How to not go crazy during solo quarantine: 8 tips
It is what it is, we all have to stay inside. Completely understandable and I am surprised at how quickly I have actually accepted it. Okay, I had to shed a tear when last Monday at the press conference this situation was extended until June 1st. JUNE FIRST. Or how the minister said it: juno. I was a bit thrown off by that because I had focused so much on April 6th. A bit naïve, I know, but pff… June 1st makes me quite depressed. And we must not let that happen. Well, it is like this that I live alone, in what is considered a villa by Amsterdam standards and a shed by outside the Randstad standards: thirty square meters just for me. The walls are closing in on me, you can probably imagine that. And because I want to come out of this quarantine period with a sound mind, I have some tips on how not to go crazy alone. So if you also live alone and this sounds quite familiar, you might find it helpful too. Together we stand strong alone. Or something like that.
1. Stick to your regular rhythm
I am a terrible sleeper and usually fall asleep around half past three at night. It is quite tempting to stay in bed a little longer or to start working from bed in the first hours. NO. We are not doing that. Just set your alarm for your ’normal‘ time, get up, shower, and do something about your appearance. If I stay in my out-of-bed look all day, I won't wake up at all.
2. Stick to your working hours (if you work from home)
Now that I only work from home, I make sure to really take breaks. So I put the laptop away for half an hour, drink coffee, eat something, watch TV, whatever, but really take half an hour with no work. If your work has completely disappeared due to the corona mess, try to create a bit of a schedule for yourself. Set a time when you will go for a walk, plan when you will do a workout, because exercising...
3. Keep exercising
I personally find running really terrible, but that is a sport you can still do outside. Bootcamping or going to the gym is unfortunately not an option, but there are many classes available online. Not ideal, but the best alternative at the moment, and by being active for half an hour or an hour, you will feel much better, fitter, happier, and a lot less useless.
4. Start cooking
It is very tempting to order takeout or UberEats every night, but it's also a huge waste of your money. Yes, of course, ‘support your locals’ is great, but not seven days a week. Also, keep doing a bit of ‘support yourself’. I can really enjoy ordering occasionally, but if I do it too often, I quickly feel like a fat pig and it feels like I'm not accomplishing anything. So, cooking. And by the way, I've really started to enjoy it.
5. It's okay to feel down (but not 24/7)
This whole situation is just CRAP. C-r-a-p. And it's okay to feel down about it sometimes. I haven't seen normal daylight for two weeks because I had corona-like symptoms, and that became a bit too much for me at times. I just wanted to go outside. To the pub. Have drinks with friends. Walk through the park. Go to the movies. Just do things. And yes, that is not possible... And sometimes crying about it can be very relieving.
6. Facetime with your friends
Earlier I already mentioned the app Houseparty and I am still a huge fan of it. The only way to see your friends a bit regularly is really through the phone camera (thank god we live in a time where this technology exists) and being in a group call with eight people makes me particularly happy after a day of working from home. Oh, and you can also play games. Love it.
7. Shift your thoughts
Some people only relax with Netflix and that's okay too, I love that myself, but I've noticed that in the last few weeks I've been really calming down with puzzles. Coloring in an adult coloring book (you become so zen from it, highly recommended). My brother ordered a painting set. It's just a bit different than lounging on the couch and it shifts your thoughts, plus: it makes you calm.
8. Don't let yourself be led by all the negative news
By sitting inside for most of the day, it's very easy to continuously check the news. But unfortunately, it is just the case that those are usually not the most positive messages. And we might as well come to terms with how the situation is now. Continuously speculating whether it will be before June 1st or maybe even later; that doesn't help anyone and it won't make you happier. Check the morning news and the eight o'clock news and leave it at that, except for a special press conference.
