My Top Ten List of Things To Do While Under Quarantine
With a lot of us now under stay at home orders from our governors until the end of April at least, here is a list of things to do while under quarantine. All these activities range from serious to just having some fun. For some reason Patrick Stewart has made it into several activities:
Normally I hate cleaning, trying to do the best I can to put it off. Meanwhile, my grandmother claims she's about the 10th time through cleaning her apartment. I'm expecting to walk into her house to find nothing but a bed and a few pieces of furniture after the quarantine is over.
Before Governor Pritzker's stay at home order, I made sure to update my resume with relevant references and work experience. I need to also update my LinkedIn and social media pages and do my best to network with others in the social work profession while we're all at home. Even though our economy is in a recession and unemployment is at new highs, jobs will be out there if we take the time to advertise ourselves to employers with pertinent information.
I am not a proponent of oversleeping, but I'll be the first to admit the stress from news and being stuck at home tends to make me more tired. More sleep during times of great stress and uncertainty, as long as it is not an over-excessive amount is not bad, especially if it is a part of your planned routine. I find myself going to bed early at night and sleeping for about 8 hours. During the day I tend to take a 1-hour nap. I intentionally keep a routine and make sure I do not sleep beyond 10 hours a day so I can fall asleep easily at night. This leads to my next activity...
Well, maybe a bit of a better routine than this. If you are anything like me, keeping "busy" is wanted. I find value and purpose in all my activities. With the stay at home order, I am unable to continue with my typical routine with work and recreational activities. That doesn't mean I stop having a routine. Over the past month, I have come up with new activities to do during the stay at home order. For example, I enjoy writing, but, due to my busy graduate schedule these past two years, I have left my blog largely empty. Now I have the opportunity to put my blog back into a weekly routine.
Simple enough. Even with a stay at home order in place in most states, we can still get outside (observe the recommended 6 feet for social distancing).
Since many of us are at home with not much to do, now is the perfect time to try the streaming services we have put off, aside from the typical Netflix or Disney+. CBS All Access currently has a month-long free trial that you can easily access through Amazon Prime. I just finished binge-watching Star Trek Picard and am on Star Trek Discovery Season 2. Which leads me #3:
Aside from staying healthy, there is a lot we all can do to serve our communities. Different community groups, such as churches, provide services and activities online that you can take part in. Nonprofit agencies are as active as ever serving their community and can use the assistance of volunteers and donors. The 2020 elections have taken a back seat, but you can still write to and hold your representatives accountable for passing bills to aid our families during this difficult time. Yes, I know community engagement will not put money and food immediately on the table for our families, but it can ensure we have a brighter future for everyone.
That's all I got for now. No matter what, do not be idle. There are still plenty of ways for us to serve ourselves and the community...
10) Spring Cleaning/Organizing
Normally I hate cleaning, trying to do the best I can to put it off. Meanwhile, my grandmother claims she's about the 10th time through cleaning her apartment. I'm expecting to walk into her house to find nothing but a bed and a few pieces of furniture after the quarantine is over.
9) Office Work/Updating that Resume
Before Governor Pritzker's stay at home order, I made sure to update my resume with relevant references and work experience. I need to also update my LinkedIn and social media pages and do my best to network with others in the social work profession while we're all at home. Even though our economy is in a recession and unemployment is at new highs, jobs will be out there if we take the time to advertise ourselves to employers with pertinent information.
8) Get More Sleep
I am not a proponent of oversleeping, but I'll be the first to admit the stress from news and being stuck at home tends to make me more tired. More sleep during times of great stress and uncertainty, as long as it is not an over-excessive amount is not bad, especially if it is a part of your planned routine. I find myself going to bed early at night and sleeping for about 8 hours. During the day I tend to take a 1-hour nap. I intentionally keep a routine and make sure I do not sleep beyond 10 hours a day so I can fall asleep easily at night. This leads to my next activity...
7) Plan out my day ahead of time and keep a scheduled routine
Well, maybe a bit of a better routine than this. If you are anything like me, keeping "busy" is wanted. I find value and purpose in all my activities. With the stay at home order, I am unable to continue with my typical routine with work and recreational activities. That doesn't mean I stop having a routine. Over the past month, I have come up with new activities to do during the stay at home order. For example, I enjoy writing, but, due to my busy graduate schedule these past two years, I have left my blog largely empty. Now I have the opportunity to put my blog back into a weekly routine.
6) Get Exercise, even if it's just going for a walk outside.
Simple enough. Even with a stay at home order in place in most states, we can still get outside (observe the recommended 6 feet for social distancing).
5) Talk on the phoneYes, we have an abundance of social media tools for communication. That cell phone you are using right now to read this article can also be used to call and talk to someone you care about. Try it!
4) Binge all the free trials of different streaming services
Since many of us are at home with not much to do, now is the perfect time to try the streaming services we have put off, aside from the typical Netflix or Disney+. CBS All Access currently has a month-long free trial that you can easily access through Amazon Prime. I just finished binge-watching Star Trek Picard and am on Star Trek Discovery Season 2. Which leads me #3:
3) Watch anything that has to do with Patrick Stewart
What else is there to say: Sir Patrick Stewart is a worldwide treasure. Since March 21, 2020, Patrick Stewart had been reading sonnets on his Twitter page. Have a look:
There's something relaxing to combining two things I love: literature and the calming voice of Captian Jean Luc Picard. Following the example of my favorite Starfleet Captian, remember...
2) Don't be a number two, be Number One
Yeah, that's a deep cut for Next Generation fans. Also, on a side note, please drink responsibly. Note overconsumption of alcohol does weaken your immune system and increase the chances of falling ill to COVID-19 and influenza. I grew up with Star Trek: The Next Generation. My favorite character was Captain Picard's Number One, Commander Riker. I love Riker to this day because he represents to me the epitome of loyalty and friendship. At times he would disagree with Picard, but at the end of the day, he served his captain and starship family. Likewise, during these difficult times, I find myself feeling frustrated with the direction our leaders are taking us in society. Nevertheless, I want to do the best I do to...
1) Engage (my community)
That's all I got for now. No matter what, do not be idle. There are still plenty of ways for us to serve ourselves and the community...
Make it so!
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