Staying Safe in Quarantine

It’s been a couple of weeks now that many of us have been staying home and avoiding contact due to the Covid-19 outbreak. If it’s starting to get to you, you’re not alone. Aside from feelings of boredom and isolation, maybe you’re experiencing increased stress and anxiety, or are overwhelmed in general. It’s important to maintain not just your physical health, but also your mental health in these times of isolation and social distancing. 

In case you’re in need of some suggestions for what to do to stay stimulated and active, and to feel less overwhelmed and alone, we’ve compiled a few. Here are our tips for staying sane in quarantine. 

Stay Connected It might be hard to feel connected while social distancing and avoiding contact. Though we might be unable to meet up face-to-face, we can still find ways of staying connected, building community and even being social. 

With friends and family Spend virtual time with friends and family, as well as colleagues. Why not catch up with someone you haven’t spoken to in a while? Check in and see how they’re doing. It’s a good time to reconnect with friends and family, whether they’re local or distant. You can even arrange activities beyond the usual phone call or chat thread. 

Video conference calls can be used for more than just a chat. You can organize a virtual dinner, for instance. Bring people ‘together’ for an activity, like a long-distance movie night via Netflix in order to share an experience. 

With community and cultural activities Staying engaged with cultural activities like exhibitions, performances, talks and lectures is also a good way to connect. Fortunately, more and more virtual events are popping up, so it’s still possible to experience cultural life while in quarantine. Some institutions are running guided exhibition tours via Instagram live .

It’s also a great time to take the initiative and start your own group or event — whether that means a book club, live-streamed talk, or a performance from your living room.

Stay Active Staying physically active, even when spending so much time at home, is not only important for your body. It’s also a great way to lift spirits, destress and is even known to fight depression. 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week. 

Check out exercise videos on YouTube, for example. Many pilates and yoga studios are also making classes available online. Many are live-streaming their classes on weekdays (in the evenings) and Sunday afternoons.

  Maybe you can even get some indoor cycling in — with the help of a stationary bicycle stand.  And, of course, impromptu dance sessions are an option. 

Learn something new It may be tempting to fall into the habit of constant Netflix binge-watching or scrolling through social media. But try to avoid overdoing it in this area. Quarantine could present a great opportunity to finally pick up that book you’ve been meaning to read, or even to learn a new language. In short, it’s important to keep your mind active, too.

  Aside from YouTube tutorials, more and more online courses are being offered by different institutions and universities — sometimes for free or at reduced rates. You can take a crash course in a topic you’ve always been interested in, but never had time for. Or, build on your knowledge base and skills in your field in order to take yourself to the next level.

Hardward University for example, is offering a selection of free online courses in areas ranging from programming and business to humanities and social sciences.

Get/Stay Creative Art and creativity are becoming perhaps more important than ever in these isolating times. It keeps us stimulated, inspired, allows us to express ourselves. And is great for staving off boredom. If you’ve already got a project that you can continue with in quarantine, then great! Think about sharing what you’ve been up to on your portfolio and/or social media to stay connected. 

It can also be a good time to start a new project or try something new — like a new craft project, keeping a journal, or starting a sketchbook. There are also a number of online workshops you can join.

  You might even consider organizing your own online workshops or classes. This could be an effective way to connect with others while engaging in your own work. And it might also help to bring in some income.

Keep a routine Try to make, and keep, a routine for yourself while in quarantine. This means setting a wake-up time, getting dressed (yes, even if you’re not going anywhere), and making time for different activities throughout the day. 

Keep in mind that, just because you might be working from home now, it doesn’t mean that all you should be doing is working. It’s important to maintain a work-life balance while in quarantine. So set aside time to unwind and avoid burning yourself out.

Having a routine doesn’t mean being constantly active. Relaxation time should also be a part of your routine. This could mean spending time meditating or working on breathing exercises, etc. If you don’t live alone, it’s also important to set aside some time just for you, if possible. 

Help others If you’re in a position to do so, then you can volunteer to help others who are unwell or unable to leave their homes. This might include picking up groceries or other necessary supplies, or making donations of food or resources, for instance. Not only will you be offering necessary support to someone, but it’s also an effective way to stay productive.  You can start by asking neighbors or people that you know nearby. Local groups are also being created to connect those who can help with those who are in need.

If such a group doesn’t exist near you, you can also start your own.

It’s important to stay informed as the crisis situation develops — especially via reliable sources. But also try to limit your news intake, otherwise it could end up escalating anxiety levels and making you feel overwhelmed.

With this in mind, we hope these tips will help you to find alternative ways to stay connected and engaged in these challenging times. 

It’s important to stick together and help each other out. If you have any information that you think could help the creative community, contact us and we will be happy to share it.