Burst your isolation bubble by practicing these self-care tips
The longer we stay in quarantine, the further away the lives we had before start to feel. The repetitive nature of the routines we have developed in our own homes and the four walls in which we constantly work in may be sanitary but are suffocating at times. It can be hard to even ponder about the dreams and plans we once had for our lives both during and after college.
However, many of the opportunities that we planned to take advantage of have now transitioned online, so not all hope is lost. As we continue to exist in our sanitary bubbles, here are some habits that can help you get through these difficult times.
Keep a routine, as it will help you to wake up around or before 9 a.m. Getting up before 9 a.m. allows you to see the sun rise and set, making for a calming beginning and ending to the day. It also provides more opportunities to go outside at times that are not too busy. This addition of Vitamin D to your day can help boost your mood and increase your focus, once you inevitably go back indoors.
Find a change of scenery. I love going to one of my friends’ houses that I know is safe and spending time with them. . Even if we are only working, it helps to increase my focus, my attention to detail and prevents the temptation of distraction. Another option is to go and work at a coffee shop or cafe with an outdoor seating area. With the benefit of being outside and a good pair of noise canceling headphones, this can be a really good opportunity to enjoy a change of scenery and get a good cup of coffee. Win win!
Exercise! Fine, ok, we see this on every list. I used to be a doubter myself. Since I have started doing this regularly, I have had a helpful boost in my mood and concentration. Unless you are an athlete, you don’t need to have equipment or a full body workout. Sometimes I do a dance workout and other timesI do yoga. When I am listening to what my body needs and what movement it wants to do, I work better and feel better.
Ok, the best one is for last: STOP WORKING. Don’t work all the time. It’s not healthy. If you keep to a routine and get up at a regular time, that also means you can end at a regular time. There will be days when you have to work longer, but there should always be time where you stop working and talk to your family or friends. You can watch a movie, play a board game or read a book, but you should not think about work until you begin working on your assignments the following day. This is the most beneficial and the most difficult for me. If you have trouble like I do, try keeping a running list of assignments and ideas that you have come up with while you are “off” work. It can make it easier to relax and enjoy your time. We are not meant to work all the time and just because we are in quarantine does not change that.
In the meantime, while we are all here in our own little bubbles, plan for your future outside them. We might not go back to the normal we had before but we will not be inside forever. If you move towards those dreams and plans you love, you will be ready when we all leave. So go to the virtual conferences, meet with the executives on Linkedin and make connections everywhere you can. The world still exists, even if we are all just living in a bubble for now.