The last time the world saw a global pandemic cause such concern was 100 years ago when the Spanish Flu was finally contained in December 1920. The large majority of people alive were not impacted by that pandemic in any way, meaning it is natural to feel concerned during the unprecedented times we are currently living through. It’s ok to feel overwhelmed, anxious, and even scared. The important thing is to ensure that these feelings don’t dominate your life, mind, and actions and instead find ways to help keep happy and healthy both physically and mentally.
Many of us are currently at home either in quarantine, lockdown, or practicing self-isolation. For some, this can mean that our usual forms of stress relief such as going to the gym or hanging out with friends aren’t possible. However, there are still ways to bring fun or anxiety-relieving activities into our lives.
Establishing a routine is helpful in creating a new normal for yourself and your family during your lockdown or self-isolation period. You could also set a list of achievable goals, keep them straightforward and simple, to ensure that you don’t add to any feelings of anxiety. These could include simple things like clearing out your wardrobe, writing letters to loved ones, or trying out a new recipe.
With a solid routine and some simple goals that are achievable and realistic, finding ways to socialize and let off steam can also help with both your physical and mental wellbeing.
Dance in your living room
Dancing to live music at concerts or clubs isn’t currently possible. However many amazing musicians and DJs are streaming live concerts from their homes into yours via social media or zoom. This is a great way to connect to the outside world, enjoy live music from your favorite band or artist, and will get your body moving too.
If you can’t find a live stream, you can always hold your own dance party. Create a playlist on a music streaming service, connect to your friends via an app such as zoom, and have an online party. Whatever your favorite type of music dancing not only gives you a great physical workout, it’s a great mood booster too.
Virtual arts and culture
Streaming movies, TV series, and music is now highly popular and makes not being able to go to the cinema, theatre, or a gig less difficult. The great news is that the arts and culture sector has also made use of the digital world.
Google has created partnerships with many major museums and art galleries globally, as well as some smaller institutions too. You can take virtual tours through them from the comfort of your own home.
For theatre fans, the Metropolitan Opera in New York is streaming performances online. Alternatively, there is Broadway HD. A paid streaming service that has an excellent library of musicals and plays to choose from.
Date night
Romance isn’t just something that helps foster intimacy in relationships, it has also been proven to have numerous health benefits. Romance doesn’t have to die because you’re stuck at home together all day, or because you’re stuck in different places. It simply means you may have to get a little more creative with your date night ideas. Put a regular date night into your weekly or monthly lockdown routine, this will help to ensure that you don’t forget about making time for it.
For those living apart, you could try setting up a virtual date. Both cook or order your favorite meal, light candles, and hang out over video chat. You can also watch movies or binge a TV series through apps like Netflix Party. This allows you to sync up your streaming so that you can both watch at the same time at home. If you don’t have a significant other, you could also do this with your best friends too.
Remember to play
Stress and anxiety are bad for both your physical and mental health, having fun is a great way to help curb the worry you might be feeling and brighten your day.
Bringing play into your daily or weekly isolation routine doesn’t have to be difficult whether this is playing catch or football in your garden, being creative by drawing or doing crafts, or putting together a lego set with your kids. Play-based activities like these will give you the chance to relax and have fun despite what is going on in the world around you.
While staying at home can be fun, you may need to adjust your mindset to make sure you can enjoy all the opportunities it presents. Keeping active, having fun, and looking after your mental and physical well-being is always important. Make sure you allow yourself to do the activities that really make you happy and also keep you active.
Written by Rae Oliver. Rae writes with a passion for travel, social media, and online marketing. Her published work covers a vast range of topics, from lifestyle and fitness to hospitality consumer trends. She is currently the Content Manager for Truly Experiences, one of the most inspiring workplaces when it comes to adventures and happiness.
