Hakim Hayat
With the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic looming in the country, more and more people are forced to self-isolate at home – either they test positive for the coronavirus, or are close contacts of positive cases.
After months of social distancing and our transition into the ‘new normal’ in the Endemic Phase, you’re probably feeling a wave of ‘cabin fever’ and looking for more fun things to do at home.
It’s not fun being cooped up because of self-isolation and social distancing, but with a little bit of effort, you can create some productive, healthy and fun things to do at home to help pass the time. You’ve got this!
Here are a few things you can do while in self-isolation:
Continue with daily routines
By continuing with your daily routines, you’re helping your mental health by keeping a sense of normalcy.
Some examples of routines you can try to keep even during the coronavirus quarantine include: getting dressed at the same time each morning; making meals at the same time; making your bed; walking or playing with a pet and this is also a good time to re-organise and tidy up your space!
Stretch out those muscles
During this time, it’s normal to be feeling more stressed than usual. Staying at home and being confined to your space can be difficult. Starting your day off with yoga can give you multiple benefits, such as decreasing stress, relieving anxiety, promoting better sleep quality, and increasing strength. There are multiple online yoga classes you can stream right from your phone.
There are also a lot of gyms doing online classes on virtual platforms like Zoom, at very low prices.
Take advantage of the opportunity to train with great coaches and trainers, all from the comfort of your living room. You can change your usual gym equipment for a chair, bench, or even cans and bottles of water that can serve as weights. It’s all about being adaptable.
Have a separate work space
Keeping a clean and tidy workspace is very important when it comes to productivity.
Clutter oftentimes causes stress – and who needs more stress right now? Take a few minutes to put papers away and throw away trash from the day before and create a today and an organised space to inspire more confidence and improve focus.
Get in touch with your loved ones
Research shows social interaction really improves our health and well-being. But too much of it could also cause stress, especially for some of us who are introverts.
Keeping your daily interactions at an optimal level is key. FaceTime or video call your loved ones. Staying connected is especially important to maintain your relationships, and it also greatly benefits your mental health.
Read a new book
Reading a new book can help you get you of your headspace and into a whole new world! There are plenty of ways to download free e-Books to your reading devices too. Whether it’s a tablet, computer, or phone, there are websites that allow you to download e-Books.
Learn new recipes
Start experimenting in the kitchen. It is such a fulfilling activity that we can do with our families and a way to enjoy spending some time together, while cooking delicious brownies, or cookies, or cakes, or anything you really like to do. But don’t stay in the basic; why not get out of your comfort zone to try new things?
Watch more shows and series
We always want more and more time to watch new shows, series and movies. Well, now we have it and we have to make it count! You can also take this time to watch all of those long and deep films you’ve been putting off during the last few months.
