9 Ways to Make the Most of Your Summer Quarantine
If there’s one thing I’ve learned during quarantine, it’s the importance of finding your happy place—or rather, happy places. And by that, I mean, the activities that light you up, keep you engaged, and bring you joy and energy (even during a pandemic).
For me, it’s been crucial to helping me stay centered and keeping my head above water.
I began by making a list of all the activities that bring me joy—the ones that fuel me, calm me, and center me. I then downloaded an app called Strides (although any productivity app will do) that allows me to track the activities I do each day. There’s something satisfying about seeing all these checked boxes at the end of the day. And even when I only manage to check off one or two, I still feel like I accomplished something.
I’ve also found that it helps to make each goal measurable (e.g. “Do yoga for 30 minutes each day.”). If you don’t get to every one, that’s okay. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s about making time to do the things that make you feel good. It’s simple: Do more of what makes you happy.
Here are some of activities that I’ve found to be true ame changers for me during quarantine.
Do yoga.
For me, yoga is the perfect blend of balancing mind and body. Depending on my mood and goal, I’ll mix up what kind of yoga I do. Yin for slow, deep stretching. Power yoga to get a sweat on. Yinyasa Flow for something in between. Plus, if you tend to run a lot like me, it’s a perfect way to stretch out all those tight running muscles and protect the body from excessive wear-and-tear.
Meditate.
My goal: try to meditate for at least 27 minutes each day. Why 27 minutes? Neuroscientists at Harvard University found that 27 minutes of doing mindfulness meditation every day for eight weeks led an increase in self-awareness, compassion, and introspection. It also reduced stress and anxiety (something we can all use right now).
Run or walk.
Get the body moving and sweat. If you prefer kick-boxing or cycling or hiking, do it. Choose the thing that you enjoy and makes you light up inside.
Read.
In a 2016 New York Times interview, Bill Gates shared that he reads around 50 books each year. And he’s not the only one. Elon Musk, Barack Obama, Oprah, and Warren Buffett are all voracious readers. And if that’s not enough motivation, consider this. In his book, Change Your Habits, Change Your Life, Tom Corley talks about his five-year study where he found that 88% of self-made millionaires reported they spent at least 30 minutes every day on reading and self-education.
DrinK water.
Not only does water help everything inside work better (aids digestion, reduces inflammation, helps eliminate toxins), but it can also help give you more glowing, radiant skin. Some experts suggest, as a general rule-of-thumb equation: take half your body weight and drink that amount in ounces of water (ex: If you weigh 150 pounds, drink 75 ounces of water). For an extra boost, add lemon to help detoxify while you hydrate.
Weight train.
While an added bonus is the physical benefit, weight training simply does the body good. If you have weak hips and have trouble sitting for long periods, do more booty workouts. If you have back pain, try working on your core.
Get creative.
“Getting creative” means different things for different people: painting, singing, or photography. For me, it’s writing. There’s power in words. I’ve found that pouring out what I’m thinking or feeling onto a blank page, and sorting through the mental clutter of the day, can be extremely therapeutic. Don’t worry about being good at it. The point isn’t to be the most eloquent or experienced; the point is the be curious, open, and honest about what’s going on inside—without any judgement attached.
Jump in the ocean.
I realize that, depending on where you live, you might not have this luxury. If you don’t have the ocean nearby, consider taking a dip in a lake or a river. Don’t have either? Turn on the sprinklers. Nothing says summer like throwing on a bathing suit and taking a refreshing dip in the hot summer weather.
Pamper yourself.
Whether it’s lighting some candles, taking a bath with essential oils, or putting on your favorite face mask (green french clay), do something nice for yourself. Curate your ideal space—for me, it’s lots of plants, neutral colors and wood, Himalayan salt lamps, and natural aromas (either candles, essential oils in the diffuser, or Palo Santo, depending on my mood). This can be a stressful time, and giving yourself a little TLC can go a long way.