How to Stay Sane when Stuck at Home

Many states within the U.S. have been on a minimum 30-day lockdown since the COVID-19 outbreak. It is still unknown how much longer we will be stuck at home.

Countless people are eager to get back to work and enjoy their favorite activities, however, there’s no clear plan as to when that will happen just yet. With people on edge and tired of being stuck indoors, we’ve put together this helpful checklist to keep you sane.

How to Stay Sane when Stuck at Home

Physical Health

Let’s face it, we’re ALL eating the food we stored up, like animals getting ready to hibernate. Without adding a healthy well-balanced diet and fitness routine, we’re going to be in trouble.

So here’s what we suggest:

• Create a meal plan
• Use fresh ingredients when possible (it will help out those local farmers looking to unload their crops while providing your family nutrition)
• Drink plenty of water – it’s important to stay hydrated
• Set an exercise goal. It’s not fun staying cooped up indoors. It is OK to get outside and walk, ride a bike, etc. There are apps like Fitbit that are giving everyone premium access for free (limited time) and users can enjoy fitness routines that are anywhere from beginner to hard levels. Some of the workouts are as little as 10 minutes. You can manage that!
• Use your phone or an AI technology like Alexa to set timers to get you moving. Get up every half hour to an hour to stand up and stretch your legs.

Mental Health

Being isolated can make you feel lonely, and that can soon spiral into a depression.

To keep your spirits up when stuck at home we recommend:

• Start a gratitude journal. Believe it or not, it’s easier for us to think negatively than positively. So we have to work at it. Starting your day by writing down a few things you’re grateful for puts you in a positive headspace for the day.
• Add meditation or yoga to your routine. These methods have been known to help improve mental health. I use a free app called Simple Habit that offers guided meditations for as little as 5 minutes.
• Limit watching the news. Right now, the pandemic is on constant repeat on all the networks. It’s not good for your psyche to constantly hear doomsday news. I prefer to read an article every couple of days instead of listening to the options of others.
• Stay connected. We may be stuck indoors, but we all need human connection. Use Facetime on your iPhone, Skype, or Zoom which are all free video services to see your loved ones. Here are some excellent virtual games and activities to play.

Be Productive

There’s no time like the present to complete tasks you’ve put off due to lack of time. It will help the days pass by with ease too.

Some recommendations are:

• Declutter. Yes, we all have it. Clutter is known to bring on anxiety which doesn’t help in a pandemic. An easy way to do this is by creating a decluttering schedule and moving room by room. Don’t feel obligated to declutter the entire house in a day. You’ll feel so much better once you are done, and be sure to schedule a donation pick-up too.
• Organize the garage. It’s the one space that’s overlooked in many homes. Use this time to clean it out.
• Take an online class in a subject you want to know more about. Maybe it will inspire you to find a new career!
• Learn a new hobby, or start up an old one that you haven’t had time for. I personally enjoy pictures but it’s been years since I put together a photo album. With the help of cool sites like Snapfish, you can easily upload all your fav photos and create a picture book that can be printed and shipped to you, or surprise a family member with one of their own.

Keep a Routine

All of the days are blending together, right? By creating a routine Monday through Friday, it will help you differentiate between weekdays and weekends. Use the recommended suggestions above to help create your routine.

Things to include in your routine might be:

• Get dressed each day. Think about it – if you stay in your pj’s every day, shower every few days, and so on, it can bring you down mentally. So get up each day and get ready!
• Write in your gratitude journal for a positive mindset.
• Do a 5-minute guided meditation.
• Eat a healthy breakfast and make sure to meal plan for the week so you know what’s for dinner.
• Include exercise in your day, whether it’s a walk outside, yoga, or guided workout (with your favorite yoga pants!)
• Look at your declutter schedule and complete one room.
• Take an online course or do a fun DIY or craft.
• Schedule some face time with your friends or family.
• Eat a healthy dinner and get a good night’s rest.

We hope these tips will help you stay sane when stuck at home!

 

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