Give a man the unwarranted liberty of Netflix and binge eating, and he will be happy for a day. Yet do the same thing, under credence of law and social responsibility, and he will be miserable until the government says otherwise.
To say the least, we are living in interesting times. To say the most, this pandemic is the most significant event of the 21st century, and likely the most insane occurrence that anyone under 50 has ever experienced.
There are two ways we can choose to look at the 2020 Covid-19 Quarantine. Option 1) Let it swallow you into a pit of gloom and despair while you recount memories of a life under control, or option 2) Control what you can, and make the most out of your resources. Oh right, there’s also option 3) Stock up on obscene amounts of toilet paper so you can be sure to use the john 182 times per day.
Though option 1 is perhaps the easiest, what’s easy is never fun. Unless, you’re taking candy out of a toddlers hands. I’m kidding, relax. In this article I want to highlight the importance of option 2 – how you can get ahead mentally, physically, and spiritually, to prepare for the day when this new-age apocalypse is over.
1) Learn a New Skill
Skill acquisition is a meticulous discipline that requires focus, tenacity, and a rigorous work ethic. And what better way to learn when you are forced into the confines of your home with no external stimuli to entertain yourself?
Learning can be about as fun as trying to turn on your lamp through telekinesis (I don’t judge). But if you are going to be staring into the abyss of the unknown anyway, acquiring an asset doesn’t sound that bad of a bargain.
There are millions, if not, gazillions of tutorials on platforms like YouTube or Google that can teach you virtually anything you wish to learn, from winning chess in 4 moves to building epic, illegal Beyblades. Not bad.
2) Read
This trend, or otherwise put, this government legislation of “social distancing” has created possibly the most ideal environment for reading you have ever encountered. On an unrelated note, it is also a match-made in heaven for deep-rooted introverts.
Social isolation is to reading as Tom is to Jerry – you simply cannot have one without the other. Pick up a book that has been collecting dust, or order one from amazon. The benefits of reading are vastly worthwhile:
- Mental stimulation
- Reduce your stress
- Expand your vocabulary
- Improve your memory
- Enhance your focus & concentration
- Improve your writing
- A pleasurable experience in itself
3) Meditation
Inevitably you will be spending a lot of time at home over the next few weeks. Whether you are alone, with a partner, or have a family of 12 screaming children, chances are you will be quite bored.
Meditation is one of, if not, the best way to become familiar with yourself, your goals, and your aspirations. It’s the one place where you can go to and have a proper conversation with yourself. Think about it – how often do you intentionally sit down and consider what’s going on upstairs?
Coincidentally, clarity of mind is not the only benefit that derives from breathing in rhythmic fashion. Meditation helps:
- Regulate anxiety & stress
- Enhance emotional intelligence
- Improve attention span
- Increase happiness
- Expand your awareness
- Enhance your immune system
4) Pursue Old Hobbies
Understandably, your hobbies are limited to the one’s you can perform in isolation. Now is not the time to pick back up book club at Brenda’s.
But I’m sure, however, if you dig deep down through the archives of your conscience, you’ll find an isolated activity you once deemed enjoyable, worthwhile, and fascinating. Pick up that old guitar, that dusty paintbrush, or your exquisite rock-collection, and go nuts.
5) Journal
The object of Journaling, as I view it, is to release the intangibles of your mind into a tangible place. Conveniently, pandemics make for great inspiration.
Journaling is a release, and thus you should not confine yourself to any sort of rigid structure, tidiness, or logic that precedes your level of comfort. Isn’t that funny – that’s exactly how you are living right now!
Quarantine’s are lonely and stressful. A journal can act as a place where you can give your mind something to have fun with and let it run free. Some benefits of journaling include:
- Organize your thoughts
- Improve your writing
- Set and track goals
- Relieve stress
- Boost creativity
- Improve your memory
- Increase self-awareness
6) Plan Ahead
Unless a zombie apocalypse is on the menu in the near future (which to be fair, I’m still not ruling out), life will return back to equilibrium.
While everyone is resting, relaxing, and social distancing, now is your time to get ahead. If you have ever considered building something – a website, a business, a portfolio, an intergalactic empire – consider brainstorming immediately.
It’s also likely that your job (or future job) security is under extreme scrutiny. If your finances were already stressful, they will probably get even worse. Making a cash budget for the rest of 2020 is not the most terrible idea.
Lastly, it’s important to consider the value of the free time you have right now. Give yourself an honest thought as to how you wish to live the next 1, 3, 5, or even 10 years of your life. Eventually, this period of free-ranging thought will disappear.
In unison with the previous 5 exercises, start planning now. You may not be able to control the pandemics of life, but you can always control how you react to them.