Shelter-in-Place: 7 tips for being stuck at home

This is a weird time. It is a weird time for me. It is a weird time for the entire world. We are being asked to stay home. It seems simple on the surface. But in a culture that emphasizes constantly moving and constantly doing, we haven’t made friends with stillness. I’m currently working on a post relating to this issue on a broader scale, but it’s taking me longer than expected. More importantly, I’m allowing it to take me longer than I expected. But I still want to put helpful information out there. So I put a pin in that piece. It is thoughtful, introspective, and an examination of a society’s way of thinking, being, and doing. Instead, I’ve decided to write something more straightforward, simple, and significantly more practical for this moment. These are some of the things I am doing to keep my sanity (or, what was left of it before this pandemic began).

Here are 7 tips to help you get through your time stuck at home. View it as an experiment. Try some things on, see what fits you, and leave the rest. 

1) Make a schedule

Every morning when I get up, the first thing I do is make a schedule. But this can be done by the week, or by whatever increments work for you. You can make a weekly schedule if you need more planning. You can do half-days at a time if you need less. If you’re working, you can schedule out your work week and fill in the blanks as you feel like it. On the days that I am not working or when I have less work to do, it can be easy for me to do nothing interesting, leaving me without any sense of fulfillment at the end of the day. Making a schedule is a good way for me to split up my day, do some different things throughout the day, and feel less stagnant. Because I rarely get a change in scenery, changes in activity can make a world of difference. 

So, what goes on the schedule? Everything. The schedule is not about getting a bunch of extra work done, doing anything extravagant, or trying to be as “productive” as possible. It isn’t a contest to see who is doing more, or even a way to try to do more than the previous day. It isn’t to put pressure on you to get things done. It is simply a strategy to break up the day. I do schedule the time I need to spend working, and some small chunks of time here and there to work on cleaning and going through my stuff. But a lot of my schedule looks like leisure time. I schedule things like naps, binge watching X files, and doing the few artistic things I currently have the energy for. I also schedule some important self-care, such as going for walks, stretching, and journaling. 

There are no rules for making or applying this schedule. You don’t have to stick to it perfectly, and it may even get totally thrown out the window on some days. That is all more than okay. The point of the schedule is to relieve the pressure of not knowing what to do, not to make you feel pressured to check off every box.

2) Make an activity list

If the schedule thing isn’t for you, or if you don’t want to schedule every day, you can just make an activity list. Again, no rules for this. You can make a daily list of activities to do whenever, or you can make a master list to turn to when you’re just feeling stuck on ideas and bored. If you’re like me, boredom at home can sometimes lead to choice paralysis and forgetting all of the options I actually have. Having a list of options takes away my excuse to stay bored and miserable.

Having this list can also remind you that, while we are all limited in what we can do, there is still stuff to do! Make this list as long as you can. Add to it when you do something new or remember something old. Don’t let yourself fall into the trap of “nothing to do,” because there is always something to do. Don’t let yourself look down on any activity (within reason). It is okay to watch TV for a while. It is okay to play video games. It is okay to nap. It is better than okay. It is an opportunity for enjoyment! Don’t discount the activities that so many people label as lazy. 

While you’re at it, make a list of movies and tv shows you want to watch, or books and articles you want to read. Physically write it down. Checking off boxes or crossing off titles can remind you that you’ve done something with your time, and increase your feelings of fulfillment. There is something satisfying in seeing progress made, even if it is just progress on catching up on a TV show you’ve been meaning to watch.

3) Move your body

If there are two things I am becoming increasingly aware of as this goes on, it is muscle cramps and stiffness. Ditch the pressure to do certain exercises, burn a certain number of calories, run a certain number of miles. Just move in a way that feels good to you. Pay attention to the movement needs of your body. Everyone is different. You may need a solid hour of movement once a day. You may need a few minutes of pacing every hour or two. You may need relaxing movement like stretching and restorative yoga. You may need energy releasing movement like running or other cardio. 

There is no one right way to move, but it is important that you move in ways that work for you. This is a great time to try new movement ideas you may not have tried before! Maybe that workout class you’ve been too self-conscious to go to is available online. Maybe your friend who has been trying to drag you to yoga will do some with you over video chat. This is also a great time to remember what movement was fun for you when you were younger. Can you say impromptu dance party?

4) Focus on the 3 basics: water, food, and sleep

These are three things that are vitally important to all of us, without exception. These things are vitally important when things are normal. But now, things are not normal. We are actively going through a trauma. This means we are going to need to do some healing. Healing requires nourishment and rest. Eating enough is more important than eating perfectly. Sleeping enough is more important than maintaining an ideal sleep schedule. Drinking enough water is more important than when you drink it. If you find yourself forgetting to eat or drink water, set up reminders for yourself in whatever way works for you. If you’re struggling to get enough sleep, make sure you are getting a lot of rest. We all likely need more rest and more food than we believe we should, because, again, we are in a crisis, and crises require healing.

5) Get your sun, fresh air, and nature fix

I have been spending a lot of time on my balcony these days. I am lucky enough to live somewhere that I can do that. But if you don’t, sit outside your front door. Sit inside and open your blinds all the way, or even your actual windows if the weather is comfortable enough for you. Get some sun, even if it’s not as direct as you’d like it to be. It’s easy to take fresh air for granted, so it can be hard to remember to treat it as important. But it is. Breathe it in. 

Experiencing nature has been repeatedly shown to be beneficial for people’s mental health and overall well-being. If you have somewhere very isolated to be outside, wonderful. If you’re not able to get outside somewhere you’re sure you’ll be isolated enough, use what has been unfairly deemed the enemy of nature—your TV or computer. The human brain is an amazing thing, and the imagined experience of nature is still powerful. Look up some beautiful nature photography, or watch a nature documentary. Anything by BBC Earth will not let you down. 

6) Stay comfortably connected

We all need social interaction. We are not meant to be isolated, and the fact that it is suddenly necessary does not make it easy or comfortable. Make sure you are staying connected to the people you love. There are a variety of ways to get creative beyond the standard texts, calls, and video chats. Pick a movie you and a loved one both can access, and text or talk on the phone while you watch, or use Netflix Party if you have access to it. Start a virtual book club. Play video games together, or even play games like words with friends together. Find interesting ways to stay connected that feel more satisfying than the standard go-to’s. 

As important as social interaction is, the need for boundaries is as present as ever. Give yourself the time and space you need. Remember that just because you are at home does not mean you need to answer every single phone call you receive. People are not more entitled to your time just because you may have more of it than usual. Find your own balance, because it won’t look like mine, or your mother’s, or your best friend’s. Check in with yourself regularly to know if you need space or if you need connection, and communicate that to people. Knowing your social limits is as important as knowing your social needs. 

7) Set goals for what you want to do, not what you think you should do. 

Goals have a bit of a bad reputation for being tedious. But goals don’t have to be things that we do out of obligation! Set enjoyable goals that are meaningful to you! Is your goal to take a nap 4 days a week because you haven’t been sleeping? Wonderful! Is your goal to try a new pizza place every week until this is over? Do it. Is your goal to improve your cooking? Start printing out recipes for your favorite dishes that you’ll actually enjoy eating! 

Make the goals gentle, or even easy. You don’t need to do the equivalent of climbing Mt. Everest. You can do the equivalent of climbing up a sledding hill, or even just the stairs to your front door. But setting and achieving goals is great for self-esteem and morale. You’re allowed to set yourself up for success. You’re encouraged to set yourself up for success.