With the state of the world, the current new normal for a lot of us is to stay within our four walls, for the health and future of ourselves and society at large. The necessity of self-quarantine does not have to signal an end to one’s daily activities, it might just be that opportunity needed to start something new or get back to things left uncompleted.
With the range of possibilities available, below are a compilation of tips to keep you moving and grooving.
In the Kitchen
As noted by chief editor of Epicurious, David Tamarkin, in his interview with NPR, venturing out to the grocery store, you might automatically go for frozen foods and canned items but then there’s all the fresh vegetables and fruits left untouched. Instead, you can take vegetables, cut and freeze them all on your own. And if you use herbs in your cooking, and even if you usually don’t, Tamarkin suggests preserving them by blending, adding some garlic, olive oil as well as chili flakes and spices. Anytime you are cooking, you now have a sauce that will last you weeks, adding flavors to your meals. Lastly, with the amount of time you will spend in your home, you can take the time to make those time consuming meals you have been meaning to as well maybe take on baking a loaf of bread from scratch. This is a great time to take on those recipes that help to pass the time.[1]
Words from Space
NASA astronaut Scott Kelly spent a record breaking full year in space and knows a little bit about how to make self-isolation work, here are just a few suggestions as shared by Huffpost: [2]
- Create and commit to a schedule, work has a tendency to take over when where you live and work is the same place, having some sort of structure will help you balance those two worlds.
- Don’t forget to have FUN! While in space, Kelly and his crewmates would meet up for a night of Game of Thrones binging.
- Bedtime is important, you want to keep it consistent as you would have done in a regular week.
The Internet is Full of Ideas
Buzfeed, long known for its pop culture-related lists and quizzes, did not a miss a step and reached out to its community on how to make it work at home and here are just some of the “do’s” that made the list: [3]
- Time to sit and read, nothing like being enthralled in the adventure and romance of your favorite character from that one book you’ve been meaning to read.
- Just because you are inside does not mean you can’t get some light. Open those curtains and blinders wide and let that sunlight shine in.
- With all the available apps and social media platforms, reach out to friends and family, catch up and spend some quality time.
[1] Michel Martin, “Cooking Tips For Self-Isolation,” NPR, March 21, 2020, https://www.npr.org/2020/03/21/819629091/cooking-tips-for-self-isolation.
[2] Josephine Harvey, “Astronauts Share Insightful Tips On Self-Isolation During Coronavirus Pandemic,” Huffpost, March 23, 2020, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/astronaut-coronavirus-isolation_n_5e784518c5b63c3b649313bf.
[3] Rebecca O’Connell, “19 Ways To Stay Busy And Calm While Under Self-Quarantine,” Buzfeed, March 15, 2020, https://www.buzzfeed.com/bekoconnell/ways-to-keep-yourself-busy-and-calm-while-stuck-at-home.