Dinner parties are cancelled.
Offices are closed.
Your kids’ schools are out of session.
& you’re stuck at home.
Coronavirus has been testing humanity’s limits in many ways over the last 4 months. The potentially fatal virus has tested our science, our healthcare systems, our ability to follow directions, our willpower to live, our government’s leadership etc., yet somehow many of us see self-isolating at home as the most difficult part of dealing with COVID-19. Look, we get it. You want to go to happy hour with friends or invite the family down the street over for dinner, but instead you’re stuck inside either by yourself or with your family. Introverts across the world may be rejoicing at the opportunity to stay indoors like hermits for weeks or months, but for the rest of us, being home 24/7 is rough. Needless to say, the term “homebody” is beginning to take on a whole new definition for most Americans. At the end of the day, whether we like it or not, self-isolation and social distancing are our new normal for the time being. Here’s your guide to maintaining sanity during this trying time.
Disclaimer: We at the Parrish Law Firm are strong proponents of social distancing and STAYING HOME. If you are unable to stay home due to work or you have dependents to care for, we understand. However, if you are still meeting others for recreational activities or hanging out with friends, we ask you to reconsider your actions before you put yourself and others at greater risk because you decided not to stay put. Lessening the stress of COVID-19 on our healthcare system doesn’t work if some people think they don’t need to pull their weight by staying home.
Now that we got that out of the way, here are our top 4 suggestions for balancing your mental health while isolating at home for the next few weeks:
EXERCISE DAILY
Exercising releases endorphins, which help you regulate your mental health by triggering a positive feeling in your brain. Aside from this, it’s important to keep active and expend energy otherwise you will have pent up energy with nowhere to go at the end of each day. This can make sleeping difficult, which harms your immune system. You also don’t want to be tossing and turning for hours every night because you can’t sleep, do you? Do yourself a favor and workout for a minimum of 30 minutes each day. Our recommendation — take a stroll! Hiking at parks, bike-riding and casual walks with the family will keep you active, expend energy, help you sleep easier and best of all, going outdoors doesn’t violate any unspoken social distancing rules. Just be sure to stay 6+ feet away from others!
FOLLOW A SCHEDULE
Maintaining your regular schedule will give you a sense of normalcy. Just because the world is fighting an essentially invisible enemy doesn’t mean you should lose all sense of time and presentability. Shower at the same time you would on a normal non-pandemic day. Wearing fresh clothes after your shower will make you feel more productive than throwing on the same PJs you’ve worn all week. Unfortunately, at this time we have to take what we can get when it comes to feeling productive and accomplished. Unless you’re working from home and meeting goals regularly, it’s easy to feel unaccomplished when you don’t step foot outside of your house. By making your bed, taking a shower, cleaning your house, washing your car, etc., you will feel like you’re making strides and utilizing the time in your day rather than wasting it away. This will go far in terms of self-satisfaction.
TAKE BREAKS FROM WORK
We’re happy to see that most companies in the DMV region have opted to offer their employees work-from-home flexibility if possible. Now, while that’s great and all, you need to remember to take breaks because you no longer have co-workers to chat with by the water cooler. Luckily for Americans, the spring season is around the corner so we can throw on a light jacket and take a 10 minute breather outdoors every few hours.
STOP WASTING YOUR TIME
Learn a new skill. Let’s be real — there’s no good reason to be watching Netflix for 6 to 10 hours a day…some of you have too much time on your hands! Now is the best time to either invest in online courses through Coursera, join Masterclass or sign up for Udemy so that you can add some certifications to your résumé. In the few weeks or months it takes for coronavirus to pass, you could educate yourself and add value to your career. Here’s an incentive for you — when you add more value at work, you can ask for a raise…no promises you’ll get one though!
We hope these tips help you stay busy and feel productive until the looming threat of COVID-19 is eradicated. We wish you safety, health and sanity while in self-isolation. Be sure to check back in a few days for Part 2!
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