Being forced to stay at home in a quarantine state is driving everyone insane. If you are an outdoorsy person, like me, then you must be struggling to not roam freely without the feeling of paranoia that you may catch the virus.

It can be particularly difficult for those suffering from mental illnesses or those that feel a little low.  Having to really limit the amount of time spent outside, meeting friends, often even spending time with family can really impact the mental health of anyone.

For me, I have found it really difficult to compromise ‘me time’ which I would find at the gym or even just going out shopping for a browse. I have had to give those up and find ways in which I could fill in that lost time for myself.

In this blog post, I will talk about some of the things I have been doing to ensure that my quaranTIME (did you see what I did there?) was spent productively, and helped me to feel a little bit better.

 

Keep in Touch with Family and Friends 

Now it is more than ever to keep in touch with friends and family. For those of us that are more introverted, it would mean that we are even more isolated than before because we are having to work from home, which means that our social contact time has been drastically reduced.

I have found myself using social media quite a bit more than usual. I wouldn’t say that it the most productive way to spend your time. However, I find that it is the only way that I can keep in regular contact with my friends and family.

There are two new apps that I have recently come across that have been a really fun way to pass my time but also feel as if the socialising aspect of my day to day routine is being fulfilled.

I’m sure plenty of you are already aware of the app TikTok. I was quite sceptical of the app initially as when it was called Musical.ly as I found it to be quite annoying. However, now that I have downloaded it myself, I have found that it is quite an entertaining platform. I have found it to be quite uplifting particularly while self-isolating at home as there are people around the world that are trying to see the more humorous side to this ordeal. For those oldies that remember the app Vine (may it rest in peace) it is a very similar sort of user experience.

Though we must understand the seriousness of the illness that is spreading so fast, we must also take time out to put it into perspective too.

Remember it’s physical but not social distancing.

It’s okay to be unproductive.

I don’t know about you, but I for one have had enough of reading blog posts on how we must use this ‘free time’ to be productive and not waste any second. I find that this not only makes me panic, but also makes me feel as if I am wasting time.

 

“Staying safe is productive.”

Lets not forget that this time right now is something that we will (hopefully) never have to deal with again. For some this is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of situation. The reason why many of us are stuck at home is because we have to in order to save lives.

Yes, it is scary.

I find that the added pressure of having to be productive is perfect for those who don’t have children, elderly family members or have crippling mental or physical ailments. I am pretty sure those of you reading probably do have at least one of those aforementioned.

So my point is that this is a time for us all to get together, bond and take care of each other. It is important for us to all bare that in mind.

Yes if you can, use this time to better yourself. However, don’t feel the pressure if you spent the last six weeks not being productive. Taking care of family members/children is productive, working from home is productive. Staying safe is productive.

 

Cooking has kept me going

Since many of our favourite stores have been closed due to the Covid-19 outbreak, now more than ever, we are making our favourite dishes at home.

Whether it be banana bread, baked sourdough bread or a humble crumble, we’re all guilty of baking out of boredom.

Personally, I find it really therapeutic when I cook at times. Cooking with family members is as fun and can really lighten the mood during these tough times. It gives you something to look forward to and the satisfaction you feel when your food is actually tasty is amazing.

For anyone who loves a bit of Nandos and wants to try some at home, purchase the sauce (click here) and marinade some chicken wings in them then pan fry- thank me later!

 

Pop your trainers on!

For those who know me, know that I am a busy body. I struggle to sit still and really do not enjoy being stuck at home all day.

I have found myself taking time out, away from everything, to complete walks or runs a few times a week to ensure that I am getting sunlight, fresh air and some form of exercise since all gyms have closed down temporarily during the outbreak.

The reason why I recommend this is that being stuck indoors can really make us feel unmotivated, uninspired and often lethargic. For some, staying at home is bliss, but for some of us, particularly those who struggle with their mental health, it can be really challenging to stay at home.

I really urge you to take some time out for a brisk walk, not only will this get your heart pumping, but you will feel a lot better being out, particularly during daylight hours, and preferably somewhere with lots of grass.

Remember to follow the recommended guidelines when you are out at all times.

 

 

That’s all I have for now. I really hope you enjoyed reading this post. Do let me know how you have been spending quarantine.

Dont forget to join the mailing list so you can be notified whenever I post.

See you on the other side!

 

L

xx