A pandemic and forced social distancing is something that we used to read about in history books or in fantasy novels. Never in a million years would we have thought that this would be a reality in 2020.
With the emergence of COVID-19, many people around the world are now staying inside and doing their best to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. However, with the fast pace of the modern world, it can be hard to stay inside and not be as busy as we usually are.
Here are a few tips that can help make staying and surviving social distancing a lot easier.
Cleaning and Organization
Being forced to stay in and not interact with our duties and friends in the outside world can allow us to focus on the things that are usually neglected. One of those things could be the dreaded tasks of doing some housekeeping.
Many times we feel that after a long day of work, the last thing that we want to do is clean. Now that many of the responsibilities that we once had are at a standstill we now have the time to catch up on the cleaning and organization that we might have been avoiding.
Cleaning may not seem like a fun activity, and it’s not. But once you complete your cleaning and organizing, your environment can feel like a brand new place.
A New Hobby
As cliche as it may sound, picking up a new hobby can be useful when you are forced to stay inside. You don’t even have to pick up a new hobby, but maybe finishing the project that you started months ago or playing your instrument again will help to lift your spirits.
Doing something that you enjoy during this time of social distancing can be both therapeutic and can help the time go by a lot faster. You don’t have to be good at the hobby or spend a lot of money. If you like art, pick up a pencil and paper and get started. If you like writing, start a journal or open a document on your computer and write about whatever you like.
You have what seems like all the time in the world to work on something that you enjoy with few distractions from the outside world. There are so many new things out there in the world to explore. Find something that makes you happy, and who knows, that new hobby might outlast the pandemic.
Exercise
Contrary to popular opinion, you don’t need a crowded gym to exercise. Luckily, social distancing still allows us to take walks or jogs through our neighborhoods. It can be easy to get lazy and feel like you can’t move around when you are forced to be inside for hours on end. If so, get up, go outside, and take a walk in the fresh air.
If you don’t feel like going outside, you can also work out inside if you have the space to do so (another reason to clean and organize your home). There are plenty of exercises that you can do in a small space and even apps that can keep you on track.
Exercise can help keep your mind off the pandemic, and it also helps with your overall mood by decreasing feelings of depression and anxiety. You don’t need the gym and the expensive equipment to exercise, just the time and motivation.
Is Social Distancing Making You Feel Anxious?
If you are having trouble getting through this period of social distancing, give us a call. While most of our therapists are not in the office at this time, we are still responding to calls and able to take on new clients. We would be delighted to set up a counseling session with you via an internet video chat.