With the global pandemic, everyone is stuck at home due to quarantine and social distancing measures. For many, the isolation is challenging because human beings are wired to be social creatures. As the saying goes, no man is an island. Most of you may be experiencing anxiety and depression because you are not used to being cooped up home all day long.
When you can’t see other people, and you can’t perform your routine, your house becomes a prison. To minimize the feeling of oppression, you must keep yourself busy by engaging in activities the divert your mind and attention. By doing tasks that stimulate your brain and senses, you can lessen your anxieties and strengthen your mind. Read on to see five surefire alternative activities that reduce stress during isolation.
Engage in Indoor Gardening
There is something therapeutic about tilling the soil and watching your plants bloom and grow. It makes a lot of sense to start an indoor garden during this very trying period. You don’t need a big space to accommodate your potted plants. If flowers are not your thing, you can make an indoor herb garden, so you can use your plants when you cook. It’s relatively easy to grow coriander, basil, scallions, rosemary, dill, and the like. This is a win-win situation because it means you know that you’re cooking with ingredients that are not contaminated. Your plants will divert your attention and seeing them grow because of your TLC is very satisfying.
Dabble in the Art of Embroidery
It’s time to go old school by taking out your sewing kit and embroidery hoops. There are many patterns and designs that you can follow in Pinterest. It would be rewarding to make and design your table cloths, doilies, and tea towels with your unique embroidery embellishments. You’d be surprised that time flies away when you are busy with your needle and thread. Apart from coming up with amazing projects, embroidery helps you enhance your hand-eye coordination.
Create Your Own Artworks
Let your creative juices run wild by creating your own artwork. You can paint, draw, or do basic crafting. When you let your imagination run wild dreaming up of artistic concepts, positive thoughts will course through your brain. This affordable project will not break the bank as most art materials can be readily found in your house. Working with colors is also beneficial as it can stimulate your mind. The psychology of color indicates that each hue has a corresponding meaning. Green induces calm, while blue is excellent for stress relief. In addition, the warm tones like red, yellow, and orange will make you feel happy and vibrant. Doing this while in quarantine is a perfect idea to boost your spirits.
Perform an Exercise Routine
Now that you’re stuck at home, there are no excuses to skip your workout. Go to Youtube and find a fitness video that suits your tastes. There’s a broad range of exercise styles on this platform like Zumba, HIIT (high-intensity interval training), belly dancing, cardio kickboxing, yoga, resistance training, and more. You can vary your workouts to ease boredom. When you work out, you release toxins and improve circulation. Your brain also releases endorphins, the hormone responsible for making you feel happy. Apart from keeping you fit and healthy, engaging in exercise will help you combat stress.
Do Creative Experiments in Your Kitchen
Since you cannot go out to eat, it is time to optimize your kitchen. Keep yourself occupied by learning new dishes that you can serve your family. From main dishes to desserts, there are many recipes online that you can whip up on your own. You can also try to use some unusual herbs like culantro or lovage in your cooking. It is gratifying to feed your loved ones with good food that you made from scratch. Don’t forget that one of the secret ingredients to a good meal is to cook with love.
Final Word
It is normal to feel sad and upset because of this crisis. However, you must not let negativity bring you down. The power rests in your hands because you have the ability to fight anxiety and depression by choosing to keep busy. Be intentional with your tasks, so you can be productive even while you are at home. As the saying goes, happiness is a choice, so you get to decide if you will be a winner or whiner.