Making The Most Of Isolation
Most, if not all of us are in a really unusual situation. If you live in any major city at the moment, the thought of leaving the house is a bit scary. While what’s most important is to stay at home and stay healthy, this can lead to feelings of fear and isolation.
So, here are a few simple ways to make the most of this unusual time…
Tidy Up
First and foremost, it’s important to tidy up your living space. Most of us are going to be spending a lot of time at home for the foreseable future, so it’s important to create a living space that is conducive to a healthy and productive lifestyle. I spent this past weekend doing all of my laundry, making sure that everything is put away where it needs to be, and deep cleaning my apartment. Going beyond just tidying, I’ve also made an extra effort to create a warm and inviting space that is extremely comfortable. I got out all of my candles and cozy blankets, and did my best to create a space that I feel completely comfortable in.
Come up with some At Home Hobbies
You’re going to be at home a lot, so you may as well make the best of it. Use this as a time to pick up a new hobby, or dive into a passion of yours. Over the next few weeks, I plan spending lots of time reading, journaling, blogging, and working to improve my existing platforms. I also picked up some puzzles and board games to keep me occupied.
Do Your Best To Stay Active
Depending on where you live, this one may be a little bit tricky, but it really is important. Maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle is a crucial for your own happiness and wellbeing, so it really should remain a priority. Although in many places, going to the gym or work out classes isn’t an option at the moment, there are tons of other resources out there. I’m a huge fan of online workouts, so I’ll definitely be adding more to my routine over the next few weeks. Additionally, I recently signed up for a promo offer for P.volve, which is an at home pilates program. I’ve subscribed to it in the past and loved it, but there are tons of free resources out there as well. I’ll link some of my favorite workout channels here:
One of my favorites by far — this channel was started by Shannon Nadj, who is the founder of my favorite pilates studio in LA: Hot Pilates. If you know me, you know that I’m obsessed with Hot Pilates, so this is obviously a must. If you can’t make it to a class at the studio, this truly is the next best thing.
Another favorite of mine. I used to do Blogilates workouts religiously, but stopped when I started attending workout classes. Now that I’m going to be spending more time at home though, I’m definitely going to start up with these videos again!
10 Minute Ab Workout w/ Alexis Ren
A killer ab routine. This is the perfect workout to do if you’re wanting something quick yet effective. This routine can be done in under 10 minutes, but will leave your abs burning… trust me!
*I also love her Beach Butt Workout… Do these two videos back to back, and you have a full body workout in under 30 mins*
If you feel comfortable doing so, also try to get outside and go for walks or hikes as much as possible. Take advantage of the outdoors if you have access, and get as much fresh air as possible.
Stay Productive
It’s important to remember that altough a lot of us are working or doing school from home at the moment, we’re not on vacation. Carve out time during the day to work, and create a designated space to sit down and do so. I live in a pretty small apartment, and don’t have an office, so my dining room table has become an impromtu “office” space for the time being. Additionally, I’m anticipating that it’s going to be more difficult to shut work off at the end of the day now that I won’t be going in and out of an office, so I’m really going to try to implement my regular 9-5 work window, and try to shut everything off after that time period.
Keep Calm
Finally, do your best to relax and remain calm. A lot of people are freaking out at the moment, and while this situation should not by any means be taken lightly, it’s creating a really chaotic panic culture that isn’t really benefitting anyone. Do your part in prepping for the worst, but also try your best to remain hopeful and wish for the best. None of us really know what the next few weeks or months may hold, so the best thing that we can do at this point is to just keep calm and collected. Use all of the tips I mentioned as ways to ground yourself during this unpredictable time. Finally, do your part to maintain your own health and to look out for others, and have faith that things will work out in the end.
Stay safe.
xx,
seb.
