COVID-19 REFLECTIONS: Quarantine Time - Finding Your Vibe
As the days continue to go by and more information is being put on the news, it’s more than safe to say that a lot of us are feeling the quarantine blues AKA cabin fever. There’s something about just being in the house and not being allowed to gather that bothers some of us, because if I’m speaking for all the teens and young adults out there, I know we can all agree that we’re ready to break out. However, it’s absolutely necessary to take these precautions in order to keep everyone safe and healthy.
Just because we’re confined in the house, doesn’t mean we can’t switch it up on a day-to-day basis and have some fun. I think a lot of people are overlooking this time in the confinement of our own homes. We should be enjoying our families and getting to know them more and get closer to them. We should also be discovering ourselves and working hard to make sure that we continue to strive and thrive. I know that’s a little optimistic, but I have a few suggestions to make your time a little more valuable, and a little more fun.
Tip #1: Rediscover an old passion of yours
Sometimes we take for granted our many talents, and when we get a little busier, we start to disconnect from that part of ourselves. The first way we can look at quarantine is that it’s giving us a way to redefine and relive what we fell in love with and why we fell in love with it. I know for me, I rediscovered my love for writing. I’ve always been a writer, and I actually have been writing since I was in the fourth grade. I lost track of it because of school and work and I started making up all these excuses why I wasn’t putting my energy in my passion, but then I realized my passion is who I am. I’m a writer, I’m a poet, I’m a novelist and I’m rediscovering what all those titles mean to me.
Tip #2: Family Fun Nights
I’m really big on family, and I try to make sure that I’m bonding with every one of those family members that I hold close to my heart in some way. Sometimes you have to have those laughs and those moments of pure silliness in order to make yourself comfortable with where you are. Sometimes have a game night every now and then. I know for me and my family when I break out the Monopoly or a quick game of spades, it’s over with. My older brother even taught me how to play dominos so now I’m into that too. Try learning new things from your family that they enjoy so you can all enjoy different things together.
Tip #3: Pushin’ for some cookin’
It’s safe to say that everyone has joined the home cooking train these days, especially since restaurants are closing and most of us are trying to refrain from going out too many times throughout each day. I love mixing it up in the kitchen. It’s soothing to me, especially when I’m cooking and I’m having my music going whether it’s my gospel or my old school R&B. You just have to find your niche, and even if you’ve never touched a pot or pan in your life, just try it. I feel like this quarantine is making us all a little braver as well, so start pushing those fears aside and let’s get those aprons!
Don’t keep any of these things up just for the quarantine. I feel like now that people are starting these self-discovery journeys and getting back to the true essence of themselves, I feel like all of these things including the tips that I just provided for you should be practiced once we’re all in the clear to start getting back to the ways of the world. Don’t just talk the talk for the quarantine, walk the walk once you get out that door. Let’s do this!