I see a lot of stuff floating around the net about people taking the whole isolation/quarantine thing really hard. They are really struggling with just chilling at home. So I've come to you with...
✧*。Dr Morrissey's Tips & Tricks for Not Losing Your Mind While Stuck Inside™ ✧*。
✧*。TIP #1: have supplies for multiple hobbies that you can do solo & indoors. There's endless possibilities in the crafting & art realms, video games, adult coloring books, baking, reading, & writing just to name a few. Rotate through them throughout the day so you don't get burned out.
✧*。TIP #2: ever wanted to learn a new skill, craft, or language? Is there a makeup or hair technique you want to try but were afraid of sucking & looking ridiculous? Is there a dish you've been dying to learn to cook? Candies you've wanted to learn to bake? Now's the time! You have loads of time to spare & most can me done online.
✧*。TIP #3: throw some cleaning into the mix. That chore you've been putting off due to lack of time or energy? Get it done! Make those small home repairs or improvements!
✧*。TIP #4: you absolutely will get sick of streaming shows & movies. Mix it up with music, podcasts, or audiobooks while you do stuff.
✧*。TIP #5: it's important to stay active & not get deconditioned. Normally go to the gym or go for a run? Modify your workout so it can be done at home. There are loads of instructional videos on YouTube. It may not be the workout you're used to, but it's definitely better than nothing.
✧*。TIP #6: now if you aren't deeply introverted, you might be losing your shit due to lack of social interaction. Good news! We are quarantined with the best technology humanity has every gotten its fleshy hands on! There are loads of video chat apps & programs that you can use to make a group chat with your friends & family. Facetime & skype are the most obvious. Get creative with it! Host a dinner party. Finally get that dnd campaign started. (your group now definitely has the time!) Play online party games like Jackbox. Introverts, reach out to your more social friends & family. They might be struggling with this in a way you're not.
✧*。TIP #7: even though you aren't going anywhere & nobody will see you, maintain your daily hygiene & dressing routine. It will make you feel good.
✧*。TIP #8: taking that a step further, while you may be tempted to absolutely nuke your sleep schedule & do fuckall, routine is important for your mental health. Still try to have a routine bedtime & time to wake up. Can you adjust them so they are more reasonable? Absolutely! But you should still have a routine.
✧*。TIP #9: get outside in the sun for at least an hour a day, even if it's just on a porch, balcony, or backyard. If you do decide to venture into a park or some wilderness, make sure you still practice social distancing. Be safe & responsible about it.
✧*。TIP #10: if you start to feel alone or isolated, reach out to someone. Even if it's just someone online. Hell, my inbox is always open.
✧*。TIP #11: if you start to feel overwhelmed by the news, you're starting to feel that the horror outweighs the number of helpers (because Mr. Rodgers always taught us to look for the helpers in times of crisis) there's absolutely NO SHAME in stepping away to get some distance & perspective. Turn off the news, step away from websites that vomit more news stories than anything (looking at you Facebook). While it is important to be informed, that doesn't mean you have to watch or read about it 24/7. You need to protect your mental & emotional health first. Should you find yourself overwhelmed, I recommend guided meditation, specifically for anxiety. There are loads of YouTube videos & mobile apps for that. My personal favorite app is Stop, Breathe, & Think. It's free & asks you some questions to assess your mental & emotional state, then gives you a selection of guided medications based on that. SIDE NOTE: don't believe everything you hear or read as "news". There's a lot of misinformation floating around. Always fact check.
Remember, we are all in this together. Be safe, be kind (not just to others but to yourself), and remember you're not alone. ♡
