As y'all know, I live in NYC, which has become the epicenter of the Coronavirus crisis in the U.S. The importance of social distancing and self-isolation to limit the spread of coronavirus has been emphasized over and over again. People, however, are by nature extremely social animals, so the stay-at-home orders that we have been given can be a struggle for many people.
When social distancing first started, I felt like I was about to lose my mind and was feeling so unstable after just the first day. I used to really struggle with depression all throughout high school and am still managing my anxiety all the time to this day. Social distancing can amplify feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression, and people with mental health issues can be left feeling more vulnerable. It is so, so important for us all to prioritize our mental health during this time and to remind ourselves that we're not alone, and we're all going through this together.
I came up with a list of fun, creative things to do while in self-isolation that will help pass the time and take your mind away from the fear and anxiety that the Coronavirus pandemic might be causing.
Listen to Audiobooks
For those with kids, Audible, an Amazon company, started offering free streaming of children's stories including titles across six different languages to help parents for as long as schools are closed.
Start a Blog or Journal
Get a gorgeous journal or notebook for writing or just jotting down your personal thoughts!
Anthropologie Riley Reflections + Intentions Journal ($18) - Includes guided reflections with space to record moments, reflections, and creative expressions
Anthropologie Ula Raffia Journal ($38) - Handcrafted by artisans in the villages of Bali and Java using centuries-old techniques, this journal features a woven raffia cover that lends texture against soft-to-touch suede.
Calm the Chaos Journal ($14.95)
Fringe Studio Better Days Vegan Leather Spiral Journal (on sale at NordstromRack for less than $10!) - This journal has a flexible pink vegan leather cover with gold foil accents that print out "Better days are coming, they're called Saturday & Sunday".
Play Board Games
Make Cocktails
Just a heads up, most of these will be gin cocktails because it's my liquor of .
Aperol Spritz - What a visually appealing and tasty drink!
Bee's Knees - Simple cocktail created during the Prohibition consisting of only 3 ingredients (gin, honey, lemon).
Bellini - The brunch-time staple is so simple to make with just two ingredients—Prosecco and peach purée or nectar!
Gin-Gin Mule - This drink featuring gin is a cross between a Moscow Mule and a Mojito.
Pina Colada - Just so fun and refreshing! Sipping on one makes me feel like I'm lounging by the beach.
Tom Collins - Basically a tasty adult version of carbonated lemonade made with gin, lemon, and soda water.
Coloring Books
The Time Garden: A Magical Journey and Coloring Book by Daria Song ($11.50)
Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book by Johanna Basford ($12.20)
Coffee Animals Coloring Book by Caffeinestar Press ($7.97)
Drinking Animals Coloring Book by Caffeinestar Press ($7.97)
Dance
Look at Pictures of Dogs & Puppies
Exercise
Play Instruments
Learn a Language
I just downloaded Duolingo to brush up on my Mandarin and maybe learn a new language!
Try New Makeup Looks
Meditate
Watch Movies
By Genres
Action & Adventure: Black Panther, The Dark Knight, Guardians of the Galaxy
Animation / Kids & Family: Coco, Ratatouille, Toy Story, Up, Wall-E, Zootopia
Comedy: Crazy Rich Asians, Elf, Stepbrothers, This is the End, Zoolander
Drama: A Beautiful Mind, A Star is Born, Forrest Gump, Good Will Hunting
Fantasy: Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Spirited Away, Yesterday
Thriller: Inception, Now You See Me, Parasite
Organize Rooms and Storage Spaces
Create Photo Books or Scrapbooks
Start a Podcast
Learn a New Programming Language or Framework
Do Puzzles
4D New York City Skyline Time Puzzle - 900 pieces ($45.29)
Astrology - 1000 pieces ($22.43)
Bethesda Fountain - 1000 pieces
Hot Dogs - 1000 pieces
Spring on Park Ave - 1000 pieces
The Great White Way - 2000 pieces ($34.93)
Read Books
Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover
Fashionopolis: The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes by Dana Thomas - I love fashion, but I know that there are many issues that the fashion industry has perpetuated from environmental degradation to inhumane labor practices. I think Fashionopolis gives readers a grim but realistic dive into fast fashion, and I like the focus on innovators who are working to bring change and make the garment trade more sustainable.
Flash Boys: A Wall Street Revolt by Michael Lewis - Flash Boys, which covers high speed stock trading extensively, has been on my list since I started life in the real world because it is very relevant to my job, and I think it would provide me with a lot of the context for what I do.
Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee - This book is by the same author who wrote Pachinko, and I really want to read it because I feel like I would really relate to the protagonist. It's about a Korean-American woman who is the daughter of immigrant parents and just graduated from a prestigious university and is trying to navigate NYC and the finance industry.
Gravitas: Communicate with Confidence, Influence and Authority by Caroline Goyder
Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter—And How to Make the Most of Them Now by Meg Jay
The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls
The Mole People: Life In The Tunnels Beneath New York City by Jennifer Toth
The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker
Try New Recipes
Redecorate a Room
Keep Up with Your Skin Care Routine
Treat yo'self with some face masks! Do the multiple step skin care routine that you don't normally have time for! If the face mask is supposed to be rinsed off (like a charcoal or clay mask), apply it before the rest of your skin care routine. If the face mask is supposed to be left on overnight, put it on as the last step of your nighttime skin care routine. Target certain areas with a concentrated serum and use a face moisturizer to finish.
Make a TikTok
Video Chat Family & Friends using FaceTime, Google Hangouts, or Skype
Check iIt's a difficult time right now for many people, so check in on those closest to you routinely.
Watch Youtube Videos
Growing up, I used to listen to and watch music videos and browse through other content like comedy sketches by Jenna Marbles and NigaHiga and makeup tutorials from Michelle Phan and Promise Phan. Here are some channels I've discovered or been getting back into this week:
I've been watching The Try Guys since Keith Habersberger, Ned Fulmer, Zach Kornfeld, and Eugene Lee Yang created the group at Buzzfeed. I actually hadn't realized that they've since separated themselves from the internet media company, but I just love their content and that they're so willing to try pretty much anything for the audience's entertainment. They all have an amazing sense of humor and are also so genuine with their fanbase.
Write a Novel, Poetry, or Song
Do Yoga
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