7 Tips to Surviving Social Isolation
It didn’t occur to me that one day, we would just need to sit on the couch to help save the world. As you read this, you might be still stuck in quarantine. The social distancing guidelines have been pushed to April 14 and possibly longer. So, what are we all going to do with our newfound free time? What are we going to do to stave off the boredom and survive this quarantine?
1. Your Home To-Do List
Do you know that giant to-do list that has been sitting on your refrigerator that you never seem to get to? You know the one. We all have it: fix that leaky faucet, clean out the spare bedroom, turn it into an office. Maybe your list is telling you to clean out that storage container that has been sitting there for the last five years, or change out that bathroom or closet door and put in one of those best pocket doors that you have always wanted. As for me, I am planning to update our bathroom door, and already found inspiration from barn doors.
Make a list of things you want to do and get started doing research online or working on a specific project. If you need some ideas, go to Pinterest or Google and see what they have to offer in the way of ideas. For some more ideas on how to spend your time in quarantine click here.
2. Learn a New Skill
This is the perfect time to learn a new skill. Over the month of April, we have approximately 720 hours or so to start learning a new skill. Have you always wanted to learn to draw? Learn to program? Does your current job have any skills that you can learn to be even more invaluable to your company? Have you always wanted to learn to play the piano? Guitar? Learn a new language? The ideas are endless.
With all this free time we have, you have a good while to get a good foundation for whatever skill you are learning. Maybe it will even turn into a new career. To learn some new skills, you can go to websites such as Coursera, Udemy, Skillshare, and many others.
3. Do Some Personal Projects
You know those personal projects that we have all put off that is on our personal to-do list, like writing that book, painting a picture, writing your dream comic book? Create that video game you always wanted to make. Start your YouTube channel. Create an online business.
These are just some of the many ideas that are feasible. Make a list and narrow it down and spend a few hours a day working on your chosen project.
4. Dealing With the Isolation
Do you have friends and family members that you hardly ever talk to? Now is the perfect time to start catching up. Talk with someone every day. Whether you are working down your list of contacts or talking to your best friends every day, keeping in touch will help keep you from feeling quite as lonely.
5. Exercise
This is one of the most important things right now when many of us are barely able to leave the house or just have no reason to. According to the New York Times, it is good to promote physical and mental health during this time.
It is the habits everyday that shape us. And although it is so inviting to just chill and enjoy a good movie, a 10-minute exercise everyday can make a huge difference in your life.
6. Spend Quality Time With Your Family
By quality time, I do mean QUALITY time. Many of us are already used to being busy and don’t necessarily know how to spend time with our families anymore. Spend some time doing puzzles, board games, doing something with each other’s hobbies. Even if the other’s hobbies don’t interest you, the actual act of doing it shows the other you care about it. Care enough to learn about who they are and what they like.
7. Declutter Your Life
This one is slightly different from the home to-do list. Instead of cleaning your house, clean your mind and your technology. Take off apps you never use anymore. Clean up the files on your computer that are more likely such a mess that you sometimes have a hard time finding older items that you need.
You can also do this with your phone. Delete any numbers that you haven’t used in more than three months and apps that you hardly use.
I hope these tips help you find something to do and stay sane. Before too long, we will all be facing a new future and new challenges, and we might wish that we had some of this free time again to get things done.
Keep safe. Stay vigilant.
