How I've Been Surviving Quarantining

Happy Friday! I hope you are all staying healthy and cozied up at home. With almost a full week of my quarantine down, I feel like I've finally gotten the hang of things that have been working for me. It is so easy to stay too up-to-date on the news and sit around in fear, but I've found that if you stay home and try to keep some sense of normalcy, we could actually use this time to be sort of productive! So, I've come up with 11 ways I've been staying sane during this uneasy time. 

1. Maintain some sort of routine

The first few days being back at school, my roomie and I lounged on the couches for 9 hours straight watching tv show after tv show, devouring snacks and staring at our phones. While that was fun for a day or two, we started going crazy on day 3 because we were getting absolutely nothing done. As people who crave a routine and a sense of productivity each day, we decided that it was time to try to get back to our normal lives as much as possible. So, we decided to start waking up a little earlier, drink a cup of coffee, and try to get some work done at our kitchen table. While it's tempting to lay around all day, we realized that in order to survive more than 2 days of social distancing, we needed some sense of normalcy in our lives. 

2. Deep clean your space

I actually deep cleaned my closet and desk right before spring break, but otherwise now is the perfect time to clear out your space in time for spring! It feels so good to get rid of stuff, rearrange, and have a fresh new area to live in. 

3. Get ahead on work 

Whether it's assignments due for class or work for your actual job, staying on top (or ahead!) on what you need to do will help you feel more productive. Since our spring break was extended a week, I took a bit of that time to work ahead on assignments and it makes me feel so much better knowing that I got some of that work done ahead of time! 

4. Spend (a limited!) time on Tik Tok

I really hate to say it, but I have become incredibly obsessed with Tik Tok. For someone who thought it was kind of dumb when it was gaining popularity, I completely see why it is so entertaining! I have found myself absolutely crying laughing on many occasions, and frankly I think all of us could use a little bit of that these days! Just make sure you don't spend all day on it, because I know that is possible :) 

5. Go for a walk + listen to a podcast

This has been my absolute saving grace. Getting out of the house 1-2 times daily (and doing so from a social distance, of course) has been how I've been staying sane. During the school year, I never have the time to listen to podcasts, so I've been catching up by listening to ones with my favorite influencers or about current events. The 30-45 minute time frame is perfect for a little cardio too! 

6. Try out recipes you've been craving

There have been several recipes I've saved on my phone that I've been wanting to whip up for months now, but with a normally busy schedule, I've simply put them off for so long. Now, I have no excuse! I made the most delicious brussel sprout and bacon pasta as well as panko chicken tenders so far, and I have to say, I've really learned to love cooking! 

7. Support your local businesses

Every day, my friends and I have been trying to support one local business here in Bloomington that we love. From coffee shops that are offering online orders to restaurants that have take out, it is our favorite way to responsibly get out of the house, get something yummy to eat and support our favorite businesses! 

8. Put together a to-do list 

There are so many random things I've been putting off doing for months, whether it be finally organizing my photos from my semester abroad or even untangling my favorite necklace that has been sitting on my dresser for far too long. Create a to-do list of things like this and try to knock out one or two each day! 

9. Try at-home workouts

Typically, I'm the type of person that loves getting outside or hitting the gym for a workout. But, I've recently learned to love Youtube, Tik Tok or Instagram workouts to mix up my normal strength training. So far my favorites have been Shannon Nadj and Whitney Simmons!

10. Find a New Hobby

Try out a puzzle, order a coloring book, or even something as simple as list your clothes on Poshmark! Use this time to find something new to do that you enjoy! 

11. Keep in touch with the people you care about

Even if you're far away, staying in touch with my friends and family has been the main thing getting me through this unsettling time. Whether it be an hour long phone call to catch up, a text seeing how someone is doing or even a funny video you found, take some time each day and talk to those you love. We're all in this together! 

Are there things I'm missing that you've been doing? 

I'd love to hear! 

xoxo