Nothing like a global pandemic to put your life on hold. I’m now working from home, my favorite coffee shop is closed, my gym is closed due to government mandate, and large gatherings (including services at my church) are all banned until further notice.
A perfect recipe for stir-craziness.
If I want to avoid the slow, spiraling descent into madness, I obviously need to mitigate the stir-crazy somehow. (And you probably do too.)
Here’s my pandemic plan for mitigation:
SWEAT IT OUT
Not only do I have to make up for lack of gym access, but now I have to burn off all the crazy stuck-at-home jitters too. I’m relying on apps like Down Dog, Pinterest workouts (search “at-home” or “hotel” workouts for some good, low-equipment suggestions), and some classic bodyweight moves (squats, pushups, lunges, jumping jacks, repeat). Don’t forget about outdoor workouts – mixing in some outdoor runs, walking the dogs, and running stairs are all looking good right now.
TRY TO BUILD IN ROUTINE
Without many external forces helping us plan our schedules, we can wander around in circles all day long, bumping off of walls and coffee tables like the DVD symbol bumped off of the sides of the screen (some of you are young enough to not get that reference and I hate it). Try to build in some semblance of routine. Make your coffee, read the paper, whatever.
PUT DIGITAL LIBRARIES TO USE
I’ve expressed my love for apps like Hoopla and Libby before, but being sequestered away during a pandemic makes them even more valuable. You can sign up with your library card in order to have access to countless eBooks, audiobooks, magazines, and movies, all from the comfort of your bed.
PLAN FUN IN-HOME GATHERINGS
Gather your healthy friends and family together and plan stuff in people’s homes. Movie night, game night, build-your-own-ramen-bowl night. We don’t visit one another frequently enough anyway.
MAKE A LIST OF OUTDOOR SPACES YOU CAN VISIT
Why not take social distancing literally and head out and away from society? Parks, trails, and any other distant outdoor space are great options for both recreation and needed sunshine during this crisis.
We’ll get through this together and, hopefully, maintain our sanity.
KELVEY OLIVIA VANDER HART 