Hi friends!
I just wanted to pop in here and offer some ideas for staying busy and avoiding boredom at home. While staying indoors and social distancing might not be the most attractive idea, it's the safest one-- for yourself and the people around you.
Survival Tip #1: Set up a productive workspace!
If you're a student like me, you likely were not expecting to be home for an extended period after spring break. I've spoken with many friends who are experiencing difficulty finding space and focusing on assignments and papers in their houses. I know I enjoy retreating to a local coffee shop to work on big papers or the library to read, even when I'm on campus. Unfortunately, escaping to a public area isn't possible now, so we've got to make the most of the space we have.
Here are a few pointers for creating a constructive environment from the comfort of your bedroom:
Find a desk space or flat surface to set your laptop or notebook on. This might seem obvious, but how tempting is it to cozy up in your bed and type away on assignments? Research shows that doing homework from a cozy setting, like on the couch or in your bed, decreases your ability to concentrate.
Set up your desk or study area by a window. If possible, working near a window can help boost your focus. Windows allow in natural light and vitamin D, while also letting fresh air into your home. Plus, I'm convinced sunshine and a nice breeze puts me in a better mood! Even on rainy days, I enjoy cracking open my window and listening to the water's soothing drum.
Organize your space. This one should be a given. It's so much harder to keep track of papers, books, and pens if they are scattered all over your desk. I suggest finding a pencil cup or jar to store writing utensils and stacking your books so that you can see the titles. Keeping a selection of antibacterial wipes, hand sanitizer, and lotion somewhere on your desk might not be a bad idea, either!
Survival Tip #2: Develop a daily routine!
No doubt if you are a working citizen or student, you have a daily schedule. Now that classes and work (for some) are carrying on from your home, your routine is going to look different. I've read across various sources and social media accounts that maintaining a daily routine helps people adjust to quarantine. I can testify from my own experience staying indoors the past week that I am more likely to stay alert and engaged in my work if I wake up at nine a.m., take a shower, get dressed, make breakfast, drink some coffee, and log onto my classes on Zoom.
A couple of tips for sticking with a schedule:
Wear real clothes-- not sweatpants (at least, not all the time). You might be able to concentrate for a little while in your PJs, but I know I tend to stay on track if I'm wearing jeans and my signature cardigan.
Have a mental game-plan for your day. It's easy to get off-track at home-- there are more distractions, sleep beckons, and housework abounds. However, if you segment your time (one hour of working, thirty minutes of rest, another hour of working, a break for lunch, etc.), it can be easier to check things off the list.
Survival Tip #3: Blue light glasses!
I just found out about blue light glasses, and I am OBSESSED. I picked up a pair at Target for $20 last weekend, and they are real game-changers. There are quite a few articles online that state there is little to no evidence that blue light glasses reduce eye strain, but over the past week I've seen a difference in my eye energy (is that a thing? I don't know. I'm making it a thing if it's not). At the very least, there is research supporting the claim that people who wear blue light glasses experience better sleep.
As someone whose college experience is being altered due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I do not have much of a choice in how I balance my screen time; everything is online for the time being. From Zoom lectures to research papers to FaceTime calls with friends, I am on my computer or phone sixty to seventy percent of the day (likely more than that). I already have poor eyesight and wear glasses or contacts every day, and blue light glasses seem to be reducing my eye strain. They may not show a big improvement for everyone, but if you are experiencing eye strain I would encourage you to try them out for yourself! They are fairly inexpensive and can be found at Target and Walmart.
Also, if you're interested in supporting a small business during this time, Karch Co. carries a stylish line of computer glasses on their website.
Survival Tip #4: Read!
I might be a little biased here (shoutout to my fellow English majors), but reading is a simple way to entertain and educate yourself-- especially when you are stuck indoors. It might be tempting to binge as many Netflix shows as you can, but eventually, you are going to get tired of television. Not to mention, we all know the negative effects of binge-watching by this point.
Full disclosure: I spent most of my spring break catching up on TV and movies at home. I am thankful now for the structure of online schooling, and particularly grateful Lee University is choosing to continue classes. If I did not have assignments and papers to write, I would have little motivation to do anything other than watch Netflix.
