Keeping Sane During a Lockdown

The quarantine has certainly sent me through some ups and downs. The days I wake up ready to work and tackle the world are the absolute best. Those are the days I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. But there are also those days when the quarantine feels endless, and I can’t bring myself to feel motivated about anything. It’s certainly been a challenge trying to stay healthy, balanced, and positive, but taking it a day at a time helps. And to keep from going TOO stir crazy, there are a few tips and suggestions I can share. I can’t promise they’ll work every day, but they’re what I’ve been trying to do to keep sane.

1. bake and cook, a lot.

This one’s not very good for your diet, but if you’re a foodie like me, cooking and baking is one of the activities I’ve looked forward to most during the lockdown. Whether it’s baking your own bread, making those muffins you adore, playing around with slow-cooked meats, or testing out unique sauces, cooking is therapeutic and it’s something you can be proud of. Sometimes it doesn’t turn out but at the end of the day, you’re learning and improving a skill that will be useful once we’re out of this. If baking or cooking isn’t your thing, you could also get crafty with cocktails. I’m not typically a cocktail person, but I’ve found it fun these days to learn how bartenders make those $15 drinks.

2. Find your “me time.”

I strongly encourage everyone to find their “me time,” or their happy place. Mine is hot baths. It’s basically one of the only moments these days that I have to myself — when I can read a book, watch a show, and just be on my own and be alone. To make it feel extra special, I like to light a hundred candles, turn off the lights, and have a snack I love while surrounded by bubbles. I tend to come out recharged and more relaxed than when I came in, and I encourage you to find what it is that lets you unwind at the end of a long day.

3. Get creative.

Ok, I’ll admit that I’ve struggled with this one. Much of my creativity is inspired by those moments when I’m, well, inspired. Lately, I’ve had a hard time channeling that energy, but it’s important to keep trying. Whether it’s drawing a doodle, writing a few paragraphs, or teaching yourself something new, doing something to take your mind off of all the madness is important. I started the quarantine with a ton of creative ideas - learning Spanish, writing a lot of blog posts, and painting a wall in our living room — and although I haven’t done those things, I’m doing what I can to inspire creative energy and be happy.

4. Walk outside.

Living in NYC, walking outside isn’t really a relaxing option anymore. When the quarantine started, I tried to go jogging sometimes and was usually met by a lot of other joggers. Going for a walk these days is the same scenario, you can’t really be alone and you need to wear a mask. It’s become more stressful than pleasurable — basically an act of necessity. Although it’s frustrating, and there are moments when I go stir crazy, I’m fortunate enough to have a rooftop and a terrace. When I feel on edge, I try to go outside and take a few deep breaths of fresh air, or just walk around for a few minutes. If you don’t have these options, then just stick your head out the window. Force yourself to do it, and enjoy being alive. Appreciate the moment for what it is.

5. Exercise.

When it’s sunny outside, I jump at the opportunity to take the car, drive an hour outside of the city, and go hiking. This has been life-changing during the quarantine. Although it’s hard to find parks that are still open and ones that aren’t too crowded, it’s truly worth the effort to find a hike off the beaten path.

During the week when I can’t go hiking, I’ve been taking a lot of virtual classes. Virtual dance cardio classes in particular have been a huge mood boost for me. The ones I take are filmed live every day at a studio I used to go to in NYC, and for those 45 minutes, I’m transported there. There are actually so many other online exercise classes available right now. A lot of studios are even posting live Instagram stories of workouts that you can drop in on for free. If you ask me, it would be a waste to not take advantage of this and discover what you enjoy most, so give it a shot.

6. Clean & organize the house, but only if you want to.

Now is the time to do all the little annoying pesky things you never want to do, but don’t feel the pressure that you have to either. If you’re bored one day and feel the urge, start by cleaning out your bedside drawer. Maybe another day focus on something else. Little by little, it feels good to check these things off your list. We finally hung up some stuff the other day that we’ve been pushing aside for weeks, and ordered some art for our bedroom. There’s definitely more that can be done, but baby steps are better than no steps!

7. Call friends.

I’m not a huge phone person, but every time I’ve FaceTimed a friend I’ve felt better and more connected. So even if it’s not your thing, I think it’s important to make the effort and just catch up with someone, even if it’s quick. It makes you realize that we’re all in this together, and if you happen to be living with your partner, it’s a treat to chat with someone else for a change ;)

8. Try not to worry about the future.

I hate not being able to look ahead and plan for the future. It’s been tough trying not to think about my upcoming wedding, my career, and even just future vacations and travel. I think of the moment when all of this is over — is the first thing I’m going to want to do be hop on a plane and fly to a beach? Go out dancing? There are days when I just sit there dreaming of the future, but I can guarantee that it doesn’t help to dream of the things I can’t currently change. So my advice? Try your hardest to focus on today, and not think too much about what will come post-COVID-19. Focus on what you can do to make today a better day because for now, that’s all we’re given.

9. Take care of yourself.

Last but not least, please take care of yourself. Put on some mascara if it’ll make you feel better, throw on a dress like you used to (or at the very least try not to wear pajamas or sweat pants one day), oh and here’s a crazy idea — put on some shoes for a change! Working (and basically living) from home is weird, and has taken getting used to, but it doesn’t mean we should totally let ourselves go. Another thing I’ve done is try out half of the skincare products I’ve been hoarding for months, because why not? Until this quarantine, I had only done a face mask once, I think when I was about 15 and had a horrible allergic reaction. Now is the time to experiment though. I even taught myself how to cut hair the other day, because a fresh trim always makes a person feel better. And the best part, if it doesn’t turn out well, who is even going to see you? So go on and dye your hair purple, buy flowers if they make you happy, burn candles, sing like a silly person. Whatever it is that you do, do it for you!