If you are like many people who have been quarantined in their houses for the past few weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you have probably had a little anxiety in conjunction with a lot of boredom. What happens when there is nothing left in your watch queue on Netflix? And Facebook memes are no longer as entertaining as they used to be? Or, if you are like me, you just simply do not want to watch one more docuseries on Hulu?
Quarantine fatigue is real. Dr. Syon Bhanot defines quarantine fatigue in a New York Times article as “exhaustion and waning discipline surrounding the restrictions to daily life needed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus,” agreeing with the fact that staying home can become boring, and stressful. Listed below are a few things to keep yourself busy and sane during these times, other than screen time.
Explore your neighborhood
I live in Elmont, NY, which will soon become the new home of the Belmont Park Arena. Pictured above is the construction site along Hempstead Turnpike. In recent developments of the coronavirus, Dr. Oz announced that people with vitamin D deficiency are more likely to die from the virus. Vitamin D deficiency is especially prevalent to occur now due to low to no sun exposure while indoors. One of the best ways to get vitamin D, and much needed exercise, is to go for a walk around your neighborhood. Dr. Michael Roizen recommends at least 15 minutes in the sun a day.
Productive reading
If you are like me, I enjoy a good murder mystery book or an inspirational medical novel. I also however, think it is important to read educational and self-help books. One of my addictions is going to Barnes and Nobles and buying more books than I can get through. Try to pick up a book that can teach you something new, or if you are feeling stressed, something that will help you to cope. Reading just 20 minutes a day can help improve your vocabulary and even reduce stress.
Pick up a new hobby
Diamond painting is a reinvented “paint by color” that uses gems instead of paint. If you like word searches, puzzles, and adult coloring, this is something you should try. You can do it in silence, while watching television or listening to music, and it will definitely keep you entertained for hours on end. The best part is, once you are done, you can frame it and use it as new house decoration. You can also try teaching yourself how to crochet or doing DIY projects around the house. There is almost nothing that can’t be found on Amazon and or taught on YouTube these days.
Taking a closer look at nature
Pictured above is a wild purple dead-nettle plant that was growing in my yard. Before this year, I had never seen this flower grow in the yard before and had no idea what it was. It ended up becoming a whole research project for me. One of the facts however with this quarantine is that nature is having a chance to heal. I don’t know if it is because we have been inside so long, or if I just never paid attention before, but nature has been blossoming really beautifully this spring. I even watched some birds in the yard a few mornings eating worms, something I have never done before. Exploring nature and actually paying attention can definitely reduce stress, and it gets you off the couch and out of those pajamas.
Try a new recipe
One of my favorite snacks is fried ravioli, but I have never imaged making it myself. The ravioli was store bought and I looked up online on how to properly bread and fry them. They came out delicious! This is definitely something you can do, especially if you are missing eating out like me. The internet has a plethora of tips and recipes to discover.
The A Word 