Welcome to Lockdown Life: Beating the Blues During a Pandemic
- sarahmaee1212
- Jun 10, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 11, 2020
Eight quarantine activities: beaches, the pool and adventures oh my!
The uncertainty of the dreaded Coronavirus has caused many to lose their jobs, internships, health insurance, school opportunities (ex: study abroad) and so much more. Here is your reminder: not everything is canceled.
Life may look different for many months to come due to this global pandemic, however, there are many things you can do to occupy yourself and still have fun!
1) The beach at sunset
The beach during the day is always fun, but during these trying times, it’s best that we all keep a social distance. Thankfully, going to the beach at sunset ensures that most of the crowd has died down.
I was lucky enough to have two childhood friends of mine join me on this journey. We took a quick trip to Fred Howard Beach and purchased ourselves Chipotle for an additional beach picnic.
Not only is this fun, but it is an easy way to get your daily dose of Vitamin C.
2) Pool day
After a long, hard day wouldn’t you want to just lay out by the pool?
If you are fortunate enough to have a pool in your backyard, utilize it. If you live in Florida as I do, you know that the summer heat is deadly. The temperature fluctuates from hot to hotter here in Florida.
Pools are efficient for swimming, exercising and lounging. You’ll be able to feel your stress melt away as you relax in your own, personal backyard oasis.
3) Play video games
Being quarantined in a house for three months can lead to absolute boredom, but instead of staring at a ceiling for hours upon end, why not pick up a new hobby?
According to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), “video games can help people see better, learn more quickly, develop greater mental focus, become more spatially aware, estimate more accurately, and multitask more effectively. Some video games can even make young people more empathetic, helpful and sharing” (via BBC.com).
Learning the ins-and-outs of popular games such as Fortnite, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Call of Duty: Warzone and many others can be both exhilarating and addicting. 11-year-old Alexander Wilson said that he loves video games, “I can [still] interact with my friends while we are stuck at home.”
4) Paint a portrait
Painting is a fun way to foster your inner creative energy. It is an easy outlet to relieve stress. Painting supplies can be found at nearly any and every convenience store. There also an abundance of step-by-step painting tutorials online.
Throughout quarantine, I have painted seven different canvases. Here are a few:
“I can't think of anything more rewarding than being able to express yourself to others through painting. Exercising the imagination, experimenting with talents, being creative; these things, to me, are truly the windows to your soul” - Bob Ross
Painting has many health benefits and can keep your brain sharp. It is a great way for individuals to release their emotions and let the brush lead their mind.
5) Go for a walk
According to Harvard Health Publishing, “The cardiovascular benefits of walking are biologically plausible; like other forms of regular moderate exercise, walking improves cardiac risk factors such as cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, vascular stiffness and inflammation, and mental stress.”
There are both mental and physical health benefits to going on walks. It is super important to push your limits and attempt to leave the house every now and then.
Staying motivated and active can be challenging when we are informed to stay inside of our homes/where we reside. Walking is an effective way to exercise and get out and about while staying socially distanced.
6) Join TikTok
TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video with multiple global offices (via TikTok.com). As of Tuesday, June 9th, TikTok sits at number three in the ‘Top Free Apps’ category in the Apple App Store. Celebrities, influencers, and professional athletes all can be found on the app as well as everyday people like you and I.
The platform consists of videos ranging from three-to-sixty-second videos. Many teenagers can be found dancing or doing funny skits on the app. It is also a great way to introduce yourself to new musical artists.
Out of all of the options stated thus far, TikTok is my personal favorite by a landslide.
7) Napping
As I like to say: when all else fails, take a nap. After a long day of work, or even after a long day of nothing, the best feeling is collapsing into bed in snuggling up under warm bed sheets.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, “Napping has psychological benefits. A nap can be a pleasant luxury, a mini-vacation. It can provide an easy way to get some relaxation and rejuvenation.” Whether an individual is napping for pleasure, to escape reality or just to catch up on a lack of sleep, napping can be extremely beneficial.
To conclude a busy day of keeping up with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), nothing is better than some shut-eye!
8) Online shopping
This one is a blessing and a curse. It is understandable that many may not want to spend money during a global pandemic, however, many stores and online retail sites have made shopping very accessible.
Apps such as DoorDash, UberEats, Postmates, Grubhub and Shipt deliver food directly to your door. Shipt specializes in groceries and the company prides itself on its employees’ exceptional service. Employees go to the store and shop for the items you requested and purchased through the app before delivering the groceries to your doorstep.
Additionally, one can online shop for clothing. My personal favorite website to shop for cute, trendy and affordable clothing is SHEIN. Lots of well-known social media influencers are brand ambassadors for this company which causes it to be very appealing to the public eye.
Wrap up
Overall, being in lockdown has been a very surreal experience for me and for many, but as I said earlier: not everything is canceled. There are many activities that you can do both individually or with your quarantine crew and I hope I shed some light on some new ideas. This too shall pass!
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