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Finding Your Balance During Quarantine

  • Writer: clairearceneaux
    clairearceneaux
  • Apr 27, 2020
  • 5 min read


You’re home and it’s day 3672819 in quarantine. You’ve maxed out your recipes, your kids have created their own street art on their bedroom walls and somehow there is more laundry and dishes than before you were stuck at home. Anyone else over it?


I have decided to share my tips to staying sane for the remainder of your stay at home orders. I have had my good days and my sour ones. My motivating days and my lazy ones. Here is how I’ve gotten through quarantine so far.


Friends and family may seem further away than ever right now so be sure to take advantage of Zoom, FaceTime and Skype. Every time I see them, it makes my day that much better. Drawful2 is a great game that you can play with friends through Zoom or Google Hangouts.

Arts and crafts have created a quiet place in my mind and made me realize that I should have been doing this before quarantine.

  • Paint by number, which include paint, brushes, and a frame if you choose.

  • Adult coloring books because I think we’d all rather color animals drinking cocktails.

  • Word search books. This has been stimulating for my brain and almost like a competition with myself to find the words quickly.

  • There is an Amazon link below to purchase any of these activities under the quarantine folder.

Cooking can be stressful or therapeutic depending on who you are. If this is not one of your favorite things to do, try to change it up.

  • Ask for help from your kids or partner. This keeps everyone busy and contributing.

    • Turn off the television and turn on some fun music. There are cooking playlists on Spotify, YouTube & Pandora.

    • Check Pinterest for recipe ideas using whatever main ingredients you have at home.

    • Try cooking things you haven’t before as now is a better time than ever to experiment.

    • See a recipe you like but don’t have the exact ingredients? Make it your own. A lot of my own cooking is inspired by other people’s recipes but using whatever I have in my kitchen.

    • Baking can be a fun activity and your kids can help and decorate.

    • Try to incorporate lots of vegetables into your meals to be sure you’re getting your vitamins from foods. It is easy to get off track and eat easy, unhealthy snacks.

    • Pour yourself some wine.

    • Pour yourself some sparkling water with lemon if you are not a drinker.

Exercise. I know that you may not feel very motivated right now and that is okay. These are strange times and you don’t need to be a superstar while locked up in your home. However, exercise will improve your mood and keep you active. Exercise does not have to equal misery.

  • Try apps that are offered with free trials. DownDogApp is a great choice because it offers HITT, customized Yoga sessions and Barre. This keeps you from getting bored by doing the same at home workouts. This app is free until June for healthcare workers and until May for non healthcare workers.

  • One Peloton is also offering a free 90 day trial. They have different workouts and also stretching sessions. If you’re not feeling up for a workout, the stretching gets the blood flowing and leaves you feeling refreshed.

  • YouTube also has a ton of free workouts. You can find workouts using weights, body weight, Yoga and many more.

  • Meditation is therapy in itself. If you do not currently meditate, there are apps like Headspace that guide you and are free for healthcare workers.

  • If you just need to get out and get some vitamin D, a nice walk outside during non-peak hours is great for the soul.

Reading. If you are not big on books now is a good time to explore this option. Turn your phone to silent, find a quiet place and a comfy seat.

Movies can bring people together and everyone is looking for new stuff to watch. Share your favorite movies and series with your friends and family.

Get dressed just because. Putting yourself together can make you feel better and normal.

Date night may need some adjusting now that we’re in lockdown.

  • Find a place to have an outdoor picnic.

  • Get dressed like you’re going out on a date. Jeans are a big deal now if you haven’t noticed.

  • If you’re in an apartment and have a balcony, set it up for a dinner date. If you don’t, turn off the TV and have a nice sit down dinner and talk to each other.

  • Music always sets the mood.

Learn something new.

  • Coursera is a great option for learning new skills. They offer free classes geared to what you want to learn. Some also offer certificates of completion for you to add to your resume.

  • Study that language you’ve always been dreaming of.

Make money. Just because you are stuck at home doesn’t mean that you can’t make some side cash.

  • Sell your unused items on Facebook marketplace.

  • Go through your closet and pull the clothes that you don’t wear and you know that you likely won’t ever use again. You can list these on Facebook marketplace, Poshmark & Mercari. If you have higher end items, email me to link you with someone at The Real Real for a virtual consultation.

  • Upwork is a great place for you to showcase your skills and make money doing it. Signing up is free and you can explore writing, voice overs, photography and more.

Organizing may not be your strong suit but it sure is a great time to try.

  • Start with those cluttered closets and cabinets and toss the outdated items.

  • Switch out your hangers and see the difference it makes aesthetically. My personal choice is listed in the Amazon link below under closet staples.

  • If this seems impossible, NEAT Method offers virtual visits to help get organized. There is a link below.

Create. Now is a great time to explore your creative side.

  • Work on that furniture flip you’ve been storing in the back room far in the corner.

  • Make your how-to videos. If you have something that you’ve perfected, there is likely someone that is interested in learning about it.

  • Write those blogs, take the photos and make the videos. NOW is the time.

Nothing. It is okay to do nothing some days as well. Keep your sweats on and order in.

Self Care can be many of the items listed above and can be some of these listed below.

  • Your nails need a break too. Take the polish off of your nails and toes and let them breathe for at least a week. Get a buffer to remove stains and if your nails are brittle, there are great nail strengtheners available.

  • Leave the heat off of your hair. Try to go a week without straightening, blow drying and curling your hair. Give your hair a nice conditioning treatment and scalp massage.

  • Use a face and body scrub to remove those dead skin cells and self tanner residue. There are diy ones that you can make at home if you search Pinterest.







I hope that these suggestions are useful to you and your families while in quarantine. Remember to make time for yourself and take care of your mind and body. Sending love to all of you.







 
 
 

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