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Coronavirus has already imprinted itself on the psyche of Americans forever.
Unfortunately, the number of cases continues to rise and there is little for individuals to do other than stay at home and avoid friends and family.
If you’re self-isolating at home, you may find yourself waking up late, watching YouTube for hours, and falling asleep in a bowl of pasta.
Given these circumstances, what are ways to be happy while COVID-19 is ravaging the world?
9 Ways to Be Happy During the Lockdowns
Although it’s challenging to stay upbeat during a difficult time, in this article we’ll look at some of the best ways to stay positive.
1. Meditate or Practice Yoga
Did you know that meditation and mindfulness are some of the best ways to boost your mental health?
By practicing meditation every day, you will reduce your stress levels and begin to live in the present moment.
If you can develop a mindfulness routine during this time of self-isolation, you are more likely to be able to continue it during your everyday life. As a result, you will find yourself able to deal with low moods, anxiety, and depression.
Yoga is another brilliant way to pass the time that has wonderful benefits such as increasing your pain tolerance, flexibility, strength, and circulatory health.
2. Speak to Friends and Family
If you are self-isolating at home, then now is a great time to call your loved ones. Why not set a daily routine to chat over coffee in the morning?
Setting a specific time to chat with friends will help you schedule your day and have something to look forward to.
Talk about past experiences or vacations that you’ve enjoyed together. Even though you’re not able to travel right now, it is possible to reminisce and enjoy your shared memories.
3. Find a Mentor
In order to grow both personally and financially during this time, why not find a mentor? This could be someone you know or a celebrity that you admire.
Find someone who leads the life that you would like to emulate. Are they a professional athlete, musician, or simply a whizz with money?
If they’re someone you know, speak to them via Zoom or Skype and ask whether they would like to be your mentor.
If they’re famous, read their autobiography, listen to interviews, and write down any tips and tricks they offer.
4. Start Journaling
This is a challenging time so why not keep a journal of how you are coping? Researchers regularly find that those who journal feel happier in the long run.
You only need to spend ten minutes per day putting pen to paper and you will instantly notice that a bad mood hanging over your head tends to alleviate.
5. Reduce Your News Consumption
It can be very easy to fall down a news wormhole and spend hours reading horror stories online. This is simply one of the worst ways to spend your time during self-isolation.
Instead, why not reduce your news intake to one reading per week? While you’re committed to staying inside the house, there is no need to read every single news article.
Focus on reading articles online that lift your spirits. Or, focus your attention on a long-forgotten book. By reading a book, you will increase your happiness and feelings of productivity.
6. Learn a New Professional Skill
You’ve been gifted with a lot of free time to spend however you please. As many people are losing their jobs during this time, focusing on learning a new professional skill will help bolster your resume and give you purpose.
You may want to learn a specific skill that will help you develop your career. For example, skills related to digital services, remote communication, and e-learning are always in high demand.
If you spend your time learning, you will evolve with this newly emerging economy. Being confident about your future financial health is a critical part of being happy!
There are many websites online that you can use to learn interesting new skills. Check out Future Learn or Udemy if you need a spot to start.
7. Learn About Nutrition
Nutrition is essential to all types of health and wellness, from physical to emotional. Unfortunately, you can’t out-train a bad diet, which is why it’s essential to learn the principles of nutrition.
If you don’t eat right, you will never have the body that you want.
You also won’t have the confidence that you deserve. Or, the health to support a long and energetic life.
For most people, diet has about 5 times (5X) greater effect on body composition than physical training.
While you’re at home, you have extra time to learn the principles of nutrition, prepare nutritious meals, and if you’re feeling committed, track your daily intake.
Why not use this time to learn everything you can about fueling your body the right way?
8. Take Time for Goal Setting
Most of the time, when life is moving at full pace and you’re racing off to work, there’s little time for reflecting on your past or envisioning your future.
With the lockdowns, you’ve suddenly recouped commuting time. You’ve probably recovered time spent socializing, running errands, and doing other odds and ends as well.
While you’re home is a perfect time to reflect on what you’ve accomplished over the past 5-10 years.
After you’ve taken a moment to appreciate this incredible progress, set your sights forward and ask yourself, “If I met with myself 5 years from now, what would had to have happened for this time to have been a success?”
After answering this, reflect on a few actions steps that will move you in that direction. If the calm of the lockdowns is feeling good, you don’t have to start on them yet. But, the clarity alone should feel empowering and exciting.
Remember, you need a map for your life or you’ll be wandering through it aimlessly.
9. Workout at Home
Creating a daily workout routine for yourself is one of the best ways to feel happy while you’re quarantined.
If you’re healthy and able, why not join a Virtual Gym with real coaches, live sessions, and science-backed workouts?
This is exactly what I’m doing and I’m hitting more workouts and getting better gains than ever before.
An awesome, inclusive, LGBTQ+ friendly gym that has seamlessly transitioned to offering Live Virtual Training is NOVA Strength and Conditioning. This gym now offers classes that you can join with the click of a finger from anywhere in the world.
Plus, they’re currently offering a 6-Week Fitness Challenge at 75% off right now. If you’re excited to get in awesome workouts, have fun, and learn all sorts of new movements, then head here and book a call with them to see if you’re a fit: NovaStrong.com
They specialize in body transformations, so if you’ve been wanting a change, perhaps now is the just right time to do it.
Whether or not you train with them, explore fun and creative ways to train around your house, using objects like stairs for step-ups, a ledge or tree for pull-ups, or heavy objects to press overhead.
Even More Ways to Be Happy
If you are struggling while spending long periods of time at home alone, know that you are not alone.
This pandemic is one of the biggest challenges that our country has faced in recent decades. It will take time for us all to adjust to new normals, so explore these ways to be happy and see which ones feel like the right fit for you.
What ways are you using to stay happy during the lockdowns? Let me know in the comments below.