Self- (Quarantine) Care: How a Coronavirus Quarantine Could Actually be Good for You
As local and federal governments issue more stringent sets of guidelines to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, millions of Americans are stocking up for a self-quarantine. But as you elbow your neighbor at Costco for the last block of ramen noodles, you might consider adding a guitar to your cart. Or knitting needles. Or say, a bell anklet for your ritualistic moon dance. Hey, I don’t know what you’re into.
Coronavirus quarantine could be the perfect opportunity to pursue a new hobby or pick up an old project, which could lower your stress levels and help you get through the isolation doldrums.
“People can always tell how stressed I am by the number of baked goods that we have in our home. I find the process of baking to be incredibly therapeutic,” says Dr. Amy Przeworski, a psychology professor at Case Western Reserve University.
Przeworski says people often neglect self-care when they’re stressed. “But stressful times are exactly when people need to engage in self-care, including relaxing hobbies. Engaging in just 30 minutes of a relaxing activity can reduce one’s stress and anxiety and actually make them more productive and better able to cope with stressful events.”
This would be one of those events. COVID-19 has infected more than 207,000 people and killed more than 8,000 across the globe, according to the World Health Organization. The pandemic has forced schools, churches, and businesses to close, tanking stocks and skyrocketing fears. Oh yeah, and there’s that little problem of people hoarding toilet paper and you having to wipe with the coupon catalog.
The infectious nature of COVID-19 points to one obvious tactic to help slow the spread of the disease: social distancing. While the positive benefit to public health is clear, many have pointed to the negative mental health effects of staying in the home.
Employees forced to work at home are lamenting the dull effects of conducting business from the couch. Millennials and Gen Z-ers looking forward to a social spring break are now in coronavirus quarantine rather than drinking a Corona on the beach. And single Americans are forced to swap their hot Tinder dates for a cold slice of cheesecake and a date with all four Golden Girls. Thank you for being a fiend, Coronavirus.
But could there be an upside to isolation? When you cut out activities that are conducive to contagion, you’re left with something wonderful and intangible: TIME. Time is the precious sand that slips through our fingers faster and faster as we get older.
Ask Your Target Market found that nearly three-fourths of Americans consider hobbies to be important. However, according to their survey, 66 percent of respondents said that hobbies are time consuming and wish they had more time to pursue them. Although most reported making time for at least one hobby, 20 percent of respondents said they don’t have any hobbies at all.
Your time spent at home may be the best time to tackle that hobby. Thanks to the plethora of free advice on YouTube and the ease of Amazon shopping, a new skill set and the supplies you need for it are simply a click away. Got a hankering for cross-stitch? You can order a needle and thread and stitch Drake lyrics onto a handkerchief for your BFF. Always wanted to break dance? Make like Napoleon Dynamite and pop n’ lock along to how-to videos. Anglophile obsessed with British Bake Off? You can order piping bags and decorate the naked cake of your dreams (while naked in the comfort of your own kitchen).
Most importantly, a new hobby can help cure your Coronatine blues. “For people on quarantine and those engaging in social distancing, taking up a new hobby can be a great way to stay upbeat and motivated,” says Dr. Art Markman, a psychology professor at the University of Texas at Austin. “When you learn some new skill, you give yourself the chance to experience joy and satisfaction rather than fear and anxiety. That happiness and satisfaction is energizing and can make you excited to see the next day.”
A study conducted by The Society of Behavioral Medicine found that hobbies are as effective at lowering stress levels as physical exercise, even if the only thing you’re toning is your index finger as you re-organize your stamp collection. Researchers found that people who engaged in a leisurely activity reported being happier, less stressed, and more interested while they were participating in the hobby, with the effects lasting for hours. Nothing like painting a portrait of your dog to take your mind off of, you know, a deadly virus sweeping the globe.
What’s more, Przeworski says holing up and focusing on a new hobby could actually make you feel less alone. “Although it has been recommended that we engage in social distancing right now, we can remain connected to others through online forums about hobbies and social media groups. Social connection with others (even virtual social connection) can help to reduce isolation and improve mood.”
So shut your doors and open your mind to a new hobby or, dust off an old one. Literally. That old tuba in the closet is not going to play itself, Karen. Science says a hobby will likely make you happier, and social distancing will help keep us all healthier.
