Shaping The New Normal Routine
A lot of us are trying to navigate our way through social distancing and self quarantining. It can be a weird and confusing time, but like many, I am trying to do what I can to find ways to cope while trying to flatten the curve by staying indoors. With so many things in the outside world being out of our control, it is important to be mindful of what we can control. Here are a few ideas (and resources) on what to do while at home
Declutter
Making your space at home feel clean and fresh can help you feel more calm and productive in your space. Knowing where to start organizing is a common roadblock so make a list of areas and specific things you want to declutter or clean. This can help you mitigate any feeling of being overwhelmed and help you focus on tasks and goals that are attainable, so that you feel accomplished when you are done and can focus on the next task.
Check out this article by the LA Times with tips on how to declutter your home.
Discover New Music
Whether you want to have a chill night in or an at home dance party, there is no better time to discover new artists. If you have Spotify, take advantage of the “Made for You” feature and listen to “Your Release Radar” or “Your Discover Weekly” for some new finds. If you have Apple Music, look through the “For You” feature to find new music curated for you!
Here are my go-to feel good playlists that I always listen to when I want to be in a good mood:
Journal
This is a moment in history, and as we are all swimming through uncharted waters right now, writing down your thoughts can help make sense of this new experience.
Here is a list of 30 journal prompts to write about during quarantine:
Here are super creative questions you can either journal about, simply ask yourself, or use as a conversation starter with friends and family!
Take an Online Class, Webinar, etc
So many online businesses are currently providing their services free of charge for an allotted period of time during quarantine. Here are a few free classes being offered that I’ve been tuning into:
Style Your Space: Creative Tips and Techniques for Interior Design
SkillShare (take advantage of their free trial)
Yale offering their course The Science of Well Being for free
The Science Science of Well-Being
School16 is offering live, remote classes every week for free, focusing on learning about careers in tech like product management, sales, operations and more.
Meditate
During the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, anxiety is on the rise for many people. With social distancing, this is a great time to turn inward and practice mindfulness meditation. All you need is 5 minutes and a quiet space! (Tip, use your headphones so that you can block out all other noise)
On Spotify I listen to Purely Being Guided Meditation:
I also have been following Claudia Mirallegro’s meditation and yoga series on Instagram which has been absolutely lovely!
Get physical
When we engage in high intensity workouts, the body and brain produce hormones and neurotransmitters that have a positive impact on your mood, memory, energy levels, and sense of well-being. Whether it be a long walk, or an at home workout, use the extra time we have now to get a sweat in! I have been loving the Nike Training Club app which has waived their fee during quarantine and have amazing programs and workouts available.
Corepower Yoga and Peloton have hopped on board too:
Read
This is the time to read that book that has been staring at you from the shelf for months.
If you don’t have any books you want to read readily available, read an article!
Here’s one I just finished reading:
Brush Up on Languages
In response to quarantine several language-learning websites are unlocking their paid features for the near future.
Start A New Show
With Tiger King, Love is Blind, La Casa De Papel, Ozark, and so many others being international phenomenons right now, these shows have been a major topic of conversation during quarantine.
If you’ve already seen them, here’s a list of potential new shows:
Cook Your Comfort Food
You can cook something you love to eat or try experimenting with a new recipe.
I’ve been trying out these super easy recipes that don’t require too many fancy ingredients:
74 Cheap And Easy Dinner Recipes So You Never Have To Cook A Boring Meal Again
Stretch More
Everyone can learn to stretch, regardless of age or flexibility. You don’t have to dedicate a huge amount of time to it, but stretching each morning has helped me feel less sluggish from being indoors so much!
Here are:
Disconnect From the Noise
Whether it’s emails, the news, or social media, try and reduce the amount of content you consume that adds to fear or anxiety. There is a fine line between staying informed and letting it take over. Disconnect if you need to and remember that it’s also okay to do nothing for a few days! To be lazy and enjoy this extra time of rest without being pulled into anxiety and stress about not being productive. It’s normal and we are all in this together.
I’ve been following an account on Instagram called The_Happy_Broadcast that gives me some anxiety free news from all around the world for when I want to stay connected without having it overwhelm me.
