I’m sure we all wish that there was a guide book on how to quarantine and what to do during this weird time, but sadly, there isn’t. There is so much that I wish I knew going into quarantine, and so much that I am still learning, and I would like to share a few of the things that I have experienced and how I’ve been dealing with everything.

I have noticed that I, as well as many others that struggle with mental health issues have especially taken quite a hit when it comes to quarantine. I am used to being able to have someone to hang out with or talk to physically when I’ve hit a rough patch, and that’s become almost impossible now. I also took my mind off of things by thrifting and taking trips with my friends, but the fact that I no longer have any of those distractions has been really hard on me. I wish we would’ve somehow gotten a warning so I could prepare in some way for this isolation, but this isn’t a perfect world, and I don’t think any of us were really expecting the Corona virus to go this far.

In spite of having a difficult time dealing with this mess, I have found a few things that have been helping me. First of all, make sure you are keeping up with physical health! I’ve been trying to keep as normal of a schedule as I can and that includes showering every day, washing my face, skin care, etc. as well as keeping up with medications and going to bed at a normal time. Another huge thing that has helped me is getting back into old hobbies and exploring new ones. Because I haven’t had a distraction or place to let out how I’m feeling, I’ve gotten back into journaling and sketching, and it’s helped a little. Being able to have a private place where I can let out all of the negative has been a really healthy way of dealing with everything going on in my life at the moment, and I’m glad that I decided to give art and writing another chance. I’ve also reached out to friends and family I don’t normally talk to and I try to call and text the people I’m close with as often as I can. Another thing that has helped me feel a bit better is putting on some presentable clothes instead of wearing the same pajamas 24/7. Dressing up and doing my makeup helps me feel more productive and I find that I get more done when I feel better about the way I look.

Despite some of us having a difficult time during quarantine, I know we’ll come out of it together and stronger than before. Keep pushing forward and keep doing and finding things that you love!