Author: August Clarke
Having to remain in isolation from all of your friends and loved ones can be extremely tough at times, and down-right infuriating at others. Unfortunately, this is something that we all have a responsibility as members of society to do.
On the upside, there are still many things you can do to try and retain some of your sanity while social distancing.
Here are a few ideas:
HouseParty
By this I don’t mean that you should throw a rager and invite all your friends over (please stay home, everyone!). Instead I’m talking about the app, HouseParty. Oh, hey, that’s a blast from the past, isn’t it? Despite all the memes about reviving HouseParty from the dead on Instagram, this is actually a really awesome thing to be using right now. It sends you a notification whenever your friends are using the app and you can “hang out” with them virtually whenever you feel like it. It even has fun games you can play to keep you occupied that are built into the app. HouseParty has been keeping my friends and I sane for the past couple of weeks.
Go for a jog
Yes, we are supposed to stay indoors. But health officials have said that it is perfectly fine to go outside for a walk or run, so long as you aren’t with anyone outside the people you live with and maintain an appropriate distance away from those you may encounter on the path. Exercise is really important for our mental health, and so is fresh air. If you can, try to step outside every once in awhile.
If running’s not your thing, don’t worry. There are plenty of home workouts that you can find on YouTube for you to do and a lot of them you can participate in without requiring any equipment! It’s super easy to plant yourself on the couch and relax while you wait out the storm, but it’s really important to take care of your body in these times.
Catch up on a book or Netflix series
Personally, I’ve been so busy with school this past year that I really haven’t had much time to do any reading outside of my textbook, or watch Netflix for that matter. I’ve really enjoyed taking this opportunity to relax and catch up on some shows I used to keep up with and read the stack of books that I never got to this year. It’s a great way to relax and stay occupied while at home!
Engage in a hobby
A good way to look at the current situation is to see it as an opportunity to learn something that you’ve been meaning to do. If you play an instrument, you could use this opportunity to brush up on your guitar or piano skills (as a few examples). Maybe you’re really into baking or want to learn how to cook. There’s no better time to engage in those things than now! Just because you’re stuck at home, it doesn’t mean that your creativity can’t thrive.
Do some spring cleaning
This may not be your typical idea of fun, but spring cleaning can actually make us feel a lot more relaxed, organized, and happy. Personally, I find it really satisfying to go through all of my stuff and purge the things I don’t need. Decluttering is always a good idea, and we really don’t have much of an excuse not to do it now.
Hopefully one of the activities I listed above caught your eye! Social distancing doesn’t have to be the bummer that a lot of people are making it out to be. It’s up to all of us to make the best of the situation for ourselves. But if you are struggling right now, that’s normal and okay. Contact ConnecTeen by phone, chat or text for support.
