospital
A lot of hospitals are in desperate need of new PPE (personal protective equipment) and many of them are asking the public to sew masks or make face shields for them. If you want to help out and have a sewing machine or 3D printer, check with your local hospitals if they accept handmade PPE and google patterns to follow. This site has some good links and a list of things you can donate!
5. Spring clean
With the weather getting nicer and nicer, open up those windows and bring the cleaning bucket out! Wash the curtains, clean out the fridge, clean the windows (even those hard-to-reach-parts!), scrub the baseboards, and, unless you live more north, throw the winter jackets in the washing machine and pack them away.
6. Exercise
A lot of people are taking this opportunity to do 30-day challenges and rededicate themselves to their fitness regime. And honestly, apart from looking better and being healthier, exercise will have a huge impact on your mental health during this! Whether you do a hard-core boot camp or a nice jog around the neighborhood -- get moving and get those endorphins!
Related: 5 minute body weight workout for depression - Free printable! 
Photo by: Sergio Pedemonte
7. Experiment with cooking
Try those recipes you have on your Pinterest board, explore a specific culture, improve your knife skills, work your way through a cookbook, or do a cupboard challenge where you only use what you already have! (This way you also avoid the grocery store for a while.) There are so many ways to get creative in the kitchen, and getting better at cooking or food prepping will help you post-quarantine too!
Related: 7 reasons I love and recommend the Ate app for mindful eating 8. Work on your "to read" and "to watch" lists
If you're anything like me, you have a bunch of books that you for some reason never got to. Well, no time like the present! Place them on a separate shelf and go through them one by one. And I hardly have to float the idea of binging Netflix. . . .
9. Declutter
Walking around the neighborhood I've seen tons of people clearing out their garages and placing broken furniture on the curb. Along with the spring cleaning, this can greatly improve your home environment! Watch Tidying Up with Marie Kondo for inspiration and start tackling your problem areas (Simply+Fiercely has some great tips, especially regarding paring down your closet) and enjoy a cleaner, more simplified home. Since Goodwill etc. are closed right now, make a donation box to bring when they open up again!
Related: Decluttering - Why you should give yourself an ultimatum 10. Help high-risk people
If you are well, reach out to your elderly or chronically ill neighbors and see if they need help with anything. Dropping off groceries on their doorstep could help them stay inside and safe!
Photo by Evie Calder
11. Keep your routines (or build new ones!)
As anyone who works from home knows, it's good to still have routines. Even though it can be tempting to just lie in bed until I have to log on, I still walk the dogs before work every morning and make a smoothie. New habits you can implement are mid-day stretching sessions, workouts, actually cooking lunch instead of reheating leftovers, or cuddle in bed with your pets for a nice mental break. This is your opportunity to do the things you can't do at your workplace, but wish you could! :)
12. Get outside
One of the few things we can still do! Get out there and walk, hike, bike, or run; play yard games, go on picnics, go for a drive with the windows down, sit on the porch and read. Go camping! Take inspiration from the ladies in my neighborhood who sat in lawn chairs in their separate driveways to have an after-dinner drink together while still maintaining social distancing. (It was adorable, haha.)
13. Relax
If you were living a busy life before, use this opportunity to slow down and center yourself again. Get into meditation, slow walks, journaling, reading by candlelight, taking a nice bath. All those things you wanted to do but felt you didn't have time for.
Related: 5 ways to practice Hygge all year round! 14. Refocus on your relationship(s)
Whether you're living with a partner, kids, or roommates, this is an excellent time to do things together and focus on quality time. Have board game nights, candlelit dinners, scavenger hunts, picnics, a drink by the fire pit, a movie day in a pillow fort. I bet you have things in your home you haven't used in ages that you swore you would use all the time -- dust those off and enjoy them! If you no longer have a commute, take that extra time to have late-night talks with a glass of wine or a walk together in the morning.
15. Take care of your mental health
Living through a pandemic for sure adds to your stress levels. It's a scary time with many new challenges. So make sure to take care of yourself! Think about what you need the most -- what has the most impact on your mental well-being? Is it being outside in nature, journaling, spending time with friends, having a good workout routine? Whatever it is, make sure that you do that for at least a few minutes every day in whatever way you can.
Related: 10 bloggers share their best mental health tips!
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5 Comments
5/23/2020 01:07:05 pm
your content so valuable. I really happy after read this article . In this article all information are really useful.thanks
Erika
8/20/2020 12:42:46 pm
Thank you for your kind words, they mean a lot to me. I hope you've gotten good use of the tips during these months! 6/22/2020 12:43:54 am
My lifestyle has been very unhealthy ever since this pandemic started; that's why I'm considering seeking help from n interactive self-help community. Because I heard that this is beneficial in terms of helping me with fitness and routine improvement. I'm glad that you shared this as well; I'll make sure to explore a specific culture and practice making their cuisine. I'd also keep in mind to declutter my things and clear ou the garage area.
Erika
8/20/2020 12:45:48 pm
That's awesome, Rachel! Decluttering has been a major help for me -- I've been pretty stressed out this summer, but seeing my house in order with newly labeled boxes for the things I kept was a great help. I hope your cooking experiment is going well as well! :) Leave a Reply. |
Hi, I'm Erika!I know what it's like living with anxiety and depression, but living and living are very different things. I believe in practical tips and methods, and I will use them to help you be the brave, daring, darling individual you are. Categories
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