10 Ways To Stay Calm And Carry On During Isolation

With the onset of the pandemic, the last year has been a tough one and it’s been a rollercoaster journey with a lot of lows and highs. Spending your days at home has become a necessity. However, the idea of spending much of your time cooped up can be quite boring and has left a lot of people feeling low and overwhelmed.

Self-isolation, if you have symptoms, living on your own, or staying at home and only interacting face-to-face with your family or flatmates, can be very challenging. To help you stay motivated, calm, and productive, here are 10 strategies you can implement.

1. Set A Routine

It’s very easy to fall into a loop of waking up whenever you want to and spending the entire day in bed and having an erratic eating schedule. Although it’s okay to have a day where you don’t feel like doing much and staying in bed all day, the idea is to have more days of the week or month that are structured.

So, set up a simple routine for yourself where you set your waking up time, bath time, meal times, work/study times, and break times. A simple routine can serve as a guideline for your day and help you stay busy and motivated.

2. Checklists

Planning can come in more handy than you anticipate, especially in these trying times. When you plan, you’re more likely to finish tasks and striking off things on your checklist can be so satisfying. It’s also a great way to reduce procrastination. You can make a to-do list. But remember not to overwhelm yourself with too many tasks!

These to-do lists can be weekly lists, monthly lists, or even daily lists, whatever works for you! The combination of a routine and a to-do list can have a positive impact on your overall health during this pandemic.

3. Exercise

Several research studies have proven the health benefits of exercise. Exercise is not just good for your physical health, it’s amazing for your mental health too! And remember, exercising is not primarily about losing weight.

It’s more important to feel fit and healthy than to look a certain way and conform to societal standards of beauty. Exercise releases endorphins, which, in turn, can have a positive effect on your mood. And exercise is about getting your body moving.

You don’t have to specifically do a certain type of exercises like calisthenics or strength training. You can just walk around or move around more. If you love dancing, then do that! Stretching is also very important to prevent body aches of any kind. Just do any kind of physical activity you love doing and remember to do it at least a few times a week.

4. Coloring Books

You remember how much fun you used to have when you’d be coloring in your coloring books as a kid. Yes, that’s right! Get some colored pencils, crayons or paint and buy a few coloring books for adults. Adult coloring books have intricately designed pictures. Coloring these pictures can have a very calming effect on people and it is also great for increasing your ability to concentrate. So buy coloring products online and get creative!

5. Breathing Exercises

If you’re someone who is struggling with how to cope with anxiety, breathing exercises are a great way to calm down. There are a lot of videos and articles that you can find online that demonstrate the various types of breathing exercises you can do when you’re experiencing palpitations from stress or feeling anxious.

The simplest one is to sit in a position that is comfortable for you. Make sure you wear loose clothes to maximize your comfort. Close your eyes and count from 1 to 5 slowly and breathe in while counting until 5.

Hold your breath while counting from 1 to 8 and then breathe out slowly while counting from 1 to 10. Do this for a few minutes every day as many times you want to. If you do this while lying on your bed, you can feel sleepy.

6. Hygiene Habits

Although everybody’s staying at home and not going out, it’s still a good idea to stay on top of your hygiene routine. Take a nice shower or bath every day and establish a little skincare routine that you can do twice a day.

Put on a little makeup sometimes even if you’re not going out. Wear a nice comfy outfit that’s not your nightwear! These simple self-care practices involving your physical appearance can actually make you feel happy and calm. Your skincare routine and bath time can be like your daily spa time!

7. Limit Your Exposure To Social Media

Social media has its fair share of advantages in terms of keeping people informed and up-to-date about who’s doing what, what’s happening around the world, and other types of news. However, it’s no surprise that during the pandemic people are also bombarded with upsetting news as the coronavirus takes its toll.

While it’s important to be aware of current world events, over-exposure to this type of information can be overwhelming and depressing. So limit how much news you’re exposing yourself to. Also, make sure that you get your information from verified, authentic sources, especially when it comes to finding information about the pandemic.

8. Journaling

Gratitude journaling or just writing in a journal about your feelings on a regular basis can really help you stay calm and happy. Write down a few things you’re grateful for when you wake up in the morning. Do this every day and you’ll feel the difference.

9. Virtual Socializing

Stay in touch with your loved ones through video calls, messages, and calls on a regular basis. This will help you stay connected and happy, as well as calm you down when you’re having a rough day.

10. Eat Right And Hydrate

Have yummy meals that are nutritious and treat yourself sometimes to your favorite meals and desserts. Hydration is also essential for staying healthy.

Implement these practices to make your life easier and feel calm!