A Dozen Ways to Make the Best of Quarantine

COVID-19.  The Coronavirus. A few weeks ago, many of us had never heard those terms.  Now not a day goes by that we don’t think about the virus.  Life has changed dramatically in a few short weeks.  We have been asked to stay at home except for the essentials.  And because of social distancing (another lovely new term), we cannot go to the gym for exercise.  Our routines are out of sync.  Maybe your kids are home and you’re homeschooling the rest of the year.  Maybe you’ve been laid off work because your business has been temporarily closed.  Or maybe you’re in the high risk category because of your age or low immunity to infection, so you must take extra precautions.

It occurred to me that maybe . . . this quarantine is a gift.  A mandatory time out to approach life in a new way.  What if instead of complaining, instead of arguing about politics, instead of focusing on our fears and anxieties — what if we found a way to make the most out of this extra time away from work and people and routine? What if we didn’t just exist or get through it, but we flourished?

As a result of that thought train, I came up with a list of ways to use this time well and not squander it on Netflix binges and social media.  And cookies. Maybe you could use a mandatory time out? Hope this list sparks some ideas for you. We can come out on the other side better than before.

Here’s my list:

1. Exercise indoors AND outdoors. My husband and I took a trip to Red River Gorge, Kentucky (pictured above) to get away from it all and go hiking. Social distancing at its best. We were safe and far from others, yet we had the chance to connect with God’s creation. Our souls and our marriage is refreshed as a result. Get outside, even if it’s just your backyard, and go for a walk. If your local parks are still open, you can go for a walk in new scenery and fresh air. For indoor exercise, many online companies are offering free workouts during this time. The YMCA has posted a slew of at-home programming. And Peleton and Nike are offering their workouts free for a limited period of time. This week my Crossfit gym, Crossfit Regeneration, has been holding classes through Zoom. And I was able to post a private workout through Youtube for my LIVESTRONG cancer survivor group.
2. Learn something new. You have time to learn the things you’ve always dreamed about knowing. Want to speak a new language? There are plenty of apps and options on the internet. How about dusting off that old sewing machine? I’ve discovered many of the basics from YouTube vloggers. How about learning to play an instrument? I’m thinking about sharpening my harmonica skills. Or what about professional development so you’ll be sharper than ever when the virus subsides? The options are endless with access to the internet.
3. Play board games with your family. When is the last time you played Scrabble, Yahtzee or dominoes? Games are a great connecting point, because they elicit conversation and laughter. One of my favorite new games is Utter Nonsense — a game where you have to say a phrase in a chosen accent — like “pirate” or “British” or “grandpa”. My abs hurt from laughing so hard the last time I played with friends.
4. Deepen your spirit. Maybe you’ve thought about praying or meditating more? Prayer deepens your connection to God, increases peace and reduces your anxiety. I feel less helpless when I take my anxieties and give them to an all-powerful God. I have been praying for our leaders — that they can let go of political agendas and focus on the welfare of our nation. I have been praying that God will heal the people infected with COVID-19 and that scientists discover viable ways to stop its spread. I’ve been praying for our medical workers, who are sleep-deprived and isolated, stepping in harms way daily. And I’ve been praying that God will use this situation to draw us closer together — to change our families, our nation and our world. No matter who or where you are, the Creator of the universe wants to hear from you. Prayer has helped me remember that God is bigger than this situation, because I’m focused on who He is, and not on my own capabilities.
5. Cook and share meals with your family. Since restaurants are closed except for takeout, I have cooked more dinners in the last two weeks than I have in a lifetime. It’s been rewarding because my family appreciates my efforts. You may not be able to find much meat, but produce is still surprisingly abundant. People have been stockpiling canned soup and flour (a mystery to me), but skipping the greens and fresh fruit. So instead of opening a can of soup or attempting to bake homemade bread, try cracking open some of those old cookbooks gathering dust on the shelf, and make something healthy from scratch. When people sit down together for a meal, they share stories, connect and share life. Relationships are enriched. If you live on your own and need company, my daughter Elizabeth, a food blogger (Tastemakerblog), came up with the idea of an online dinner party. Make your own food and schedule a Zoom meeting when you can dine together live online.
