Greetings friends!
I hope you are all keeping safe and well.
Today I thought I would share with you my quarantine routine and some tips to keep yourself busy whilst we are all social distancing.
Rise and shine...
I wake up at 8am. I'd recommend keeping the same time for each day, at least Monday to Friday, as this will keep you in the habit of a routine, stopping you from falling into a pattern of getting up late and falling asleep late. This habit is associated with depressive states, and at a time like this, it is very important to take care of your mental health.
Start the day right!
Generally speaking, I'll lie around until 8:15am and then I'll either get up for a shower or I'll go for a run. If you know me, you'll know I'm definitely NOT a runner! However, I am determined to at least attempt to improve my stamina. I have started the couch to 5K programme, a BBC mobile app that promises to get you from the couch to running 5K in 9 weeks. I'll be honest, 2 weeks in I can't see myself running 5K in less than 2 months' time, but I'm here for the challenge! I realise that running isn't for everyone, especially my readers who suffer from chronic pain conditions, or other such illnesses. However, I have found for me personally it has given me more energy and tends to set me up to have a productive day! I'd highly recommend couch to 5K if you're looking to get into running. Unfortunately, if you are outside of the UK this app is currently unavailable but similar alternatives exist if you're interested.
How do I fill the hours before lunch?
As a university student, I still have lots of coursework and exams to prepare for. So, my mornings are largely spent working my way through the piles of revision I need to complete before my exams begin next month! If you don't have that luxury, or any work to do from home, it would be a good idea to spend an hour or two after you wake up doing something to exercise your mind. It can be anything from reading a book to practice exam papers to brain training activities. It's important to spend some time away from screens, away from social media and away from the constant news which constantly breeds anxiety. If you can, try to do some of these activities outside from time to time. Never underestimate the power of some fresh air!
Lunchtime!
It's difficult not to snack your way through the day, I know. I am a boredom snacker, so keeping busy just to stop myself piling on the pounds is a key reason why I need a routine! When lunchtime rolls around, eat a meal that would normally sustain you until dinner (with the exception of one afternoon snack - we're only human). The reason I emphasise trying not to snack is not for weight gain purposes (I think we all deserve some leeway on this under the current circumstances), but for fatigue purposes. As someone who has pretty much tried everything to minimise fatigue, one thing I have found is that eating consistently throughout the day brings on waves of tiredness. At a time like this where there is nowhere to go and nobody to see, it's possible to fall into a pattern of over-sleeping, which is not helped by feeling tired from eating too often and feeling bored. Sleeping all day might sound ideal to those of us with chronic fatigue, but in reality it can lead to depression and loneliness. At a time where most of us are already feeling low and missing the people we love, do yourself a favour and don't add to those feelings.
Afternoon
At this point in the day, you're probably one of two types of people: either you can't believe it's already this hour, or you can’t believe it's only this hour. I imagine if you're reading this and looking to devise a quarantine routine, you're probably the latter. So, here is a list of things I plan to do when I don't have to spend all my time on uni work in a couple of months:
1. Colouring (preferably outside if the British weather permits it).
2. Binge-watching a series on Netflix
Yes, I will be looking for recommendations and will also be giving you mine in a separate blog post that will be coming soon!
3. Yoga
Always say I'd love to do it, never actually do it. This is my opportunity.
4. Blog
If you're not new here, you'll know I started off posting very regularly and then as the university year intensified, it became very sporadic. I promise once my exams are finished, I'll sort it out. But if you like writing, now is the perfect time to start a blog. I started my blog when I was stuck inside unwell last summer... little did I know I would be stuck inside this summer too! If I can start a blog, anyone can!
5. Try something new
My sister is really good at baking. She's about a year off Great British Bake-Off level. So, I want her to teach me how to bake so that I can show off when I eventually go back to university.
Early evening
Try an exercise class. I know you're probably thinking "but Charlotte, I haven't eaten anything since lunch and the boredom hunger has kicked in, why would I want to exercise?"
I promise you, this will change your life. It doesn't have to be a Joe Wicks 7 days of sweat (although, they are really good if you're looking for an intense 20-minute workout). I chose Zumba because I think that's the most fun it's possible to have whilst doing exercise. So, my sisters and I created a whole Zumba class that we do every day from Monday to Friday for an hour. It is my favourite part of the day, and a great way to release some of the stress from the day of studying. For you, it might release some of the tension from a day stuck in the house with your kids doing your head in (or your other half), or release some of the anxiety you feel about current events. If you can get your whole house doing it, that's even better. It can be as tough or as simple as you make it and is appropriate for all ages.
If there is enough interest, I will post a video a day of a Zumba routine that you can try at home! I would love to see your videos too so send them to me if you give it a go!
The best meal of the day
This is a great time to dust off the recipe books and spend a little bit more time preparing and cooking evening meals (if you're not working, of course). You can even make this a family task, getting the children to help with cooking is a great way to teach them some basic life skills that they wouldn't necessarily be getting if they were at school. Experiment with flavours, get creative with your meals - especially if you're struggling to find all the ingredients on the supermarket shelves. Give yourself the opportunity to fall in love with cooking, instead of viewing it as a chore at the end of the day. Variety and nutrition are key!
To end the day...
End the day with something relaxing to wind you down, and help you fall asleep. I would say don't look at a screen as hour before bed (because that's what all the experts say) but I'm not an expert. I'm a 20 year old with an addiction to TikTok (hate myself for getting hooked on this) and who sometimes falls asleep whilst still scrolling. So for me, having Netflix on in the background is exactly what I need to get to sleep quickly. Obviously, this is not the case for everyone. If you struggle to fall asleep after screen time, try reading a chapter of a fiction novel or some breathing exercises. You might be rolling your eyes at that, but some people think it doesn't work and then try it once and are completely converted!
I'd also recommend you try to stick to a "bedtime". This is not because you should be reverting to children whilst in quarantine. It is because your body will naturally adjust to this routine and it will help you to fall asleep faster and rise more easily in the morning. Remember to always plan for at least 8 hours sleep. This is unlikely to always happen but at least if you plan for it there's a better chance than if you stay up until 3am! I usually aim to be asleep for 11pm, or at latest 11:30pm. Like I say, this doesn't always happen but it's a work in progress.
Some final tips
Be mindful that every day will not be productive and that is absolutely okay. If you make a quarantine routine and then don't stick to it, that's not a problem. There are no set rules here. None of us have dealt with anything on this scale before and whilst some people might appear to have the whole quarantine thing figured out, they probably don't. If you don't know what to do, that's okay. If you're going stir crazy, that's okay. If you're mental health is deteriorating because of these things that you can't control, that's okay. You are doing great no matter what you're doing.
Try not to socially isolate, just social distance. No, I don't mean you should go and see your friends, but you should call them. Organise a virtual house party (that's what I'll be doing this weekend). Call to check up on them. Call for a catch up. Call to rant about being stuck in the house 24 hours a day with your family. Call just because you need a chat. Just because you can't see each other doesn't mean they don't want to hear from you or you don't want to hear from them, right? So, pick up your phone and call someone. Anyone. Don't isolate, just distance.
Remember that this will end. It might not be soon, and it might feel like forever. But it will end and then more we do now, the more people who will come out the other side of this healthy and ready to continue their ordinary, extraordinary lives in a (hopefully) functioning society.
I've said it a hundred times but for anyone who is struggling, you can always drop me a message. I reply to absolutely everyone who sends me a message.
I hope this helps anyone who is struggling.
All love,
Charlotte. X
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