It’s my last day of mandatory quarantine!
When I was told I had to quarantine because a student of mine tested positive for COVID, I didn’t think it was too big of a deal since we did it for so many months earlier this year. That was until I realized that this meant I couldn’t leave my property; I couldn’t even go on walks! How the heck was I going to stay happy & healthy in quarantine when I couldn’t leave my property and had to work and take care of my two babes?
I was fortunate that I was able to teach online meaning there was no disruption to my income. But it’s been hard to deal with at times and a few things have kept me from going absolutely crazy!
I figure with numbers going up through the winter, more and more people will find themselves at home again so here are 3 ways to stay healthy & happy in quarantine that worked for me.
WORKOUT
Ugh! I know! we’ve all been this told over and over. During the first quarantine my husband worked 16 hour days and I was home alone with a 2 year old and a newborn! I would get so annoyed when I was told to workout, especially by young 20-somethings without kids.
BUT those gals were on to something.
One of the classes I taught this week included online PE which meant the workouts were home based. I did them with my students and noticed a huge boost in my mood. We did barre which is a deceptive workout because it seems low impact but I was sweating like crazy! I felt pain in leg muscles I didn’t even know existed.
And damn it if I didn’t start feeling more energetic. So I busted out my bike trainer and took advantage of this unseasonably warm weather with daily bike sessions on the deck.
There are SO MANY apps that you can find the perfect workout for you. I love Downward Dog for yoga and Nike Training Club for cardio and strength.
LEARN A NEW SKILL
In the spring I decided I needed to use my brain so I signed up with the Online Yoga School and got to work. I’ve just finished everything for my 200 Yoga Teacher certification and am just waiting for final approval to make it official!
It felt so good to have something to challenge my brain when most of the day was spent in front of the TV. And this new skill will be so helpful as I purse a career in physical education.
I also discovered FIA Life Coaching Certification! If you thought about helping others for a living and want to work virtually, life coaching is a great option. This is a 20 hour course plus and additional 20 hours of business training, easily finished in a two week period.
SMART NETFLIX
I spend the first month of our first quarantine watching reality TV. But after that month my brain was CRAVING something more challenging and I began my descent down Netflix’s documentary black hole. I’m so glad I did because there is so much about our world that I know very little about.
Some of the best Netflix documentaries I’ve watched include:
- Plastic Ocean
- Down to Earth
- Dolly Parton; Here I am
- Diana in Her Own Words
- Fyre
- Becoming
- Unstoppable
- Athlete A
- Blackfish
- Chasing Coral
- The Last Dance
And I have a list FULL of other documentaries. These documentaries have challenged my ideals, given me insight into the life of others, and inspired to make a lot of changes.
If you are stuck at home for the next two weeks, pick one documentary a day and vary the topics. It will entertain and educate you at the same time.
Take a Deep Breath- You Can Do This
Being quarantined is hard and guess what? It’s okay to struggle with it! Too often people who express their struggles are met with criticism because “it’s for the lives of others” or “you have it better than most,” etc. And while yes, it is good to be grateful for a home to quarantine in, your health, and things to entertain you- IT’S OK TO STRUGGLE WITH IT TOO!
Take a deep breath, stay off social media, and tune into a documentary instead; a cute animal one if you’re feeling blue. It’s like the British say “keep calm and carry on.”
How do stay happy & healthy during quarantine?
