We all dread staying alone at some point in our lives. Add to that being forced into our homes to beat a deadly virus. It can get tough, lonely and all kinds of fears can surface at this point. Almost every country worldwide has imposed a lock-down to protect humanity but being pushed inside without us knowing what to do with so much time on our hands, can after a point, be depressing.
So here are a few tips that each one of us can use, whether quarantined with family or alone. These are helping me personally and I hope they help you too.
- Get up and get ready immediately
Shower, wear some nice clean clothes and welcome the day. I know there’s no point getting ready for no one, but grooming and dressing can have a huge positive impact on our mental well being.
2. Have a SEPARATE corner for work
Do not use your bed to work. We are creatures of habit and our bodies get habitual of doing something at a particular place. Hence, if you work and sleep on the same bed, chances are you won’t be able to sleep well at night. Even if you are self isolating in a single room, choose a corner that can be used as a workstation. This will help your body and brain connect to that place and work better. And when you go to bed, you’ll be able to sleep better. Now do you get why we have a dining table, bedroom, living room for different purposes ?
3. Get creative with exercising
Moving our bodies is essential and now that gyms are out of bounds, we can very well experiment with how we move. Using a chair to practice sit-ups, picking a stack of books as weights etc. The bottom line is to get resourceful !!
4. Ditch the news and watch/read things that you always wanted to
Limiting news intake to just an hour a day can have a significant effect on your brain. You see, through news you’re consuming panic related stories, thereby pushing your mind to focus on negatives. Hence, we can always increase the positives by reading the books or watching the movies we always wanted.
5. Connect with family and friends
We are social creatures and have a need to connect. During those long hours of the day, hearing a human voice can uplift our spirits. Technology is on our side, so lets use it!
6. Have a SCHEDULE
This is a MUST. Our thoughts can take over when we have nothing to do and so having a schedule keeps us in check. Plus we can always tick off things from our to do list. It’s a win- win! If you’re working from home, set aside a time for breaks and a deadline till when you’ll work in a day.
7. Learn a skill
Try learning a new language, maybe sing, or dance! Try new recipes or garden. There are a world of possibilities if you only give it a try. Learning new skills help wire our brains beautifully..give it a try!
8. Plant a tree or keep one in your room
Living with things that are alive and grow helps us do the same. Plus its therapeutic to care for something/someone other than yourself.
9. Eat right
Its imperative to eat right. I can understand that getting groceries can also be difficult but we can experiment with non perishable foods to remain healthy. The world needs you so please feed yourself right.
10. Take online challenges
Social media is full of fun challenges that you can take with your friends. Indulge in them, if nothing it will give something to laugh about!
Stay Sane and Stay Safe !