5 Ways to Get Through Winter in Quarantine

The home stretch of the COVID-19 pandemic is going to be a tough one. No matter what the situation, everyone is worn out from this germophobic, isolated, divided way of life that we’ve been forced to maintain for months on end. And we could use all of the encouragement we can get. I’m not going to tell you to put together a puzzle or bake bread. Instead, I’m going to offer five tips to keep your spirits up, your expectations reasonable, and help you get through a winter in quarantine.

Keep your space well-lit

If you live in a harsh, wintery climate, the lack of sunlight in a typical winter can already wear you down. It’s going to be even worse when you’re supposed to hunker down. Those dreary days can sometimes feel like the sun never came up, creating this endless pre-dawn feeling where your day never actually begins, and your energy levels never increase.

One way that I combat this feeling is with brightly lit rooms. Open the curtains and blinds to let in as much natural light as possible. Turn on lamps. Invest in those Happy Lamps that are used to treat Seasonal Affective Disorder. String white lights on your walls to plug in during the day. Light candles.

Do not sit in the dark and then wonder why you’re sad and lethargic. Even a 10 percent boost in mood as the result of decent lighting is worth the effort.

Don’t fall into a strict routine

One perk of the extra time that you have at home is that you have time to prepare for the days ahead. You can meal prep, organize, and set a schedule for work and chores.

The downside to this is that you may fall into a routine that becomes mundane and redundant. Make sure you mix things up.

Don’t eat the same foods every day. Change your wardrobe so that you’re not pulling on the same pair of sweatpants. Move your daily tasks around so that you’re not running on a monotonous schedule. Set your chores on different days. Take a walk in the morning one day and in the evening the next. Stay productive, but don’t fall into a rut.

Stay connected to the real world

Entertainment can provide a much-needed sense of escapism. But they can also isolate you from the real world. So, while it’s fun to binge watch the latest shows, or shows you’ve been meaning to get to, it can sink you into this imaginary world that leaves you feeling hollow and disconnected from reality once you come out of it.

Be sure to check in with the real world each day. And not just online.

Turn on the news, even for five minutes, so that you can see what’s happening outside of your home.

Listen to a podcast where you feel like a member of the conversation, not just a student listening to a lecture.

Watch YouTube videos that talk about real time events.

Take a drive and see what’s going on beyond walking distance of your home.

Of course, check in with friends and family. Set times to call when you can both talk for a little while, if not longer. Email or even hand write to each other if you can’t call or Zoom. Text if you need to.

Find a pen pal organization so that you have a willing contact who wants to talk. Be willing to listen as well as talk so that you have something to focus on besides your own loneliness, hardships, or even the things that are going well for you.

Keep holidays and celebrations lowkey

The biggest instigator of quarantine breaking is this need to celebrate as usual. Whether it’s holidays, birthdays, or anniversaries, even those who have taken strict precautions against infection have been known to gather together and put themselves and their families at risk. That’s when disaster can strike.

This need to break protocol stems from a feeling that annual holidays and events can’t be ignored. But you have to be aware of the fact that these celebrations are most likely not your first. We all have birthdays once a year. Christmas is always December 25^th. There will be a Valentine’s Day next February 14^th.

It’s when we build these events up to be more important than they are that we take desperate steps to make sure we celebrate them “right.” Missing out on one year out of a lifetime of annual celebrations isn’t going to ruin your life. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t celebrate at all.

Just don’t put yourself and other in danger in order to fulfill some sort of self-imposed expectation. Better yet, use your limitations to find a new, unique way to celebrate. Make your event more memorable as a result.

If the event is once in a lifetime, such as a wedding or graduation, postpone it until you can do it right.  But for the others, learn to be okay with keeping things lowkey, no matter how much we love them or want to show off on social media.

Identify and appreciate small comforts

Gratitude, for obvious reasons, is an endorphin booster. And what we’re going through is temporary, just like every other difficult period in history. Appreciating small comforts can get you through to the next day, hour, or even minute.

When boredom, dread, or irritation takes over, use the situation that you’re in to your advantage. Think about what you’re happy to have around you. After a good meal, say to yourself, “that was really good.” When you climb into bed that night, think “I’m so glad I’m home and can sleep in my own, warm bed.” When you finish watching a good movie, think “that was a good time.”

Identify when you’re mildly happy or even content in that moment. That way, when you’re sad or depressed or lonely, you’ll be able to think of the things that will help pull you out of it.

Pulling through

No emotion is permanent. You’re not going to be able to talk yourself into a state of sustained happiness. But you can keep yourself from lingering in a state of depression and despair. Our struggle with negative feelings won’t end with quarantine. But figuring out how to fight them in our present situation is crucial to making it through to our next phase of life. And in doing so, we’ll be better able to handle future emotional challenges, whether individually or as a species.

What do you do to stay positive during quarantine? Leave your answers in the comments below!

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