I do not know how I found myself in front of my bathroom mirror at 2:55 pm, sectioning off the front section of my hair to be cut. Maybe it was the stressful week of e-learning that made me feel not like myself? Or possibly the fact I hadn’t left my house in 6 days? Another reason could have been my deep dive into existentialism, where I realized that my life is so insignificant in the grand scheme of the universe. 

Regardless of the answer, I was in the midst of a mental breakdown. I realized in that moment that I desperately needed to change my routine to avoid pinning back my terrible bangs for months or the frequent use of headbands that cut off circulation to my brain. Here are some ways I spiced up my quarantine and reminded myself there is still good in this (pandemic-filled) world!

Reorganizing My Room

Listen, I am incredibly thankful for Naperville North’s generous distribution of t-shirts over the years. However, I realized during the first few days of essentially living in my bedroom that my drawers WON’T close. This is mostly due to the abundance of clothes cluttering my room, as well as my life. Just clearing out a couple old shirts and refolding my laundry made me feel 100% more calm and in control. The simple repetitive movement was a nice break from hunching over my computer and trying to follow my AP Calc video notes. 

Listening to Podcasts

While I clean my room, podcasts have become my best friends. I often do not have the attention span to sit down and watch movies or TV after hours of e-learning. Podcasts are perfect for easy listening as you complete other tasks or chores. If you are a big fan of rom-coms, I would suggest “Modern Love”, which follows true stories of people’s heartwarming relationships with their partners, friends or family members. Also, I recommend “Staying In” for anyone in need of a comedic distraction. The hosts,

Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon, are a married couple/ TV writing duo who started the podcast just this week! Emily is immunocompromised, so they have been recording their hilarious thoughts and conversations during their extended quarantine. Also, all proceeds go towards organizations helping COVID-19 victims! 

Playing an Instrument

I took piano lessons for about six years, but quit just before I entered high school. Unfortunately, my skills have deteriorated over the past few years without practice. If you quit band after fifth grade and still have your Essential Elements book, take it for a spin! The quarantine has been a wonderful opportunity to relearn some of my favorite songs and annoy my sister home from college with my constant playing! Yesterday, I learned “Light On” by Maggie Rogers, which is one of my quarantine jams and always picks up my mood. 

Arts and Crafts

While I would NEVER consider myself a good artist, I have become pretty adept at making paper snowflakes. During Thanksgiving and Christmas, I would make them all the time with my little cousins. With my increased fidgety-ness since quarantine began, this craft has become my saving grace. It is also very apropos with the snow we received this morning! Lucky for me, this use of scissors is a much better alternative than impulsively chopping my hair. 

Exercise

Without show choir, I feel like a slug most days. I rarely leave my bed and only change out of my sweatpants when absolutely necessary. However, I discovered doing some light physical activity in my room has been super beneficial for my focus and mood. Believe me, just a few yoga poses or core exercises can work wonders. It’s perfect for people who want to stay in shape, yet are not committed enough to their wellness journey to take a jog around their neighborhood. And being at home has the added benefit of having close proximity to the kitchen, where you can reward yourself with whatever you can find in your fridge!

Some fun AM yoga!

Dressing Up

As we all know, the spring dance was supposed to be yesterday 🙁 I decided that instead of feeling sorry for myself, I would dress up for a wonderful night spent in my living room! After putting on a dress, applying some makeup, and doing my hair, I felt my mood instantly brighten. My friends and I face-timed that night in our fancy attire and listened to some Taylor Swift. It was awesome. 

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While it’s tempting to make some drastic changes during a crisis (like taking a pair of scissors to your hair), it is easier than you think to add some fun into your quarantine routine! Was the most exciting thing I did today rhyming “quarantine” with “routine”? I mean…possibly. But it’s a process, my friends. Be gentle with yourselves.