Wednesday, April 1, 2020

How to Make it Through a Quarantine




How to Get Through a Quarantine


In the world we live in today, quarantines are not unheard of.
Populations are susceptible to quarantines for various reasons, but actually going through one is usually pretty standard.


You will be stuck in a room with no interaction and boring food.
If you are quarantined in your home at least you have the resources you wisely put back for just such an occasion...right?

Boredom will be your enemy in all of this. It will sneak in and try to make you depressed, anxious, or even neurotic. Managing your boredom will be the key to emerging on the other side with your mental health intact.

Write 

Here is your chance to write the Great American Novel.
We all have something going on the back burner that we would love the time to work on. Well here is your chance.

If you don’t want to do that, take the time to churn out articles for online or print publications. I know I never have enough time to write what I want to, but a quarantine gives you plenty of time to get lost in your craft.

Card Games
 
I remember my great grandmother playing endless hours of solitaire. A regular deck of cards will keep your brain occupied while the boredom slips past you.

If you are not alone in your quarantine there are any number of games to be played with a regular deck of cards.

There are also several card games with specialized decks such as Uno to take up your time and keep your mind off of the skull numbing boredom.

Online Games

If you have the luxury of internet access you had before the quarantine, the world of online gaming can keep you occupied for hours, days, or even weeks on end.

Playing simple flash or unity games until you win or get bored and move on the next one is one way to manage your time, or you can immerse yourself into the world of one of the free multiplayer online universe games and be whisked away into a world of make believe.

Read a Book 

Or several. If you have an e-reader available you can read the whole series, since you will have the time. Don’t forget that with a library card you can access many e-resources at no additional cost to you.

If you are in your own home, re-read a favorite series or that one you just haven’t gotten to yet.

Eat Well 

This may be a time to eat comfort food if it is available. It can help reduce your stress and anxiety.

Break out that cookbook and make a new recipe with what you have in the house.

Practice a Musical Instrument 

Many people I know have a musical instrument laying around the house that they have not messed with in years.
Now is the perfect time to get some practice and learn to be proficient with it.

Sing or practice whistling. Whistling is such a lost art. It would be good to have more proficient melodic whistlers in the world.

YouTube a New Skill 

You can learn just about anything on Youtube.
From underwater basket weaving to blacksmithing, from Mongolian throat singing to learning to speak Klingon. YouTube is the platform to keep you occupied instead of bored.


Don’t Forget Exercise


Finally, get up and move around.
Even mild exercise of pacing in a small space can help your mental health. If possible you can do some calisthenics to get your blood pumping.
You don’t want to be in bad shape when they finally let you out of quarantine.



There are many more things you can do if you are cooped up. You are only limited by your imagination.

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