Ten Different Things To Do While in Quarantine

By: Bella Aldridge

It has been almost 6 months since COVID-19 shut down the U.S. There have been a few exceptions, but for the most part people stay indoors.

Throughout the break, quarantine has felt less and less like vacation. People now are starting to dread the idea of staying home.

Calvin See, ’23 says “I [knew this was] going to happen… not only to school, but to the whole world.”

He remembered thinking, “This is kinda awesome we are out of class now. But now that I [remember] the things and people from school, I miss [them].” 

Presleigh Anderson, ’23 is yet another sophomore who has been impacted by COVID-19. Anderson says, “I didn’t think too much of it, and I thought we were gonna go back. Then months passed and I was getting nervous.”

With uncertainty of when the state will open again, people have had the daily question of, “What am I going to do today?” The following are 10 different things that individuals can do or learn while in quarantine.

1. WRITE/KEEP A JOURNAL

This could be done on a computer, phone, and/or the traditional style notebook. When writing in a journal, you can write down your thoughts and feelings. It is important to list different things you are thankful for. Jotting down a to-do list can be very beneficial and help you to be more productive. Even just 10-15 minutes a day of journaling can help give you a boost of confidence, motivation, and a sense of direction. 

2. LEARN TO PLAY AN INSTRUMENT

As mentioned earlier, Anderson says that she has used the time at home to do different things, one being more time practicing playing the piano. She has learned to play “Bohemian Rhapsody, some Muse music, and David Bowie.” It has been proven that playing an instrument can help increase your memory. Playing an instrument can also help fix posture, and relieve you of stress. Likewise, when playing an instrument, you build up concentration, time management, reading and listening skills.

3. CREATE A WORKOUT ROUTINE

See mentioned that he has been working out more. He said that he’s been waking up early to go on morning runs and lifting weights. “Since this corona thing has happened, I’ve had more time to focus on myself and being with family.” Working out can give people a sense of accomplishment and motivation. Eating healthy and working out can change you even if you start off by little changes.

4. READ A BOOK

During Quarantine, people have almost the whole day to devote themselves to a certain thing. When reading a book, your stress lowers and your memory can be improved. There are different genres, so everyone has a different choice. You can read a hard copy book or you can listen to books on the internet.

5. REACH OUT TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS

With COVID-19, it is best to stay 6 feet apart. With phones, you can call or facetime your friends and family, and see how they are doing. You could look back on different times throughout your relationship. You could also set up a time to see each other, when safe, or just hang out virtually.

6. LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE

Learning a new language can take a lot of memory and devotion. With Quarantine, people have a lot of time to try new things and learn different languages. It is good to learn different languages, as it can help you talk to family members that may only speak a certain language. There are different ways to learn, such as family and friends’ help. There are also different free apps that you can use on your phone like Duolingo.

7) FIX YOUR SLEEPING SCHEDULE 

With almost everything closed, people tend to stay up later and wake up later. It is good to get a solid 8 hours of sleep every night. Putting away screens 30 minutes before you go to bed and when you wake up can also help you get the best sleep possible. Even something as little as turning off your phone at night can help, as it eliminates the number of distractions that a phone can cause.

8) PRACTICE PHOTOGRAPHY
Taking pictures and working on your photography skills does not have to be something expensive. You can take pictures by simply just using your phone and still get a good picture. Practicing photography can help you see the beauty and nature that surrounds us. 

9) WORK ON PUZZLES

This is something that I have personally started to do while in quarantine. It is something I can do with my family. Working on a puzzle can help boost your memory skills as well. When finishing a puzzle, you may feel happy and proud of what you have accomplished. It is good to see how each puzzle piece is important for the big picture. It is good to do this daily or even just once a week. 

10) START A GARDEN

Starting a garden could be a good way to bond with friends or family members. It can be tedious work at first, but once a few weeks pass, it will be a regular routine. Once the fruits/vegetables/plants have began to grow, you will be satisfied with your work! 

Tags: #Covid-19, #redwood, #rhs, #thingstodo