Advice : Staying Sane While Staying at Home

Greetings Homebounders! It's day 16 for us here in Ireland and I know that some are getting a little cabin fever. Fear not, as I am here to help! I have been preparing the last decade for this: whether it be as a remote online store employee, a lonely graduate student alone in the lab with only my research to console me, or as a stay-at-home-parent, I've got a few tips that may help make this Dystopian Present more bearable to those who are socially-distancing-challenged by nature.

An eerily quiet Dublin town a few weeks before the quarantine

1. ORGANIZE :
Having had to be self-motivated for a long time, I have always found that making a list helps me stay focused. What's nice about creating your own schedule isn't that it's an opportunity to be lazy, but rather that you're able to make that schedule flexible. There are things that need to be done, but always leave padding in there in case someone calls that you  need to chat to, you feel tired and need a cat nap, or the dog randomly got diarrhea and needs a bath post haste. I also have an order of importance, and have a general time frame of when things need to be done. Things like cleaning and laundry are daily, while painting the kitchen is something I'll allow myself a month to do when I have a good space for it. It's important to be realistic so you don't feel defeated at the end of the day. Starting small is okay too : groceries, cleaning, and online work are perfectly acceptable to have on your list for the week, just make sure to stick to it! My dad used to write lists with little boxes to the left of the chore. It was so fulfilling for me to check off those boxes. I think that feeling of accomplishment by checking a tiny self-created box is still something that drives me today. It's the little things.

Our color-coded whiteboard with 4 categories : House Chores, Online/Phone, Gardening/Outdoors, Grocery/Out of home

2. EXERCISE :
This doesn't have to be anything big or specific, but even just 5 minutes a day of your activity of choice, whenever you decide to start your day, can help. I find that a little bit of yoga when I'm about to start my day helps boost my mood and energy. Physiologically, it also releases adrenaline and dopamine, so it's kinda like having a cuppa without the caffeine. You're welcome of course to have your cuppa afterwards. When self-motivating, I find this tip very useful.

Neva working on her handstand

3. CONNECT WITH NATURE :
Whether you are in a high-rise in the middle of New York, or in the country, even the slightest bit of connecting with nature helps put things in perspective. We are here and part of something bigger. Though isolated, the birds, the bees, the flowers, and trees are also here to give us hope. Obviously, being outside is preferred; if you have a garden you can retreat to or animals to show love to. For those who cannot retreat outdoors without risk, maybe take some time to just look out the window and bird watch, or take up a pencil and paper and draw some of the nature you see. Experimenting with regrowing root veggies in your kitchen as you use them (like celery, spring onions, carrots, etc.) can also be very rewarding and give you some extra O2 circulation when you feel like the room just got another cubic centimeter smaller!

A terrible photo of a friendly corvid perched at our window

Sammie enjoying the great outdoors on (the within walking distance) Bray Head

4. CONNECT WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY :
Feeling lonely? Call a friend you haven't talked to in a while! As an ex-pat, all of my family is in the United States, so I am used to having to make the long distance effort. As well, being without a car, you need to be more purposeful in your movements and need to communicate well to prevent unnecessary travel. Staying connected through apps like WhatsApp, Hangouts, and now Zoom, has been a very important part of staying involved with the people I care about. So if the mood strikes you, don't hesitate, pick up the phone.

My mom and I having a phone chat

4. CONNECT WITH YOURSELF :
Work on yourself emotionally. We all have baggage that we push aside that festers, but which we are never able to address because we are "too busy". Take some time for inner reflection and what that means to you. Whether it's 5 minutes of meditation, reading Eckhart Tolle, or talking to someone you feel you've let down, take time for yourself. You likely won't have this opportunity for reflection again in your lifetime until retirement with how busy modern life tends to be. Also, be good to your body. With being secluded, we have the opportunity to filter what we put into our bodies and make lots of delicious hand made food. Cooking is a great distraction if you're alone, or a great bonding activity if there are others in the house. Things like corn tortillas are only 3 ingredients, easy to make, and perfect for when Taco Tuesday comes around!

Roll 'em...

Pat 'em...

And fill 'em up with beans!

5. PICK A HOBBY :
Choose one thing that you have always wanted to do. You can have a list of LOTS of things if you wish, but be realistic. Pick at least one thing that really draws you in. You may be limited to what's around the house as Joann's Fabrics and Michaels probably aren't deemed "necessary" right now, but there are definitely plenty of things available. It may be as simple as learning to draw, making something out of paper mache, or learning to crochet. You could also be super practical about your hobby and start getting gourmet with your cooking, pickling and fermenting foods, learning how to make your own clothes, or gardening. My hobbies I would term 'chaotic practical'.

I started experimenting with watercolor!

6. RELAX :
Again, this may be your once in a lifetime chance before retirement to relax. Yes you have a schedule and things that need doing, but typically the order isn't strict as long as it gets done. If you feel tired, take a nap, if you need a break, read your book or watch your favorite movie, if you're feeling anxious, meditate. Take the time to decompress and heal from the stress of a busy life. Yes, plants need stress to grow, but they also spend months in a 'latent phase' where they gather nutrients and wait until the conditions are just right. Once all conditions are met, then they are ready to emerge proudly. I think we too need a 'latent phase' where we are allowed to ponder and gather nutrients.

Sammie in her "latent phase"

***BONUS : CREATE A TRAVEL ITINERARY
Okay, so, hear me out. I know the idea of travel for many right now sounds awful, but for those of you who have had to cancel your trip due to Covid-19, planning another trip may just be the right medicine. A 2010 psychological study on happiness and travel showed that people actually were happier before they went on holiday than after they came back. The anticipation of going on the trip actually makes people happier than going on the trip itself. It makes sense when you look at people's faces when they are going on the trip, versus when they are heading home!

Proof  : on the way to Austria

Returning from Austria

So that's the gist. This is my guide to staying happy and healthy while spending countless days on end at home. We are all able to take time to enjoy our own company and the peace and quiet that comes with it. (Unless you have kids, then there's no quiet, but maybe, just maybe you might be able to find some peace.)