Had to Cancel Your Vacation Because of COVID-19? Here’s What You Should Do
Do you like to take vacations? Statistics suggest that you absolutely do. Surveys show that 92% of all American workers agree that taking vacations is important to them, and that’s not the only reason people are getting out of the house. Many Americans are also members of local fitness clubs or indoor gyms; some 58 million of them are going to such clubs every year. Meanwhile, the numbers show that the average American moves 12 times in their life, often in their earlier decades. However, COVID-19, a dangerous coronavirus, is causing a serious pandemic right now. This probably hampered or canceled all your vacation and resort plans, and now you are not sure how to spend that newfound free time. But don’t worry; there are always options.
Sanitation And Safety
Let us first touch upon the topic of safety. You probably have heard a number of health guidelines already, but remember: safety comes first, even if COVID-19 does not yet have a major presence in your area. Washing your hands often is key, and you should avoid touching your face (especially your mouth) at all times. On top of that, be sure to use hand sanitizer if you don’t have access to soap while out and about, and cough and sneeze into your elbow or a tissue, not into the open air. Be sure to practice social distancing while outside, as in, keeping about six feet away from other people and not touching them at all (even handshakes). You might also limit how often you travel in public vehicles or go carpooling. Lastly, minimize how often you are outside; ideally, you’re only going outside for grocery shopping and for short, safe walks to stretch your legs. Besides, many places of businesses are closed right now.
Quarantine and Exercise
Being inside does not mean that you have to sit on your couch all day long (even if you are tempted to). While it is best to lift weights or take a spin class at a fitness center if you want rigorous exercise, you can find some gentle alternatives in your home. For example, you can perform pushups, sit-ups, and lunges with ease and without needing any particular equipment, and this won’t make a big racket that will bother your downstairs neighbors (if you live in an apartment). Studies suggest that doing some light exercise in the morning right after you get out of bed is a wonderful way to get the blood moving and fully wake up your brain, so why not try it out? On a somewhat related note, try out yoga, and look up videos online to perform some stretches and poses that you are comfortable with. This can relax your mind and make you feel more alert, too.
Is it safe to take walks outside or go jogging or bicycle riding? If you are in a major city with many cases of COVID-19, such as New York City, the answer is probably no. But if that’s not the case, feel free to get some exercise outside, so long as you are sensible about it. For one thing, don’t do it at all if you are ill. Also, practice social distancing, and don’t touch any playground equipment (or much of anything, really). Social distancing is key here, and in a large park or along a nature trail, it should be pretty easy to keep your distance from other people (if you even see anyone at all). If you do all this, enjoy your time outside, and take comfort that you are boosting your health in many ways.
How? The human body is meant to exercise, and even just a half-hour of brisk walking may do the trick, let alone playing soccer or lifting weights. Exercise can help your brain release dopamine, and it may have a similar effect as taking antidepressants. Meanwhile, you will also feel cheered up by having sunlight exposure, which again functions very similarly to prescription drugs for your mood (but wear sunglasses if you must). Even the fact that you are around nature, such as trees and grass, can improve your mood, and there is a Japanese term for this relaxing and pleasant natural experience: “forest bathing.” If you can reach a park that includes copses of trees or a small forest, give it a try.
Quarantine and Education
Most likely, your children (if you have any) are home from school, and they will need something to occupy their time. So, why not give them some circumstantial homeschooling? Children and adolescents need constant mental stimulation to allow their brains to grow and to give them good habits and attitudes about their education. During these difficult times, give your children educational documentaries to watch (you should enjoy them too), and engage in a conversation or light debate about what you just watched. This can exercise some critical thinking and analytical skills for sure. On a similar note, give your children some age-appropriate educational books (digital or print) to read, and you should do the same for yourself. Many Americans are behind on their reading list, and this is a fine time for you to catch right back up.
Don’t forget online college courses. More and more often, students are taking courses online, and if you already were, then this quarantine may not affect your education much at all. Also, you have the option to enroll in an online college course for personal enrichment or for skill-building to enhance your career. No one is ever too old or too smart to learn something new; self-investment is something everyone is entitled to.
Quarantine and Connections
Do you feel lonely because of your family’s quarantine? Or perhaps you live entirely alone? Fortunately, modern tech makes it easier than ever for you to get connected with family and friends, and you can boost your spirits by keeping in touch with everyone in your life. This includes not only phone calls and text messaging, but also using live video chat on your laptop or PC, such as Skype. This is a great chance to see your friends and family visually, and both parties can show each other their progress on their hobbies or other projects. It can be a lot of fun, as well as a morale booster.
Quarantine and Hobbies
What do you do for fun? Some people have better-developed hobbies than others, and during quarantine, you can either make excellent progress on your current hobbies or start a new one (especially if you had none or if they involved going out with people). Some hobbies are expensive, such as remote control helicopters or building custom gaming PCs or tinkering with cars. But the good news is that many other hobbies are just as fulfilling and are much cheaper, or don’t even cost anything.
As mentioned earlier, you may (after taking precautions) go walking, jogging, bicycle riding, or hiking, and this costs nothing but time (and the right footwear if you don’t already have it). Another inexpensive hobby is writing poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, and you can use a word processor program, writing by hand, or even an old-fashioned typewriter, if you happen to have one. Keeping a journal is a related and very wholesome activity as well. Meanwhile, you can resume playing a musical instrument that you own but have been neglecting, or you can try drawing or sketching or do yoga. A moderate-priced hobby can be arts and crafts, which range widely from watercolors to knitting or sewing, modeling with clay, custom jewelry, and more. These are the kinds of things that you can show off to friends and family during video chat sessions, and you feel good about the things that you have created.
It will not feel good to have your carefully laid vacation plans canceled like this, but you probably have little choice, and you are far from alone. Fortunately, you can make the most of your quarantine by taking stock of your hobbies and education and catching up on all your side projects. With some light exercise, journal-keeping, and fun hobbies, you can weather the COVID-19 pandemic in fairly high spirits, and so will the rest of your household, too.
