15 Simple Things that You Can Do to Improve Your Quarantine Life
Take these small steps to gain growth and happiness at home.
With coronavirus cases soaring back up, we descended further into the depths of this stay-at-home life. It’s like swimming in the dark — no one seems to know when we would reach the shore. If you are ever feel tired or anxious, don’t worry. You are certainly not alone. According to the CDC, symptoms of anxiety and depression have increased considerably in the United States during the pandemic¹.
Rather than panicking about things outside of our control, we can take control over small things around us to shape our own journey. Here are some activities that you can enjoy to make your stay-at-home life better.
1. Perform a self assessment
How well do you know yourself? What gives you meaning in life? What’s your super power? What makes you happy? Taking time to reflect on the things that are important to you can help you live more fully. Track down your findings and see how they transform over time. If you don’t know where to start, you can borrow some help from character assessment tests like the VIA Character Strength Survey or self assessment frameworks like the Skills, Strengths, and Interests Worksheet.
2. Revamp your social media feed
Try starting fresh with a new YouTube account (or any other social media platforms that you are addicted to) and only follow content that you want to spend your time on. You can also actively train these platforms when you don’t think certain content as a good use of your time by reporting back “Not interested”. Don’t just click on something because you are bored or there are no other interesting content. It’s a vicious cycle that can impact the quality of your feed. Social media companies like YouTube and Instagram use all types of mental tricks to make you addicted to content which might not be useful for you. As such, you need to be proactive about shaping your own feed to decide how you want to spend your time.
3. Experience a new country over the weekend
Imagine a perfect weekend in Spain. You can stroll around Barcelona and learn about Gaudí’s master pieces. When it’s lunch time, try out some authentic seafood paella along with traditional Spanish Sangria. In the afternoon, take a Spanish speaking class or a Tapa cooking class. Then finish your night binging through Money Heist (Spanish crime tv series). You can fully immerse yourself in another country and simulate the travel experience at home! I have attached some example resources in the above around doing these things at home.
4. Learn about a new field every month
I’m sure you have many things you wish you know more about but haven’t had time for them yet. Start a list to track them down and make an effort to learn about one topic every month. For example, January can be about investing and February can be Behavioral Economics. You probably will not become an expert in just a month but these explorations can help you develop your interests and lead you to your passions
5. Enjoy a house party through social games
Do you miss having house parties with a bunch of friends? You can still do that in front of your devices. There are social games like Among Us and Codenames that help you re-unite with a group of friends and have a great time. Alcohol is BYOB.
6. Go on a movie date (virtually)
Movie theatres are probably not going to reopen in a while but that doesn’t mean you and your friend have to miss that fun. Serve yourself a Charcuterie with some nice Californian wine. Hit up your date to enjoy some classics together. Here are some resources to help you watch videos together virtually.
7. Dedicate time to unleash your creativity
Psychologists have found that engaging in creative activities contributes to an “upward spiral” of positive emotions². Creativity is a muscle. The more you practice it, the better it becomes. Find a form of creativity that works for you whether that’s writing, painting, crafting or vlogging. Dedicate an afternoon to it. You will be surprised how fun it can actually be.
8. Journal gratitude
Researchers have found that the secret behind happiness is feeling and showing gratitude. One proven practice to live happier is through gratitude journaling. In fact, after a month of daily journaling, participants showed a 10% increase in subjective happiness which is the same jump in happiness as if you doubled your income.³ Spend a couple minutes at the end of your day for your gratitude log. Here are some more detailed resources on how to do so.
9. Start an interest based chat group
Whether it’s sharing good books, movies or latest financial trends, find a group of friends who want to do the same. You can all share information between each other to explore those interests together. When in doubt, support from like-minded people will help you go a long way.
10. Do something nice every week
Find ways to brighten up people’s life around you. It doesn’t have to be very big favors. Maybe it is supporting your local restaurants by tipping a bit more or ordering a surprise delivery for your family living elsewhere. We will find joy not only when we receive but also when we give.
11. Set up an offline day
Try to isolate yourself from all the noises on your phone and dedicate some offline time just for yourself. Use this time to read a good book or take a hike. Those times will become natural meditation times that can help you to increase your self-awareness and focus on the present.
12. Create different playlists based on what you are doing
The line between work and life is very blurry these days because we do everything at home. If you are a music person though, one thing you can try is to create different playlists for different context. You can craft a work background music with Mozart or a vintage rock playlist for your pleasure reading. Playing different background music for different activities will act as a change of environment to help you context switch.
13. Take a morning run or a sunset walk
Enjoy the best part of your city in the golden hours. Setting up a routine like such does not only help you get your daily exercise but also forces you to take your eyes off your devices. You can also treat yourself with some some delicious smoothies or bakery on your way home.
14. Enjoy art and performances virtually
Many museums have started to host online exhibits you can enjoy on your couch such as the Van Gogh Museum and the Louvre. You can also find live shows and concerts to join virtually. The Billboard has an updated list that you can check out.
15. Reconnect with old friends that you lost touch with
I’m sure your friends are just as bored as you. This is a great time to catch up with them! Video calls are so easy that time and space can no longer be an excuse. Hit up some old friends that you miss and connect with them.
Lastly, happiness is earned, not given
Even though we seem to be swimming in this never ending darkness, the shore does exist. We will reach there eventually. We just need to keep moving forward.
References
- “Mental Health, Substance Use, and Suicidal Ideation During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, June 24–30, 2020.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 13 Aug. 2020, www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6932a1.htm.
- Gregoire, Carolyn. “Finding Time Each Day For Creativity Will Make You Happier.” HuffPost, HuffPost, 2 Dec. 2016, www.huffpost.com/entry/creativity-happiness-psychology_n_58419e0ce4b0c68e0480689a.
- Emmons, Robert A., and Michael E. Mccullough. “Counting Blessings versus Burdens: An Experimental Investigation of Gratitude and Subjective Well-Being in Daily Life.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, vol. 84, no. 2, 2003, pp. 377–389., doi:10.1037/0022–3514.84.2.377.
