It's what feels like day 4,787 of quarantine and many of us are pining for our former lives. Walking out in the sunshine, meeting friends for drinks or even merely going to the office has become a very distant memory.
The U.K., alongside many other countries, is in quarantine and the current circumstances are completely different to what was once known as everyday life. And something that we were given very little time to prepare for.
However, with that being said - it's never too late to start implementing strategies to help ease the pressure of quarantine life. Here are our top 10 tips for surviving the apocolypse.
1. Plan your meals - now is not the time to be prepping speciality gourmet meals - as resources are low. You should be sensible about your food choices and planning your meals will make life during quarantine, a whole lot easier. Every week, plan lunch and dinner, and to keep things stress free, for that particular week, keep breakfast the same, each and every morning.
2. De-clutter your home - get rid of things you no longer need. It'll make your space look cleaner, and the less clutter means the easier it'll be to clean and keep tidy.
3. Schedule your week - As you would pre the outbreak, continue to plan your week (with modifications of course) work hours, lunch breaks, exercise, recreation, alone time. Our brains thrive on routine and this will help to maintain some sense of normality.
4. Spend time with the kids - working from home during quarantine, with the kids in tow can sometimes look like a disaster zone. Designate specific time to spend with the kids - but also inform them of your working hours and area. Remember, this will probably be the greatest opportunity we will all have to play with and love on our children.
5. Batch Cook - back to those planned meals, cook more than necessary. If you're a singleton or family of 6, double your ingredients, cook in bulk and store in the freezer. This will save you both time and your sanity.
6. Get moving - we're allowed to go out and exercise and that's for a reason; exercise is not only beneficial for our physical health but is also beneficial for our mental health too. If you cannot go outside, there are many options to get active at home. Head to Youtube and you'll be inundated with options.
7. Practice self care - and practice lots of it. Life has been disrupted immensely, so it's crucial that we indulge in what makes us happy - whether that be a movie night with the family, a pamper session with your favourite beauty buys, or relaxing with a glass of wine and a good book, do what makes you happy and do it well.
8. Practice gratitude /journaling - documenting your thoughts and experiences can be super comforting at this time. It helps to release your thoughts, relieve stress and increases positivity.
9. Do something different - take this rare opportunity to take on a new hobby, learn a new language or increase your knowledge. Those books that have been sitting on your bookshelf accumulating dust can finally get read. Bask in the fact that we now have ample time to do and be.
10. Call and check in on your family and friends. There are now no excuses to picking up the phone. Schedule in calls, FaceTime or family zoom calls and share laughs, thoughts and memories with each other.