When you’re ill or have come into contact with someone who is, quarantining for a certain period of time is the best way to protect others from catching the illness.
However, human beings are social creatures. We’re wired to crave connection with others and missing out on those connections for an extended amount of time can be hazardous to our health.
That said, just because you’re in quarantine doesn’t mean you have to give up on your mental health. Now, quarantine is never going to be enjoyable. But by taking part in a few quarantine activities, you’ll find that it’s easier to get through than if you were to simply lie in bed for days at a time.
Knowing what to do during quarantine can make all the difference! Keep reading to learn more.
1. Keep Up With Loved Ones Online While Quarantining Alone
Social media is a double-edged sword. When you’re in quarantine, it can be extremely helpful to keep up with your friends and family online. But be careful not to spend all day, every day scrolling on your phone or computer.
Catching up via social media is good in small doses, but can do more harm than good if you spend too much time on your favorite app. Instead of the endless scrolling, use social media to have meaningful conversations with loved ones and then switch to a different activity.
2. Read a Book
There’s nothing better than getting lost in a different world through reading. Although you’re still alone as you read, you’ll give your imagination the opportunity to run wild, helping to combat the negative feelings of loneliness.
Opening a book allows you to have any type of adventure you like in your mind, even if your body is stuck at home.
There’s also the option of reading non-fiction. You can learn about any topic you’re interested in or download an inspirational autobiography or self-help book. The possibilities are endless!
3. Start a Gratitude Journal
A gratitude journal is an excellent idea, both for a quarantine activity and something that you do in your normal everyday life.
Being lonely during quarantine is tough to deal with, without question. But if you remind yourself of everything you’re grateful for, even in this difficult situation, you’ll be amazed by how much better you feel.
Once a day, and whenever you feel yourself getting particularly low, break out your gratitude journal. In it, list 3-5 things that you’re thankful for having in your life. Yes, you’re in quarantine, you might even be ill, but you have a roof over your head, you have a body that’s able to fight off sickness, and you have people who love you.
4. Do Something Creative
As mentioned above, getting your creativity flowing is a great way to counteract the negative feelings that come with isolation. This can be anything from drawing to painting to playing a musical instrument. There’s no wrong answer here – anything that flexes your creative muscle is fine.
And don’t stop there. Connect with other people by sharing your artwork online. You can post your artwork to social media or a community centered specifically around art.
If you go with the latter option, you’ll have the opportunity to accept comments from other artists and give them your thoughts on their work as well. This is a fantastic opportunity to make new friends while sharpening your creative skills.
5. Learn a New Skill
Speaking of skills, why not use your time in quarantine to learn a new one? Think of something you’ve always wanted to learn, but have never been able to find the time to do it.
Thanks to the internet, you can learn just about anything free of charge. If you’re serious about a subject, you can even find free college classes online from prestigious schools such as Harvard!
Or, with a quick YouTube search, you can find videos giving detailed instruction on everything from baking to woodworking to learning a new language.
6. Do a Home Workout During Quarantining Alone
Obviously, if you’re ill, what you need most is to rest. However, if you’re in quarantine due to contact with a sick person but aren’t actually sick yourself, it’s a good idea to keep up with your fitness at home.
Remember, you should be getting at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week, even if you’re stuck in your house.
You can do some research on home workouts and build a routine yourself or search online for workout videos and online classes. Better yet, join a fitness group online!
You can get social by chatting with other people trying to improve their physical fitness while improving your own. All while keeping yourself and others safe through quarantining.
7. Check Out Dating Apps
As long as you and your virtual dates agree that social distance dates are your only option for the near future, you can meet new people and have exciting conversations using a dating app. You never know, you might meet the person of your dreams while chatting virtually with someone on your couch!
Or, if you find it difficult to be charming via text, you can opt for phone chatlines during quarantine instead. These allow you to talk to people on the phone rather than typing out your conversations.
Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. At worst, you leave quarantine having had a few interesting interactions and fun conversations.
Protect Your Mental Health With These Quarantine Activities
Quarantining is a necessity for many, but that doesn’t make it easy. And even for the most introverted person, prolonged self-isolation is a danger to good mental health.
It can be tempting to allow yourself to slide into unhealthy routines, but make a point to do something for yourself every day. By participating in a few quarantine activities, you can help to protect yourself from damage to your emotional, mental, and physical health.
Looking for more tips for keeping your mental health in check? Be sure to check out our blog!
