With unprecedented precautions in place all over the world, the idea of staying indoors for a long period of time, whether for the public health or for personal safety, can seem daunting, especially for people who thrive on social interaction. This new practice, currently defined as “social distancing,” may be unnerving to fathom, but there are some things that can be done to alleviate anxiety and increase your personal comfort while doing so.
Maintain Contact
Just because you cannot be physically with friends and family does not mean you can’t or shouldn’t spend time with them otherwise, according to One Medical. Aside from standard phone conversations, a number of social media platforms allow for regular daily interactions, and online services such as Zoom, FaceTime, and Skype even allow face-to-face videoconferencing for little to no charge.
Improve Your Surroundings
With the media focus on the current pandemic, it is easy to panic. One of the best things you can do to start on your secluded time is to properly clean the regular traffic areas of your living space. Aside from being good practice, it is also good for peace of mind, knowing your area is safe.
Aside from generally cleaning your living space for sanitary reasons, arranging your living space as comfortably and as anti-stressful as possible will allow for a more pleasant day. Natural lighting can also help improve your mood, so it pays to have as much daylight in your living space as possible. According to Desert Empire Mirror & Glass, adding mirrors to an interior can help spread natural light, which can significantly improve the mood of any room. Additionally, arranging your house plants to be in your primary living areas will help oxygenate the area and contribute to positive mental wellbeing.
Keep a Regular Routine
As humans in a modern world, we are used to having things to do on a somewhat regular schedule. When living fulltime inside your home, it is easy to lose track of the time of day—even the day of the week—leading to personal malaise. According to the Lowy Institute, one thing that seems to work well to stave off this feeling is a tactic used by many stay-at-home workers: the art of keeping a schedule and routine. Wake at a specific time, eat meals at regular intervals, and socialise with any loved ones (whether remotely or those who are in your home with you) at regular times. This will keep a sense of order and stability in your daily life, and you will most likely come to treasure it.
While uncertainty is the order of the day in the outside world, it can be worrisome to think about the things we cannot change or affect. But what we can affect in our own homes can make all the difference. Sticking to these principles can not only improve your daily life, but also enrich it.
Here’s another great article: How Can You Help a Child Through a Mental Health Crisis