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The world feels like it’s on fire, and for the first time I see nearly everybody on my feed and in my daily interactions being vulnerable about their fears. While I aim for my blog to be a positive place, I don’t want it to be an ignorant one. For this reason, I want to share some ideas on what you can do in order to ease anxieties or not go stir crazy during this time of confusion and chaos. I picked the quote "From caring comes courage" to go with this post because we have to care for ourselves and others in order to make a true difference. These ideas consist of some good starts!
Read those freakin’ books!
Sometimes I find shopping for books more fun than actually reading them, so now I have stacks of books closing in on me. They’re all organized by genre of course… and also unread. If you prefer listening to books, download Audible! They often gift a few free books the first time you download it! You can also download Kindle to your phone and adjust the screen so you can read from there. Technology is cool that way. So is reading.
2. Learn how to meditate
Our generation is awesome at talking about mediating… I don’t know that we’re great with the follow through. We’re all a bunch of fake snowflakes. Let’s learn how to meditate now! Look at some articles, read a book about it (see above) and put it into practice (which it takes). Put aside 5-10 minutes of your time every day, that’s really all it takes.
3. Start learning that skill you’ve been wanting to try
For me, it’s — well, that’s a secret. Yes, I do have a few of those. We all have that secret skill we’ve been aching to develop. Calligraphy? Juggling? Break dancing? You can learn basically anything thanks to a great, free website called YouTube!
4. Take a free online class
Yes, these exist. Sometimes they even feed your ego by sending you certificates! Here are some options: edX, Coursera, and Class Central.
5. Spring Cleaning! Remember that?
I legitimately thought Spring Cleaning was an actual holiday as a child. I remember asking my mom when the week or the day was and being very confused when she said “whenever people want!” I wanted a distinct time and date. This is why I refuse not to capitalize Spring Cleaning. Anyway, do it! Do your laundry and make a pile for donations, organize your shoes, dust behind your T.V. stand. Do it all! It feels good and fresh.
6. Donate to the Corona Cause
Do you remember that episode of Friends where Joey and Phoebe have an argument about whether or not there are no pure good deeds? Well, prove Joey right and donate whatever you feel comfortable for whatever you feel fit. Donate to hospitals, donate blood (Red Cross is continuing to urge healthy individuals to donate, in order to avoid potential shortages). This can help you feel like you’re at least doing a little something to help amidst this chaos.
7. Get emotionally and physically healthy
Cue good ol’ YouTube again… there are plenty of at home workouts including kick boxing, Zumba and yoga all at our fingertips. Move the furniture to the side and start working out again! Recent research reveals that 30 minutes of high impact exercise a day can significantly (as in, almost cure) decrease anxiety and depression!
8. Find a routine
This time of unplugging and being forced to slow down is almost like a restart button on our routines (or lack thereof, because at least in my world, “routine” is a bit of a dirty word). Practice going to bed at a reasonable hour, getting eight hours of sleep, waking up with the sun, incorporating exercise and Me Time. Now is your forced opportunity to figure out how much time you really have in your day.
9. Take a bunch of hot pics for the ‘gram
Yep, I said it! Spend hours doing your hair and makeup (or not!) and get your social distancing buddy to snap a few shots of you. Pose on the couch, in an archway, by a window, in front of the bush in your backyard. Get a glamour shot with your glamorous cat, or an introspective shot of you reading or journal writing.
10. Reflect
Speaking of journal writing, get into the groove of processing your day and emotions with a journal. Start a bullet journal, or a new journal, or continue with your ignored diary. Color out your emotions, make art out of your day. Get to know yourself through letting it all out with pen and paper.
11. Binge TV
Now is the time to watch or rewatch all of those shows and movies that have been on your list for years! This Is Us, here I come! Disney+, get ready for some sugar! Oh, and if you don’t have these streaming services, do a quick IG story asking if anyone is willing to share. Going back to #6 on this list, desperate times call for desperate measures. Share your Netflix password y’all. It also turns out Netflix has an option called “Netflix Party” where you can watch with your friends! Read more about that here.
12. Go on a spiritual journey
There is a Tarot card called “The Hermit.” He represents the act of self isolation in order for deep, meaningful growth. With chaos comes questions. In despair, look for hope. Spend a day or two reading up on different religions and spiritualities. If anything, you’ll educate yourself on others’ beliefs and at least walk away with greater understanding.
13. Have a dance party
The furniture is already in the perfect place from making room for your workout earlier, now pop on some pump up jams and jump around like a 16 year old maniac. Invite your dog to join in! He’ll really hate you for it (speaking from experience). Dance. It. All. Out.
14. Put on a Broadway musical
Set up your old stuffed animals (I know you still have them), invite your social distancing buddies to join in on the fun, and ask Alexa to play your favorite musical. Put on a one man show for your mirror. You’ll pass at least two hours of time by doing this. Plus, musicals tend to run through a lot of emotions, which is very therapeutic.
15. Write a book
Yeah! I said it! A novel is about 50,00 — 90,000 words. If you really set your mind to it, you could write about a thousand words an hour. That’s five thousand words for five hours, and if you’re really determined, you’ll have 60,000 words in just twelve days. Math. It’s cool. Write your book. Even if it is just a Nick Miller zombie detective crappy first draft.
16. Have a full on spa day
Wake up late. Draw a bath. Use your bath bombs I know are collecting dust. Light some candles. Put on a face mask. Listen to calming music for a period of time. Massage your body while you moisturize for 20 minutes. Balance your chakras while you’re at it. Take a big whiff of lavender. Get someone to tickle your back. Or use a back scratcher to do it yourself. Put cucumbers over your eyes. YouTube really should sponsor this article, because now I’m going to recommend typing “calming stories” into their search bar and taking a listen while you sit naked in your bed with the lights off.
17. Go online window shopping
Since now might not be the greatest time for retail therapy, jump into daydreamer mode and add everything you wish you could buy into your cart. Go on Pinterest and make more lists of albums of things you want but can’t have just yet.
18. Spend hours on Duolingo
Or, any other language learning app or service! Now is your chance to develop some language skills for when the world is well again and you can go on that trip!
19. Practice making genuine connections
With everyone being vulnerable and feeling so lonely, now is a great time to practice actual connection with others. Social media is proving to be an exceptional tool and I am so thankful for it. Share memes with the people you always like pictures of but rarely interact with beyond that. Talk about how you’re personally easing your anxieties with someone else. Or, spend quality time with the family, friends or roommates your social distancing with! It’s time to break out the board games, remember those? Connect and reconnect.
20. Breathe.
That’s it. That’s the tweet. Just breathe.
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