Quarantine Routine: How I Protected My Mental Health
Wake up. Wash hands. Overeat. Have anxiety about COVID-19. Ignore calls and texts. Take a nap. Stay away from others. Overeat. Wash hands. Ignore calls and texts. Go to sleep. Repeat.
I had isolated myself beyond quarantine rules and closer to witness protection for the first week of quarantine. This routine began to ruin my mental health. It wasn’t until I realized how disconnected I was during a time where connection has become increasingly important—distant connection, of course—that I knew something needed to change. So, my quarantine routine was the first thing to go.
First things first: Routines are necessary, so instead of tossing the old routine, I revamped it. This time, sans total isolation. While my routine may fluctuate based on daily tasks, the day-to-day goes a little like this:
Sources (top to bottom): TheOdysseyOnline, Mrfood, Pinterest, Blogilates
9:30 a.m. Most of my morning is spent getting ready for the afternoon, when actual work gets done. Once I’m awake, the first thing I do is play Trivia Crack 2, an app that tests your knowledge against others. I do this to stay connected with family opponents and to begin my day by stimulating my brain.
10:00 a.m. 30-day challenges have saved my life. I do a 15-minute workout that starts with a yoga routine, and goes on to abs and arm workouts. Working out is extremely important, especially during quarantine since I’m not out and about, or nearly as active as I was before.
10:30 a.m. At this point, I’m in desperate need of a shower and breakfast, which I always pair with caffeine, whether it be coffee or tea. This is also when I plan out my days, using an agenda in conjunction with the Notes app on my phone. By the time I’m finished planning, I have a to-do list full of homework, creative projects, and numerous Zoom meetings.
11:30 a.m. Before I get started on tasks, I journal on days that I don’t have therapy. Keeping my therapy appointments has been a game-changer for my mental health. Having them over the phone rather than in person does feel quite different, but the results are ultimately the same.
12:30 a.m. Work. Work. Work. This is when my schedule is flooded, and my eyes are glued to my laptop screen. I go from working on assignments to sending emails to joining Zoom calls for editorial work. I check off every task accomplished, not only to keep track of my progress, but also to cope with the overwhelming anxiety that continuously ails me.
2:30 p.m. I eat lunch at this time, unless I’ve been munching, in which case—lunch can be postponed. Keeping and following a routine is important, but being fickle with food has made me realize that I need the wiggle-room to allow moments of choice and freedom.
3:30 p.m. Working, again. Because this is when I’m on electronics the most, this is also when I respond to texts and make FaceTime calls. Instead of isolating myself, ignoring communication, and falling down a rabbit hole of my own mild depression—I make time to communicate. It’s saved me from going completely bonkers.
8:30 p.m. Once I’ve completed my work for the day, relief floods my body. It never fails. At this point, I have dinner with my family and catch up on TV shows and news.
9:30 p.m. Washing dishes is the bane of my existence, but if I don’t do any household chores, I’ll feel like I haven’t accomplished anything at all. I use the time to sing loudly or silently recap my emotions, depending on my mood.
10:00 p.m. From here on, I make sure to do things that make me happy. Whether this be playing board games with family, watching Buzzfeed Unsolved, or going on Houseparty with friends, I make time for myself—the final step of keeping myself sane.
During this corona-consumed time, many therapists aren’t accepting new patients. So, here are some sources to help if you’re struggling with your mental health during quarantine: