Keeping Your Mind Occupied When Self-Isolating

Following the guidelines of many expert medical personnel and institutions, many of us are self-isolating to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. Yet while self-isolation is something we partake in in order to help prevent the spread of physical difficulty, for some people, being cooped up in the same place for weeks or even months can take its toll.

Even those who work from home or are practised in the art of staying in can sometimes feel a little put-out when this becomes a requirement, and not a voluntary choice. All of a sudden, our freedom can feel suppressed, because it is. This means that in order to stay healthy and to reduce our mental anguish, especially after some weeks, it can be worthwhile to keep your mind cared for and occupied.

For this reason, we hope to suggest a range of activities you may wish to take part in, and what the benefits of following these measures may be. While none of us view this period of time as a positive, self-isolating needn’t be half as bad as you may imagine, provided you keep disciplined. Here’s what that may look like:

Exercise & Yoga

It’s important to get enough exercise when self-isolating, yet being cooped up without access to a gym can be a hard ask as far as this is concerned. Of course, for some, running a nature trail may be an acceptable option, provided you’re never in proximity to others, but it could, unfortunately, be that staying at home is a much more guaranteed form of staying safe, and keeping others safe.

Thankfully, there are many exercises we can take part in while still at home. For instance, you may decide to purchase a few dumbells or kettlebells, and learn how to take part in regular squatting, or overhead presses. Complex compound movements like this, well researched, can help you both stretch and exercise carefully at the same time. This can raise your heartbeat and even help you lose weight.

However, it can also be that exercises that take the least amount of space possible to complete can be important. Even with your arms and legs outstretched, you’ll find that no equipment, or limited equipment, is better than purchasing a treadmill for your small apartment. This is where yoga can be a great practice to follow. Additionally, taking care of yoga to do when sick can help you stretch and brush off those cobwebs if needed, although this should never be taken as direct medical advice.

Learn Something New

The time we have inside can, provided we have access to the internet or referral textbooks, help us learn a new skill. Perhaps you could learn to meditate using the Vipassana technique, as demonstrated in Mindfulness In Plain English, and a range of other resources you can find online for free. 

Sewing some of the damages in your clothes together, using online brain games to stay sharp, trying new recipes (especially important due to the variance of available groceries we find out there each day), and even learning how to video or photo edit with cheap subscriptions to the best suites, such as Adobe, can be a fantastic place to start. This way, you can come out of this temporary societal setback having made good use of your time. Sometimes, that’s the most important thing to take care of.

Try Taking Freelance Jobs

Nearly 10 million Americans lost their jobs in April this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. The coronavirus pandemic is predicted to last until 2021 and beyond, which will put many more in a state of job insecurity. 

If job security is one of the worries plaguing your mind during self-isolation, consider looking for ways to make money so you can save more in case you lose your current job. Try looking for freelance work on platforms, like Upwork, Toptal, and Fiverr. Before you can start freelancing, you’ll need to have your own computer to take tasks. Never use company-issued tools to do jobs for your freelance employers. There are lots of affordable refurbished computer units available online that work as well as brand-new ones do. While it’s important to save money during these uncertain times, it’s okay to invest in things that will help you take jobs to supplement your income. 

Maintain Your Life Accounts

It can be nice to ‘maintain your life accounts’ during this stage. By this, we mean looking through your finances and planning for the upcoming year, especially due to whatever setbacks you may have encountered in employment. Additionally, you may decide to find online opportunities, such as once again resuming your online freelance work. Then again, sometimes journaling your thoughts can be enough to help you reflect, which we can find little time to do during the progress of any normal busy week.

To put things simply, getting your affairs in order can help you make solid use of this time, and the overriding feeling of productivity will be something you appreciate. After all, in times like this, it can feel like our life is on pause. This can lead to lethargy and feelings of ennui. Yet when you manage to follow a few practices you have been meaning to schedule for some time, you can at least lessen the dutiful burden you may face when resuming everyday life.

 

With this advice, we hope you can keep your mind occupied when self-isolating. You’re sure to feel your best self in this scenario.

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