How am I staying productive during this worldwide pandemic?
The short answer is I’m NOT. I would love to say that I have written a whole book or some other brilliant authorly things, but the truth is staying safe in the house has had the opposite effect on me. I had all kinds of plans for 2020 just like everyone else, but needless to say they are a bust amid this Covid-19 quarantine. I read an article that discussed the effects of cabin fever.
Cabin fever can be seen as a real condition that not everyone experiences the same symptoms but common symptoms are restlessness, trouble concentrating, decreased motivation, frequent napping, and helplessness. In case you didn’t notice, that list did not include superhuman productivity. But there are a few things that I’ve been doing during this time to make myself feel better. Maybe you can do some of these things and they will allow you to thrive while you’re staying safe.
Virtual happy hour
My friends and I decided to take advantage of apps like Duo to meet up on Fridays for a virtual happy hour. It allowed us to see each other’s faces and sit down and share camaraderie while sipping on our favorite adult beverages. Other ideas if you don’t drink, are virtual family dinners, virtual lunches with coworkers. I also attended an awesome virtual birthday celebration on Zoom that included a live DJ.
Live streaming concerts
DJ D-Nice broke the internet the other night when he decided to go live on Instagram spinning hip-hop tunes from his living room. Since then, other musicians have been hosting live concerts from the comforter their homes for all of us to enjoy. Whether it’s for free or if they’re charging a small fee, this is the way to enjoy music, something that usually brings us all together.
Learn a new skill
I am a Crafter. I do a bit of everything crafting and I recently bought a Cricut Maker that will allow me to explore all of the crafting ideas from paper crafting to designing and making my own t-shirt iron-on graphics. During this time of isolation, many websites such as Blueprint are offering free classes for you to level up your crafting skills.
Practice Self Care
Self-Care has been a hot buzz word lately but rings true now more than ever. With salons and spas of all types shut down, we can’t let taking care of ourselves become a distant memory. This is a great time to learn how to do some new hairstyles, learn how to do gel or dip powder manicures at home. Let’s not forget those feet and try a pedicure also.
I’ve done them all since we have not been able to go to the salons. All kinds of nail kits are available on Amazon. I have also been working out with various apps like the Peloton app and doing workout via Youtube. Eventually, we will see the light of day and no one wants to have gone for too many weeks without managing self-care. Can you imagine how busted everyone will look after this is over? The lines to the salons will be endless.
Whatever it is you do, it’s important to think more about all the things you can do instead of focusing on all the things that you can’t. It’s important to try to keep a positive attitude and good mental health. If you’re feeling stressed and lonely, don’t be afraid to call up a friend or family member. My heart goes out to you if you’ve lost someone or are yourself recovering from the illness. We’re staying at home alone but we’re all in this together. Hit me up on the socials and let me know what you’re doing to combat cabin fever.
Be safe. Stop the spread. Stay home.
If you’re in need of a bit of fiction to take you out of the mundane, check out my book Gallery of Lies on Amazon.
