10 Things to do this Quarantine Szn

Happy St. Patricks day to all, and as Hilary Duff (a queen to 90s babies everywhere) said in her Instagram story, "to all you millennial assholes out partying, GO HOME".

In case you've been asleep for the past few days (like me) and have somehow missed the news, COVID-19 is a pandemic that is rattling the world - and the constant updates are showing more and more urgency. Cities are under lockdown, grocery stores have been ravaged, and airports are zoos full of people trying to get home while they still can. It is a time like we've never seen before. While some argue that the media has created too much commotion, stressing people to a point of excess, it has also benefited us in lifesaving ways. Media, social media, in particular, has never been what it is now, and it is times like these where we can use it to our advantage. As I'm sure everyone has seen, social media has been key to spreading the message of staying home. Whether they call it "social distancing" or "self-quarantine", celebrities like Miley Cyrus or Hilary Duff are spreading the importance of protecting yourself and others by staying home and out of public environments. The media has also been key in getting ahead of COVID-19. Through watching what has happened in other countries, like China, we are able to see the effectiveness of their precautions and follow suit. Right now, by quarantining ourselves, we are hopefully avoiding what would be the worst of it.

All in all: media = good, but it is important to stay calm.

Hopefully, none of you are suffering from any illness at this time, except for maybe the unavoidable cabin-fever. To remedy that, I'm here to tell you things to do to keep you productive this quarantine season!

1. The most obvious, but least desirable: WORK OUT!

I used to always think of what I would do if I ever went to prison, and always landed on the thought of getting ripped!! I would wake up every day, do some crunches in my cell, run around the compound, and 365 days later leave looking better than ever! All that to say, if you have some spare time now (which we all know you do), change out of your pajamas, throw on a workout Youtube video, and put in your all. It will help your restlessness and help you sleep better at night. Here are a few of my favourite workout videos to get you started:

2. Get back to an old hobby

Whether it's something you haven't done in years, or have always wanted to do but have never found an opportunity, now is the time! You could start a blog (😉), go back and finish an old painting, edit some old photos, or bake to your heart's content! Not only will these things help pass the time in a productive way, but they will rekindle an old flame you'll wish you never lost.

3. Do your work -- in reasonable hours

Just because the world seems to be on pause, likely your responsibilities are not. Remember that you still have deadlines, whether they be for work or school, and to maintain your regular hours. Working from home can put a big strain on that, never really leaving the "office". But once your normal hours are complete, take a step back and proceed as you would, having just gotten home from work.

4. Reconnect with friends

Since you know everyone is home right now, call your friend who's schedule never seems to align with your own. Fake a lunch date over Facetime, or give them a call as you simultaneously walk your dogs. Social distancing is important in a physical sense, so as long as you're keeping your phone clean, a good old fashioned phone call can do no harm.

5. Self-love

Take some time for you! Sick or not, you deserve some relaxation in this stressful time. Take a bath, do a face-mask, paint your nails - whatever it is that makes you feel great.

6. Catch up on shows and movies

Having not seen any of the Oscar-nominated movies this year, I am binging HARD. 'Hard' as in one film a day. Doesn't sound that crazy but fill in the extra time with episodes upon episodes of Grace and Frankie, and Entourage, and I've got a packed schedule. To get you going I've made a short list of recommendations (apologies if I'm a little late on the draw for some of these):

TV Shows: Hunters, Fleabag, Schitt's Creek, Love is Blind (smh), Shameless

Movies: Knives Out, Lost Girls, Singing in the Rain, Jojo Rabbit

7. Read a book

I'm not going to tell you the last time I read a book from cover to cover; Why should I subject myself to that embarrassment? But if Archie Comics count, it was December. Nonetheless, It is time to give those dyslexia ridden eyes a good old try. I have Amazon Primed (a millennial verb) The Tattooist of Auschwitz, per recommendation of one Sophie Turner. Reading is great for your brain; A "brain exercise" if you will. It can improve memory, functionality, and knowledge. Now is a great time to dive into a book you've had lying on your shelf forever, or have had in your Amazon shopping cart for months.

8. Shower and change your clothes

Just because you're not going to work or school, that is no excuse for you to get nasty. Even if you're changing from pajamas to sweats, it is important to change your clothes. Keep yourself in a routine to establish a working order to your day. Shower. Shower as you normally would. Just because no one is there to smell you, doesn't mean you ain't smelly. Let's keep the morale high, and maintain basic human hygiene through this quarantine.

9. Limit screen time

In a two week period of being stuck in your house, screens seem to be where it's at. With my iPhone screen-time already showing to be through the roof, I know if I'm not careful I will end up staring at my computer for two weeks straight. With all that said, limit this as much as possible. There's nothing wrong with a movie after dinner, but keep the mindless scrolling on Instagram to a minimum. Instead, use your time with some of my suggestions above. Work out, bake, do a puzzle, read a book, play Cards Against Humanity with your roommates. Anything to decrease the time your poor eyes spend strained starting at a screen.

10. Be grateful!

This is a time where we must remember what is important, and be grateful for what we have. "If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of the world". Be grateful for your health, your loved ones, your access to medical professionals, and the fact that you are able to isolate in this time. For many, that is not possible. So take advantage of what you have, and share what you can, in a safe, sanitary way. That means no more hoarding toilet paper, Karens!!

Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay home.

xoxo