It is hard to believe that we have been challenged by seven months of Covid-19 home quarantine. Each of us has had to adapt to this new way of working, interacting with friends and family, and keeping ourselves entertained. I have found that one needs to be disciplined, balanced, patient, determined, and a self-starter.
This highly contagious virus makes us realize just how profound our interdependence is and has also driven home the importance of being thoughtful of others. At the same time, if we are generally home alone, our need for psychological well-being can become primarily an individual pursuit.
In the first few months of being “at home,” I found the information flow overwhelming, especially in terms of the incredible opportunities on the internet. With so many options, it can be a challenge to keep them straight. In the beginning, I would miss the chance to see a program because I had not registered or because I had forgotten on what site the program was being presented.
For me, it helps to develop a personal calendar, and I find a 5 x 7 notebook useful. I dedicate a page for each day of the month. Since I was having trouble tracking all the times and locations of programs that interested me, I use part of the page to list Zoom log-in details as well as the times and locations of internet programs I want to catch. I use the rest of the page each day to plan for exercise, meditation or mindfulness, along with some downtime. In this way, I find that I can create a disciplined and balanced day.
I make it a goal to schedule a few phone calls with friends or neighbors each day. With everyone being close to home, it is a great time to renew valuable friendships or check in on an elderly neighbor who might need a friend. It can be remarkably rewarding to take the initiative and connect.
Each week I try to leave one blank page in my calendar, which I use for notes or catching up with home projects. Journaling has proven to be a good way to document this unprecedented time, and you could include some observations on each daily page or weekly ones on the blank page.
I am excited to share below some of the virtual activities that have brightened up my quarantine time. In some cases, there is cost to participate, but when you consider the savings from being able to do it from your home, it is a real bargain.
Learning
Master Class: Classes available from experts in fields from sports to music to home design. Subscription model costs just $15/month.
Coursera: Online courses from universities across the world. My favorite course was The Science of Wellbeing, offered free through Yale University
Cooking
Santa Fe School of Cooking: Zoom and virtual classes with the choice of having some ingredients shipped to your door.
Truffle Shuffle: Another chance to participate in a Zoom class and have all the ingredients shipped to you so you can cook alongside the chef.
Exercise
Many online exercise classes are available by your local gyms or studios. I especially like this yoga class on YouTube:
Yoga with Adriene: Free 30 minute classes, including a 30-day series.
It seems to me that all this online content will be with us even when Covid-19 has disappeared. Some days I go to bed exhausted and some days disappointed that I did not get to all the exciting programs available! Enjoy.