How I keep sane while the world is in chaos

We are all currently stuck in the same predicament, at home, isolated, and hoping for this pandemic to be over soon. Coming from a semi pessimist who cannot take feeling isolated and a master at over thinking, you wouldn’t think I would be sharing tips on how to survive this quarantine with the healthiest way that I know. We are approaching two months into this enhanced community quarantine and this health crisis is taking a toll on everyone both physically and mentally. It is important that we stay healthy, that includes our mental health.

I did fall in a dark hole during the first weeks of quarantine but then I realized that I should help myself and try to climb out of that ditch. I am no expert in this field but I would like to share with you the things that I do that bring comfort to my anxieties.

How i keep sane while the world is in chaos:

1. Finally finished the book that I haven’t touched in months. I find that reading books gives me comfort, lifts my mood, and also serves as an escape from confinement

2. I listen to music, updated my playlist, and even made a quarantine playlist. I think we can all agree that music works the same as a hug.

3. I tried cooking, though that didn’t go well for me. But that’s okay I got a lot of time to work on it. I just got to make sure I don’t burn anything

4. You can never go wrong with watching your favorite shows or movies. I finally have time to finish the comedic masterpiece which is the television sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Also watched Money heist, the Spanish Netflix series that my friends were bugging me to watch.

5. Speaking of friends, check up on them from time to time. Something that is also helping with my anxiety is talking to my friends; it feels nice having someone to talk to about anything, the people that are with you through ups and downs.

6. I started working out. It is definitely a challenge but small progress is still progress.

7. Putting down my phone and not being in front of a screen all day is also nice. Instead of spending all my free time alone, I am also choosing to spend it with my family. I took being with them every day before for granted cause when my father got sick while I was away for college (this was during the beginnings of the COVID-19 spread in Luzon) I realized how fast time is and how something can be easily taken away from you.

Being quarantined made me realize how much I took things for granted. I regret not coming to my last class that day; I would have probably had a good laugh with my block mates. I wish I went and hung out with my dorm mates that night when they prepared a movie and pizza but instead, I wasted my time wrapped up in bed worrying and overthinking about things that doesn’t seem that important anymore. I hope we use all this given time wisely, spend it with people you love, eat with your family, talk to your parents share with them your stories and experiences, watch a movie together and most of all I hope after this pandemic is that we live our lives to the fullest, don’t let being sad ruin opportunities and don’t waste the second chance that is given to us. Stay safe everyone, let’s try our best to stay positive and be grateful with what we have. Help as much as we can by doing our part in staying home because staying home means saving lives.