We’re all quarantined…now what?
As you may know, I was supposed to be on a River Cruise. We flew into Amsterdam to the cancellation. I don’t do well with change. That was the first trigger of my anxiety. In short, we ended up coming home early.. Having to re-plan our vacation created that “punched in the stomach” feeling. Now after days of my cat hiding under the floorboards of my girlfriends apartment, (don’t ask) we’re quarantined. It’s only been one true day of this for me and I’m freaking out. I could be getting rid of clutter, cleaning out the refrigerator, writing, taking courses etc… I’m overwhelmed, and not knowing the end date of all this doesn’t help. To try and reel myself in, I need to take some action and not sit in the anxiety. This is what I’m doing to calm myself, reduce my anxiety, and stave off the cabin fever.
Meditation
I talk about this a lot, but meditation helps me more than so many other things do. I sit in a quiet, dark, room and use a meditation app to help guide me through. There’s also plenty of guided meditations on YouTube if you search for them. You can also just use calming music, affirmations, or chants that speak to you.
Make a List
The amount of things to do at home is infinite, and I’ve never been overwhelmed by it before. What I’m going to do is write everything out I think I can get done in the next week; no more, no less. That way I’m not thinking too far ahead and I can then prioritize what needs to be done first. Start with the one thing that’s most important to do now, then move on to the next one. Once your week is done and you’re still in quarantine, repeat the above. This can make your quarantine and anxiety seem much smaller.
Get Outside!
Go for a walk outside! Yes you can still go for a walk under a “Shelter in Place” order. Get some fresh air and take some time to just feel the wind and sun on your face. Don’t think about what you could be doing. Taking a relaxing walk around your neighborhood could put things into perspective for you once you return to your home and what you need to get done.
If you can’t go walk outside, open the windows up a bit to let the fresh air in. I don’t know why, but it tends to allow me to breathe a little easier and calms my nerves. Even if it’s cold, just open them a crack for a few minutes. Fresh air can do wonders for the monkey brain and anxious attitude.
Take it One Room at a Time
If making a list causes you anxiety, you can always start one room at a time. Does your bathroom need cleaning and reorganizing? Go at it and don’t stop in there until you’re finished and satisfied. The satisfaction of completing a project can settle anxiety and make you feel good about the progress you’re making. Working from home? Keep your work in one room, and act as if you’re actually at work. Get dressed, be on time, and don’t use more time for your lunch than you normally would. Who knows, you may get your work done faster than usual! No distractions. TV off, phone away, and just get your stuff done. The faster you get your work done the faster you can get back to your fun distractions.
Try an Experiment in The Kitchen!
I love going in the kitchen and making meals or snacks out of what I have in the cabinet. Have a bunch of different cheeses? Make a cheese dip for bread or veggies in the slow cooker or on the stove. Flour and eggs? Try to make homemade pasta. Potatoes? Make homemade pierogies with that pasta. All of these are things I’ve done with combining things I already had at home in my cabinets. Do you have rice and some canned beans, corn, olives, salsa etc..? Make a Mexican inspired rice dish. The opportunities are endless. Go into it knowing you’re creating something new, and have fun with it!
All of these are things I have either attempted or am planning to do with my quarantine time. Leave a comment or send me a message with things that you’re doing with your time to help reduce the mounting anxiety during quarantine! Quarantine and anxiety suck. If you want some other ideas of things you could be doing under quarantine, check out my blog post on Strategies for Saving Money for Vacay. When we’re done with all this, I want to go travel again!
