We’re now on the eighth week of the community quarantine, and this prolonged social distancing has probably taken its toll on many, if not all, of us.

But we, as human beings, are designed to cope with the constant changes that are going on around us. In biology, this concept is called “homeostasis.” It’s the way living organisms try to achieve balance and stability despite persistent changes in the environment.

After weeks of coping and adjusting, many of us have probably already discovered some ways to not just survive, but make the most of our time during quarantine.

Below are some tips that we have crowdsourced from different students. May you find these helpful for you as well!

1. Do a social media detox!

Because the entire world is now online, social media has become so noisy. Because the internet is where we access everything, from news to entertainment, we get constantly bombarded with literally anything and everything in our feed.

No wonder this tip is the most common and the most popular among the people we asked.

Periodically taking a break to allow ourselves to “breathe” is certainly welcome and has really helped a lot of students.

Rest your eyes from time to time and give yourself a break from toxic tweets and depressing news. Instead of getting stuck on your mobile screen, why don’t you try doing some offline activities with your family?

2. Pause and reflect.

The ECQ has given us more space to reflect, whether intentionally or not. Maximize this window of opportunity to reflect and recalibrate your life. We certainly have different ways of doing it, so regardless of your style or method, the important thing is that you take a moment to reflect.

For extroverts who feel “trapped” and disconnected, socializing with friends online and constantly engaging in conversation may help a lot. But instead of just talking about random stories and funny stuff, you can intentionally discuss deep thoughts about life and share insights with one another. Having someone to share your thoughts and emotions with can be a source of great relief and encouragement.

For introverts, complement your social media detox with some reflective solitude to process your thoughts and emotions. Enjoy the peace and quiet, savor the pleasure of being left alone with your thoughts, play some good music, and breathe slowly.

Having some quiet time with God is always a good idea, whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert. While socializing helps to process with people, quiet time helps to process with God. When we pray, we wrestle with the deepest of thoughts and the boldest of questions in His presence. We may not always come out with answers, but we will definitely come out with a greater degree of peace, hope, and faith. 

Try journaling! Journaling is a form of reflection that helps process one’s thoughts and emotions, especially during this pandemic crisis. The simple exercise of writing down your thoughts can help clarify and understand what you’ve been feeling, facing, or even fleeing from.

3. Try creative expression. 

Health experts expect a potential rise in mental health concerns associated with the prolonged quarantine. Because of this, the Department of Health encourages people to explore creative ways to express their emotions and process their thoughts.

These creative expressions include arts such as poetry, painting, dancing, singing, playing musical instruments, writing, or even vlogging. Yes, TikTok can be included here (haha)!

You could also try learning some practical life skills, such as cooking, gardening, or doing home repairs.

These expressions allow us to be in the moment and be emotionally grounded at a time when it’s much easier to feel hopeless and helpless.

4. Sleep adequately and do some physical workout.

5 AM. 2 PM. Sound familiar?

For many of us, this ECQ has disrupted our normal sleeping patterns. If your body clock is currently broken because of ECQ, you are not alone. It’s one of the effects the COVID-19 situation has brought us.

Hopefully your body finds that healthy rhythm again, which will definitely help you gain more stability. I found this crash course on sleep cycles helpful in understanding mine.

After getting enough sleep, why not try those 30-day home exercise routines you see online, or maybe check out some basic routines to help you get started? Besides the obvious physical benefits, regular exercise also contributes to better mental health. It’s a great way to de-stress and clear your thoughts.

5. Develop a new routine.

Found all of these tips helpful? This final tip ties them all together. 

Develop a new routine based on these tips in order to plan your week well. Start by creating a workable and sustainable schedule. 

And it doesn’t end there.

The key is to consistently follow and stick to what you’ve planned. It’s going to be challenging, and you’ll miss out on doing some things you committed to do. But that’s okay, just press on. (And make sure that you take a bath and brush your teeth daily!)

While these tips are helpful and effective to some, you’re definitely not limited, let alone obliged, to do all these. For sure you’ve figured out some helpful hacks yourself. Feel free to share them with us in the comments section!

I hope and pray that you and your family are safe and well provided for.