What books are on your reading list? If you don't have any yet, allow me to provide a few suggestions:
The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale (religious/self-help)
Garden City by John Mark Comer (religious/nonfiction)
It's Not Supposed to Be This Way by Lysa TerKeurst (religious)
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson (nonfiction)
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (fiction)
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (fiction- one of my favorite novels)
dark // thing by Ashley M. Jones (poetry)
Storyteller: 100 Poem Letters by Morgan Harper Nichols (poetry)
Survival Tip #5: Exercise!
I know. This one can be a struggle. However, now that the weather is nice, I would suggest taking a walk or run around your neighborhood. The other day, I joined my dad (who walks nearly every day) in a lap around our neighborhood, which clocked in around a mile-and-a-half. It was a wonderful opportunity for conversation, both between my dad and me and with our neighbors.
For indoor exercise, I suggest yoga. Lee offered a few weekly yoga classes at the rec center, and I attended the restorative class a few times. I began to see the benefits-- both physical and mental-- of taking an hour out of my busy Monday to regroup and clear my mind. Yoga is a simple way to work out from home, and there are countless YouTube channels devoted to guided online instruction. For tutorial suggestions, click this link!
Survival Tip #6: Learn a new skill!
Now that we've been given more free time than desired, it might be a good opportunity to try something new. Now that many restaurants are closing or are limited to how they can serve, I've heard many people suggest the idea of learning to cook. I, for one, am not the best chef, so I am hopeful that this season I can learn how to prepare healthy foods at home. One of my friends decided to teach herself how to crochet-- a great idea! Get crafty, folks.
More ideas on hobbies/skills to practice:
Writing. I also might be biased on this, but develop your written communication skills! Is there a message on your heart you want to get out to the world? Start a blog! Or, if you're feeling more ambitious, write a book! No more complaining that you never have time-- now is the time.
Art. Do you enjoy painting? Pottery? Watercolors? Photography? Find your medium. Express all those emotions-- even if you don't know what they are yet-- in rich blues and vibrant oranges. Paint your feelings.
Survival Tip #7: Regular communication with family and friends!
We live in a society that thrives on digital connection. While I, like many of us, can admit to feeling frustrated with social media at times, we are living through a season of life that does not give many options for how we stay in contact with people. While it is much preferable to meet up for coffee with a group of friends, this simply is not a wise move right now.
Instead, we are blessed and fortunate to have Zoom, FaceTime, and Skype available at our fingertips. If you are a college student, you have most likely experienced Zoom already; however, if you are unfamiliar with the program, Zoom is a multiple-party video chatting program that allows teachers and professionals to meet with classes and colleagues. Anyone can use it; there is typically a forty-minute time limit on meetings with three or more participants. I've been using FaceTime's multiple party extension frequently for the past week to stay in contact with friends, and this works well too if you have an iPhone or Apple device.
Snail mail is another way to abide by social distancing while also staying linked to friends and relatives. It's true-- letters are back in. Saturday Evening Post writer Caleb Neuhaus writes about the revival of handwritten sentiments: "...sending a handwritten message may be the most effective way to unload...It's undeniable that when you hold a pen in hand, you will express yourself with greater honesty (if not dignity)." During this time especially, it might be therapeutic to pick up a piece of paper and write out your emotions to a trusted friend or family member. This act of physically picking up a pen could help you process what living under the weight of COVID-19 looks like for you.
The past month brought challenges our society has not faced quite like before, and the next couple of months are likely to continue imposing restrictions.
Everyone is losing something-- graduation ceremonies, the physical presence of friends or significant others, travel plans, jobs, etc. We must not forget the people in our communities who are more at risk; now is not the time for going out if you do not need to.
During a conversation with a friend recently, she said, "Everyone, including myself, tends to believe we are invincible, that we will not contract this virus, and that we are healthy enough to continue being around others. That's just not true."
My friend's words have haunted me ever since our chat. I realized that I had been going about my business and ignoring the obvious fact that I am not invincible, and I am just as at-risk as everyone in the world.
Regardless of your health, the best way to alleviate the effects of COVID-19 on society is by taking precautions and staying indoors.
I believe our God is sovereign over all the universe-- including COVID-19. I also believe God expects us to use the resources we've been given to help #flattenthecurve. Wash your hands, use hand sanitizer, and stop leaving your homes to go to crowded public areas.
Instead, stay indoors and on your knees.
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