10 Ways to Stay Sane During Quarantine Life
1) Find little ways to make your home a happier place.
A few days ago, I went with a neighbor/ friend to a local boutique in the neighborhood to buy some new candles. Purchase several so you can switch up your scents every other day, so you don’t get tired of them. Buy flowers from a local shop and place them near your workspace, so you have something beautiful to look at.
2) Discover new WFH playlists.
As soon as I wake up, playing a calming station is one of the first things I do. My favorite station while working is “Lo-fi Beats” on Spotify. I’ve also received “Chill Cow” as a playlist recommendation.
3) Have a daily routine!
Set the alarm. Take a shower and get dressed. Make breakfast. Continue your skin regime. Keep that routine in place for your mental health.
4) Get that workout in! Coronavirus is not an excuse to be a couch potato.
I plan on allocating 30- 60 minutes a day to leave the house to do an outdoor workout or an at-home workout. Find stairs to do stadiums. Go to the park. Download an at-home workout app.
5) Eat smart, but make it fun!
Remember, calories still count during quarantine life. Practice portion control. Try to stock up on healthy snacks but allow room to diversify the menu. I signed up for a promo with Home Chef for 3 weeks of meals with $35 off each box. It ended up coming to around $45 each box after the discount and was a total of 3 meals meals totaling 6 servings for 1 person. It made cooking and eating a lot more fun! Discount sign up link here.
I’ve also discovered fun/ healthy/ easy snacks to make at home. My 3 new fave snacks are listed below with the ingredients. Taste test as you go. Measurements may vary.
Vanilla Avocado Spinach Smoothie
1/2- a full avocado
1-2 scoops of vanilla protein powder
1-2 handfuls of spinach
1 tablespoon of agave or honey
1-2 cups of almond or oat milk
Blend it all up! Consistency should be smooth & creamy.
Homemade Berry Chia Pudding
1/2 cup of chia seeds
1/2 - 1 cup of frozen or non-frozen berries ( any kind of berry works)
2 tablespoons of shredded coconut (not required)
3 tablespoons of honey or agave
2 teaspoons of cinnamon
1-2 cups of almond or oat milk
2 teaspoons of sugar (not required)
a drop or two of vanilla extract (not required)
Blend it all up and let sit in the fridge for a minimum of 4 hours before eating!
Vanilla Almond Butter Bananas
Rx vanilla almond butter ( any almond butter works but this one is my fave)
One banana
Slice banana into little pieces and make mini sandwiches out of the banana and almond butter. Let sit in freezer for 10 minutes before eating.
6) Call someone you haven’t spoken to in a while to catch up on life and/ or call your family more often.
Remind the important people in your life how much you love them. A lot of us depend on our phones as a screen barrier to catch up on someone’s life. Now that external distractions are at an all-time low, use this time to actually pick up the phone! My grandma is currently in a nursing home on lock down. As a safety precaution, visitors are not allowed. I know she is bored out of her mind, so I plan on calling her at least three times a week to catch up with her, even if it’s only for 2 minutes.
7) If you’re single, have facetime dates. #LOVEISQUARANTINED
Drink wine while getting to know each other. Start a new show together and then use the show as a conversation starter on your date. @dudes this is a money-saving GAME CHANGER! No current prospects? No problem. Download a dating app like Bumble or Hinge to get the ball rolling.
8) Use this time to unleash your untapped brainpower!
Find a new hobby. Learn a new language. Read a new book. I just so happen to know an excellent adulting book that came out a few months ago called Life Lessons College Failed to Teach You. Available to purchase here.
9) Get financially fit!
This is an important one. Right now, tomorrow’s economy is so uncertain. My generation (Millenials) and younger have never lived through a recession as an adult, and it’s scary! Know what’s going on with your money. I’m embarrassed to admit I only recently I discovered my APY on my savings account was only .01%. I moved all of my savings to a cash reserve savings account on Betterment with a 1.52% APY (This APY is variable and will fluctuate. Based on the Federal Reserve lowering it’s target interest rate, your APY will reflect this) so that I can make my money work harder. I also starting researching individual stocks to invest in. When it comes to stock investing, I’d recommend not using the money you will need to rely on in the next 5 years. Start small. Do you have an IRA? Allocate some of that money while stock prices are lower than usual. Since we have more time until retirement, our generation can take more risks with our money. For those that are temporarily out work, see if there are remote ways you can make money that require zero experience. Are there available transcribing or customer support jobs available that allow you to work from home?
*As a friendly disclaimer, I am not a financial advisor nor a stock analyst so if you decide to invest in something stupid and it doesn’t work out for you, please do not come and find me.*
10) Remember to be a good citizen.
While none of us want to catch the coronavirus, remember to be kind during this time. We are all still human. If you’re able to donate to a charity, donate. If your neighbor needs a few Lysol wipes, share them (lord knows they’re sold out everywhere). Just be sure you take precautionary measures. If you’re planning on going to the grocery store, ask them if they need anything. Let’s all make sure we remain considerate during these challenging times.
Remember, this is only a moment in time. Don’t ignore your mental or physical health.
Thinking of you all!
-B