Hello all! I haven’t posted in a while but considering the state of our world right now, it has inspired me to document events and moreover, find new ways to express myself in this free time.
As of now, the coronavirus has affected over 300,00 people, with almost 11,400 deaths worldwide. Living in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday, March 19th ordered a statewide lockdown so most of my friends, including myself, are currently self-quarantining at our homes. I have followed the news since the virus existed only in Wuhan, China and it is surreal that COVID-19 is now personally affecting people close to me in my life. I know many high schools seniors who now will never experience prom, college freshman whose dorm experience they will never get back, seniors who feel robbed of their graduation, and athletes whose sports seasons have been stolen from them.
More than that, it is distressing to watch the whole world struggle at once and I find it so important that we, as a population, work together to stop this virus from spreading. We must have empathy for others during this grave time and realize these are people’s loved ones being affected, whether it is a loss in finances, health, and/or happiness. It easy to think it won’t affect you as well and maybe it won’t, but it is the least you can do for the world to stay inside for some time (and don’t hog all the toilet paper).
With that being said, I have created a fun list of what to do during your self- quarantine. Keep spreading positivity and don’t forget that your happiness IS a priority!!
Pick Up a New Hobby
Some new hobbies to try: painting, scrapbooking, playing guitar/piano/another instrument, creating a website, DIY, cooking, baking, investing, reading, learning languages, meditating, sewing, updating your social media & job sites, listening to podcasts, discovering new music & making new playlists
Spend Time with Family (& FaceTime Your Friends)
While this one for many may be a challenge, if you are lucky to have a family that is there for you, it is important you spend some time with them (including your pets). You can play some board games, watch movies together, play video games, make Tik Toks (yes, I said it), help complete chores around the house, ask them about their life story, take your dog for a walk, workout together, and just try to be nice & helpful during this difficult time. It is also good to stay in touch with friends and your SO (if you have one) over FaceTime to remain close and connected. This will help you feel less alone and isolated and put a smile on your face! : )
Catch Up on Netflix
Alright for anyone looking for some good Netflix shows to watch, I have an earlier blog post where I talked about all my favorites! There are countless of amazing movies, documentaries, and TV series and honestly this is such a good way to entertain yourself and escape reality when you’re bored out of your mind. When your binge watching, you can also mix it up with some healthy snacks ; )
Support Your Local Businesses
If your local businesses are still open, it is important you stop by and help support them. You can order takeout from your local family run pizza place, buy a drink at Starbucks, buy some donuts from the place across the street, purchase some clothing at the nearest boutique, grab some Taco Bell, etc. The economy is entering into a recession and many people are losing their jobs and it is the least you can do to purchase some small items at places near you (but of course, stay safe and practice social distancing)
Get Fit
Who else is going to come out of this quarantine super fit?? That’s right, you are! Take advantage of beautiful hikes in your area, go for a run in your neighborhood or on the treadmill at home, lift some weights in your room, discover new workout on YouTube and Tik Tok, do some Just Dance, workout over FaceTime with your friends, and continue to drinks lots of water & eat healthy. Find a balance between watching Netflix and staying fit (you can even do both at the same time), keep your immunity up, and stay healthy!
Journal
Lastly, write about your quarantine experience. Document the days because COVID-19 will be history one day. This is a surreal time for the world and to be apart of it is an astounding experience that you might as well write about when you have nothing else to do. You can even just write about your life in general at the moment. Make sure you set aside time to assess your feelings and reflect upon this national crisis, because it can be very overwhelming and stressful. Practice self love and ensure your own happiness.
One more thing- WASH YOUR HANDS!!!!
Love you all,
stay safe
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