This pandemic has been really tough on each one of us. Being forced to stay at home is actually taking a toll on my sanity. If you feel the same way, let me share with you these three things I’m doing to cope up:

1. Stick to a daily routine
2. Do one thing everyday that makes you happy
3. Do a social media detox

Stick to a Daily Routine

Routine is worry’s sly assassin.

To come up with a routine, think of all the things you have to do, things you want to do, and things that will make your day easier (e.g. taking a break, nap time, etc.)

Give yourself some time to be accustomed to your routine, the change doesn’t have to be abrupt. Vary the timing a little bit from day to day – until you establish a routine that makes you do things most comfortably.

Just for reference, I’ll share my routine with you and how I’ve come up with it.

7:00 AM	Wake up
7:30 AM	Yoga/Workout
8:00 AM	Prepare simple breakfast, log in to work
11:00 AM	Prepare for lunch
11:30 AM	Lunch
12:00 Noon	Nap time, free time
12:30 PM	Back to work
5:00 PM	Log out from work
6:30 PM	Prepare for dinner
7:00 PM	Dinner
8:00 PM	Do some art, watch a movie, etc.
10:00 PM	Cleanup (wash dishes, throw out trash, etc.)
11:00 PM	Sleep

Prior to this, I used to workout in the afternoon after work. However, the heat is unbearable right now so I moved it to right after waking up and it actually made things better – so feel free to shake things up!

When I was starting, I also found it helpful to set alarms to notify myself on what things I should be doing at the moment. You don’t have to do the same things everyday strictly, what’s important is you have a structure or schedule.

Do One Thing Everyday That Makes You Happy

I find it  easier to go on day by day when I do at least one thing that makes me happy. It doesn’t have to be grand – you can allot time to play with your pets, spend a few minutes under the sun, watch videos on YouTube/Netflix, play games, etc.

It also doesn’t have to be the same stuff everyday, but it will help if you can include it in your daily routine. As for me, I’m currently learning to paint loose flowers using watercolor and I also discovered that I’m more into low intensity workouts like yoga that’s why I put these as part of my routine. I also play low maintenance mobile games from time to time.

Just think of an old hobby, or find a new one! This one thing absolutely depends on you.

Do a Social Media Detox

This one helped me a lot in going through day by day for so many reasons. One of those reasons is due to too much toxicity and negativity social media brings, especially now that we are facing a pandemic. Every so often what you’ll see and read is just too much for your headspace – too much noise, too much hatred, too much misinformation.

Aside from keeping our physical bodies healthy, it is also crucial to keep our mental health in check.

Another reason why a social media detox is beneficial right now is because it takes a lot of our time, consciously and subconsciously. From my own experience, scrolling through social media hinders me from sticking to my routine and doing more important things. Once you start scrolling, it never ends and just consumes you.

A social media detox might sound like a punishment; but if it does, there’s a really good chance you need one.

For you to be able to do this easily, let me share with you some of the tips I’ve read that I find most helpful:

• Identify what apps you’re using the most
• Set a time limit usage for each app
• Deactivate your social media accounts
• Delete/uninstall your social media apps
• Replace social media with another activity

It’s not an easy thing to do since we are usually opening social media apps instinctively; that’s why it’s up to you to make it harder for yourself to access these apps.

Bonus: Be Extra Kind to Yourself

I often find myself more irritable and extra moody during the quarantine. If you are experiencing a similar situation, let this be a reminder to check on your mental health and take necessary steps on self-care. Take breaks, breathe, talk to people you trust, or do things that will make you feel good and safe.

I hope these things helped out even in the smallest way – until my next blog post,