5 Things to Do During Self-Isolation
Being at home due to self-isolation is difficult for so many reasons. It can get lonely, it can feel suffocating, you can feel unproductive and the days start to seem boring and uneventful.
For myself, I often feel like I could be using all this free time to do something productive and creative, and then feel angry at myself when I instead turn to Netflix to binge watch yet another series.
It takes a lot of self-discipline, but here are 5 things I've personally tried to do during self-isolation.
1. Write in a diary or a creative journal
I've always written in diaries, drawn in sketch pads and brainstormed Youtube ideas in journals for as long as I can remember. You could also create a scrapbook.
In high school, I would create scrap books filled with concert tickets, magazine images and photos that I still look back on.
As for diaries, there is something soothing and therapeutic about putting pen to paper that you just can't get from typing on a computer or tapping on your phone screen.
During these strange times, I find that committing to writing in a daily diary is especially beneficial. It helps relax your mind and process your feelings, but it also lets you create a tangible record of your life that you will be thankful to look back on in the future. I've always found it entertaining to look back at a diary entry from years ago and empathize with what feels like a totally different person.
2. Play an instrument
Music, like any form of art, is a great way to relieve stress and focus your mind on something creative. Making Youtube videos has always been a hobby of mine, but most days, I don't have the drive or inspiration to write, film, edit and upload a polished video.
Therefore, I actually spend a lot of time just messing around on the piano, playing with chord progressions and singing the most recent Taylor Swift songs. If you've ever played an instrument, you know that practicing can feel like work, so I try to only play things I enjoy. Reading sheet music for example requires a lot of self-discipline and concentration, and most days, I'm just in the mood to belt out Disney tunes, so I'll do that.
Needless to say, playing an instrument is a great hobby that can shift your focus and make you feel like you're doing something productive.
3. Attempt a new recipe
Many people are taking this at-home time to bake and try out new recipes. I've definitely attempted (and failed) a few recipes I've seen online. Recently, I tried to make soufflé pancakes and ended up with flat, burnt, cakes. While the final result might have been a fail, I still enjoyed the process of trying something new. That's the real treat, more than the edible result!
4. FaceTime People You Haven't Spoken to in a While
Ironically, the coronavirus might have physically distanced people, but in many ways, it has brought people together more than ever. With everyone's growing desire to connect, I've found myself reaching out to people I normally wouldn't speak to on a regular basis. For example, my family recently had a group Facebook video chat, whereas we would normally only see each other for occasions like Christmas.
People have more free time now, so it's a great time to give old friends a call and catch up with them!
5. Read a book
When's the last time you actually read a book? It's the type of thing I usually do on vacation or over a long weekend, but rarely in the middle of the week. After a long day of work, and after preparing dinner, I hardly ever want to read during the small amount of free time I actually have. Now that free time is in abundance, it's the perfect time to pick up that New York Times bestseller you've been dying to read!
I recently finished a book called Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid, and am looking forward to picking up another current top seller!
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If nothing else, I would generally recommend that you try to take this time of self-isolation to nurture your neglected hobbies and foster your creativity. I know many people say it, but when do you ever get an occasion to actually devote time to your hobbies because you have too much free time? Of course, we're all looking forward to the day things go back to "normal," whatever that will look like, but we'll likely miss having so much time to ourselves in some capacity. Take advantage of it!