For most of us, it’s been over a month since we first started quarantining. As of right now, NY’s stay-at-home orders are until May 15th (though I have a feeling that’s going to be extended til at least sometime in June). It’s trying times for all of us, but I’m sure each of us could get out of this quarantine just a little bit better than when we first came into it. Whether it’s to be a little more conscious about our hygiene or a little less anxious about the entire situation or even come out with rock solid abs, we all have the time to improve on ourselves just a tiny bit.
I actually created a Youtube playlist called “Quarantine Glow Up” that focuses on glowing up in all three aspects: physically, mentally and emotionally. Some videos are meant for you to follow along, while others were meant to give you some kind of inspiration and calm you down. I also included some that just gave me a good laugh, cause we could all use some right now.
Remember, just do what you can.
Get your body moving. I think getting your body moving is something that everyone should do everyday. Whether it’s just stretching or doing a full body workout. And if you live in a place that’s isolated enough, even go for a walk outside. I’ve seen my neighbor just walk up and down our driveway, which is a fantastic way to get your body moving and get some sun - it’s a double whammy. I’ve been feeling a lot better after I do a full workout. It’s just a great way to boost my endorphins and serotonins. It also gives me a time during the day to not think about anything except for doing something good for myself. I have been following Chloe Ting’s workout videos a lot. They’re fun, short, and includes a variety of movements so I won’t get bored. She explains each movement very well and also includes low impact versions of these movements, so if you live in an apartment with downstairs neighbors or if you’re trying to save your joints - she got you.
To change things up, I also like to follow Blogilates’ workouts. I have been following her workouts for years. Her arm workouts are fantastic and for most of them you don’t even need weights. And for the ones where she does use them, she will also suggest using different items like books, wine bottles, or even tomato soup cans as substitutes for weights. No excuse to not get your body moving.
And if you just want a little cardio fun, I recently just downloaded Just Dance Now on my phone. It’s such a great way to get my heart pumping and my ass sweating. Enjoy laughing at yourself while getting a workout in.
Just so you know, you don’t have to do a full workout, but just try and stretch for five minutes. It’ll help clear your mind.
With so much time on our hands, it’s real easy to kick yourself in the ass because you’re feeling unproductive. Please remember, we’re in the middle of a pandemic here. We’re all going through a very rough time right now. With so much uncertainty around us, it can be easy to get anxious about everything. Personally, my anxiety has been through the roof so I’ve been taking extra time to just do things that calm my mind. Doing things like bullet journaling, to structure my week a little bit, has been helping me a lot. Keeping track of things on paper simply means that I can have one less thing on my mind. AmandaRachLee on Youtube is usually who I follow for bullet journal ideas. But of course you can get ideas off of pinterest, which I do sometimes as well. If writing things down is not for you - a digital journal or notes can help too!
Taking care of ourselves is even more important than ever before. Things like taking a bath, cleaning, etc. can really help realign your focus on things that matter most. Remember: a little me time is important. Get in tuned with yourself, if you need to cry, then cry. I cannot even tell you how many times I’ve cried since quarantine started (it’s a lot). Allow yourself to feel whatever it is you’re feeling. That’s the only way you’re going to actually push past it and not have it creep up on you later. So cry, laugh, be sad, be happy, be a little anxious. After that, you can find ways to help deal with those negative emotions and be at peace with yourself.
I don’t want to say that “we all have a lot of time on our hands now”, because that’s just simply not true. This could ring true for some of us, but for others they still have the same intense work schedule or they have kids to take care of, or they want to spend this time with their families. We all have different priorities. Let’s remember to not judge the people around us for how they’re spending their time.
With that being said, for those of us who do have the extra time and have the mental capacity to, we can learn a new skill. I bit the bullet last month and started using Skillshare. It’s a pretty cool website that has a lot of different courses you can take. The best part is that you can really cater it to your learning style and time. You can skip around different lessons, you can start it and come back in a few days - it’s all up to you. I wanted to take time away from me watching dramas and youtube videos, and to use that time to improve on my skills as a video editor. I’m even learning how to draw because it was something I’ve been meaning to learn for a long time. It’s been a very slow progress so far, but hey, at least I’m trying.
If you guys want to get some free trials for skillshare (I believe these codes gets you two free months), you can use any one of these links to help support some of the creators I love:
https://Skillshare.com/BRAIN (GeniusBrain Podcast)
https://skl.sh/amandarachlee22 (AmandaRachLee)
or you can use mine: https://skl.sh/3bPnYYA
At the end of the “Quarantine Glow Up” playlist, there are a few videos that are meant for your viewing pleasure. They really helped take my mind off things. Some of them are so visually appealing and others are just there to make you laugh - cause we can all use a good laugh. I hope you enjoy.
You’re doing great. I believe in you.