Staying inside for a long period of time can seem like it will drive you insane, whether it be with your family, roommate or just by yourself. In these times it may seem impossible to have fun while having to stay indoors and social distancing, but there are still plenty of ways to keep yourself occupied.
First of all, it is important to stay active. As tempting as it may be to stay on the couch all day there will be plenty of time to do so. There are plenty of things one can do in the house to stay active. There is yoga, making an exercise routine or just rearranging small parts of the house. Being active is important, and even more important when you can’t leave the house. Make it a goal to do something active at least a couple times a day. Even if it’s as small as doing a lap around the house.
Second, a lot of people are not only working from home but also going to school as well. In order to keep a clear mind while doing work/homework, separate your work space from your home space. Doing this will prevent the will to just stay on your phone or watch TV and motivate you to get more stuff done. This may include using a separate room for an office space or just as simple as sitting at the table. Doing this will help your brain separate work/school life from home life.
Moving on to the more fun question of quarantine: what should you watch? Luckily, in this day and age, there are many websites and streaming services that make it simple to watch what you want when you want. The most popular platforms such as Netflix, Hulu and YouTube have many shows and movies available and the best part is the 30-day free trial. A new documentary called “Tiger King” just came out on Netflix as well as new episodes of “Catch-22” on Hulu. There are a number of things to watch on just those two sites alone, but there are always other outlets as well.
Lastly, snack talk. It may be tempting to go and eat whatever you want all day but it could easily lead to bad habits when life goes back to normal. So it is important to have a regular diet. Nothing too serious, just skip the ice cream for breakfast and make some eggs instead. Although it may be hard with not being able to go out as much, it can still be possible to stay healthy and active. Throw in some fruits and vegetables after a small workout and you’re already on your way.
Being inside so much, we are missing many things from our lives that we may not have noticed too much before. What’s important is knowing that the same things can be created right in your own household. It may not be the same, but sitting around all day will eventually get boring, though it doesn’t have to.
Sophomore Brooke Hardman said, “Although I would say I watch a lot more TV now, I still take my dog out around the yard as well as cleaning more. Whenever I start to feel closed in, I just try to find anything to get my mind off of it.” When asked what her favorite show to binge was and why she stated, “‘My 600-lb Life’ would be my go-to. Not only are the episodes long, but you can learn more about the body as well.”
Lastly, play games with whoever you’re quarantined with. Seeing the same few people or maybe just one other person can start to get a little nerve racking. Playing games together can ease that. It can be a card game (poker, Go Fish, War) or board games (Life, Yahtzee, Scrabble) or for even some video games. The new Resident Evil just came out as well as Minecraft dungeons. One can play more active games as well, such as tag or hide-and-seek or just making a game up on your own.
Overall, staying indoors may get boring here and there, but there are plenty of ways to stay entertained while being safe and healthy. Life may seem grim at the moment, but keeping a positive attitude and trying to separate yourself from home will help ease the stress of doing the same thing and seeing the same people every day.
Kim DeHart
kmdehart@vwu.edu