6. Get dirty. Grow a garden. It’s not only great exercise, you’re growing things you can use. I enjoy being able to snip off a few sprigs of oregano or basil to throw into a marinara sauce. Or grabbing a handful of warm grape tomatoes to throw into a salad. I even have a pear tree — but no partridges! Gardening is also my meditation. I love being barefoot in the dirt and connecting with the earth. Just breathing in the air outdoors renews my spirit. The smell of black soil — spring onions — blooming pear trees — they are aromatherapy for the soul.
7. Find new ways to have fun. We need laughter now more than ever. My daughter Elizabeth, is a pro at this. She has been doing Corona Karaoke on her Instagram, Tastemakerblog, and she’s taking requests! She’s singing away the blues with songs like, “I Will Survive” and “Hand in My Pocket”. Maybe you can think of some other ways to have fun: build a pillow fort with your kids, camp out on the back porch, turn on the music and dance like no one is watching. Or have an online dance party. Suggestions, anyone?
8. Read books. I bet some of you have piles of books that you intended to read, but just never got around to cracking open. Now is your chance to turn off the TV and social media, and start reading again. You can read fiction to escape this crazy world if only for a moment. Or read non-fiction self-help books to better yourself. Right now I’m reading “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, and it’s life-changing. If you have children at home, read to them. Maybe even read a classic together — like “Black Beauty” or “Little Women” or “Robin Hood”? Or try reading to your spouse. “The Antelope in the Living Room” by Melanie Shankle is a great read-aloud book for couples.
9. Declutter and Clean. It’s time to Marie Kondo your home. You’re going to be inside quite a bit the next few weeks, so why not make it a place of peace and safety? What a better time to get rid of all the old clutter that’s been piling up? Set a timer, and take 15 minutes a day to focus on one small area. For example, choose the junk drawer or a small closet, and throw away or give away anything you’re not using and don’t care about. Be sure to declutter before you clean, because you can’t clean around clutter. For more tips, go to Flylady.net, a free cleaning and organizational site that has helped me establish good organizational and cleaning habits.
10. Kindness each day keeps the blues away. Make an effort to do at least one kind thing a day for someone else. When you take the focus off of yourself, you’re less likely to be depressed, and you may brighten someone else’s day. Call or text a friend who you suspect is lonely during quarantine. Hand-write a note and send via snail mail (so old-school!) to an elderly person. Send a meal to someone through Grubhub. Leave a package of toilet paper on someone’s doorstep (this is perhaps the only time you can TP your neighbor when it won’t be deemed vandalism). Support your local restaurants by ordering takeout. Servers and restaurant personnel need the income right now more than ever.
11. Get in touch with your creative side. I’ve been writing, obviously. I also have a stash of markers, colored pencils and a sketchbook which I intend to use this week. There’s nothing like a blank page for inspiration! What’s your artistic outlet? You have opportunity to create these next few weeks. How about painting with watercolor? Maybe you like working with your hands and have wanted to make a birdhouse? Or you’ve wanted to write poetry but never had the time? Or you’ve wanted to re-furbish those old shelves to transform them into something beautiful. Now’s your chance.
12. Plan for your future. We have a hope and a future. This virus will not last forever, and when it subsides, be ready with what’s next. Take some time to set goals and intentions for what you’re going to do to make the most out of life when we are in the clear. Many of you may not be able to return to the same jobs, but perhaps this is a wake-up call to try something new? Now is the time to start forming a strategy for how you will embrace your future. Perhaps after doing some of the things on the list above, you’ll discover a new hobby or passion. And who knows, maybe this quarantine challenge will spark us to embark on a brighter, better future.