Being asked to keep away from people for a period of time is something we have never experienced before, it is something we did not think would happen when we were sending happy New Year greetings at the start of 2020. Social distancing is new for us all, we miss going out to our favorite restaurants, movies, dates, and events, to mention but a few. Personally, I miss going to physical meetings and workshops, I’ll share my feelings about the inability to travel on another day!
Although some of us have families at home, imagine what it looks like for people who live alone. For introverts, social distancing may not be a challenge. Extroverts on the other hand might feel the world is coming to an end.
Before we dive in, let’s reflect on some questions that Reese Witherspoon asks herself each day in this quarantine period.
What am I GRATEFUL for today?
Who am I CHECKING IN ON or CONNECTING with today?
What expectations of normal am I LETTING GO OF today?
How am I GETTING OUTSIDE today?
How am I MOVING MY BODY today?
What BEAUTY am I either creating, cultivating or inviting in today?
Here is how you can keep yourself sane while social distancing
Acceptance: The first thing we all need to do is to accept the situation we are in and understand why we have been asked to social distance. By following protocols, you’re doing your part to help slow the spread of the disease in your community and country. Would you want to bring the virus home to your partner or relative or your aging parent? Social distancing is not going to stay for a long time, very soon we shall be back to normal
Create a routine: We are in times of uncertainty, we are not sure for how long we shall remain in quarantine. How about you create a structure of predictability in your daily life? Come on, don’t sit on a couch all day, have a schedule of activities.
Limit your exposure to news and “fake” news: Honestly, there’s a lot of “real” news and “fake” news flying all over the place. It is not good to be constantly exposed to negative news. Personally, I woke up and decided to only pay attention to news from health organizations and at a specific time. Take breaks from social media and the news, and when things start to feel overwhelming, try yoga, breathing exercises, or other relaxation techniques
Be active: Take a walk around your neighborhood (not in a group, of course, remember to social distance), do a little stretching, live stream a yoga class, organize your closet, organize your photos, dance a bit, etc. Anything that gets you moving will surely make you stay sane. However, don’t be the music-booming neighbor who impacts other people’s work calls
Connect with a friend, schedule message, video, or phone check-ins: Thanks to the many social media platforms, we can keep in touch in many ways. In fact, we have seen many virtual meetings and emails which could have been physical meetings if it were not for COVID-19. You can socialize virtually via FaceTime, Zoom, Skype, Houseparty, or just a normal phone call. Make a list of people to reach out to, both in your inner and outer circle, even if you haven’t talked to them in months or years. And now that we are approaching Easter, why not reach out?
Set some goals and create a vision board: A vision board is a reflection of your dreams, hopes, and desires. It is designed to inspire and motivate you whenever you see it. At the start of the year, my mastermind group tasked each of us to come up with our vision boards, Unfortunately, I did not prioritize it, and it is on my to-do list now, you could do it as well. Write down a few goals to accomplish before the end of the quarantine period, and work towards them
Help a Stranger: This is the best time to reach out to those in need. Many people who live hand to mouth have no source of income at the moment, the elderly, disabled, and homeless are all struggling to survive. You will certainly find someone in the neighborhood who needs some help. Service is so good for the mind, body, and spirit, try it.
Read some books and novels: There’s absolutely no better time to read a good book than now. Make yourself some “chai” tea, curl up on the couch, and let someone’s story take you on a journey. There are many ways you can get books for free digitally, you could join our Mkazipreneur Book Club as well. You could also do a bit of journaling. Write down your thoughts and aspirations
Learn a new language: The fact is, it is hard to learn a new language. Did you know that if you learn just 18 words per day, you will have learned over 250 words after a 14-day quarantine is over? I am currently using Duolingo to learn French. There are many other Apps you could use to learn a new language
Enroll for a course: This is the best time to enroll for a course online. There are many free resources and courses out there on Udemy, Harvard, Coursera, FutureLearn, and edX to mention but a few. Go ahead and dive in
Get creative: Now is the time to get creative with yourself. Try on some shades of makeup, learn to paint, try some gardening, try a skincare routine, etc. Has any of you seen the perfect level of creativity in the #dontrush video challenge that is going viral lately? I believe many people have mastered some video editing skills from it
Cook some meals or bake: Food is one of the best ways to feed your creative soul. Add more fruits, vegetables, vitamins, and proteins to your diet. Learn to bake
What is helping you stay sane during the coronavirus pandemic? Feel free to share tips in the comments below
