This week marks two weeks since I have been in quarantine. It has felt like an eternity.
This has been especially difficult because I am a person who likes to go out a lot.
My usual routine involves going to the gym, playing hockey with my friends and going out on date nights with my girlfriend. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, I cannot do those things.
In the meantime, I have tried my best to keep busy at home by establishing a routine. Every day when I wake up, I try to remain active by doing 30 pushups followed by 30 crunches. After that, I go downstairs to make a coffee and breakfast.
When I am done breakfast, I go back to my room and play on my Playstation 4 for an hour or two. But there are only so many video games I can play until I get bored.
When I am done playing video games, I shower and put on fresh clothes. Then, I move onto the next part of my day.
The remainder of my routine consists of working on school assignments that need to be completed. When I finish my work, I reward myself with some light reading. Lately, I have been reading the graphic novel: Batman: The Long Halloween.
I enjoy reading. While in quarantine, I have a lot of time to dedicate to the books on my shelves.
Being at home has been an adjustment. Unfortunately, I do have some bad days. Sometimes, I do not know what to do with myself. Other times, I overthink things going on around me.
I often end my day by watching Netflix. I have been watching The Office, Daredevil and Tiger King. These are the shows that have been getting me through some of these hard and lonely days.
For my friend, Greg Smith, quarantine has also been difficult. Unfortunately, he has been temporarily laid off due to the mass closures as a result of COVID-19.
“Everybody is home all the time and you get cabin fever. The gym is closed and that’s tough for me because I like to work out. But I am trying to make the best out of this difficult time,” he said.
Matt Miehm has made the best of being in quarantine.
“Quarantine has been pretty decent for me. I just workout and hangout at home. I would prefer to go to the gym that is supposed to be open 24/7, but I can’t because of COVID 19. It is disappointing because I can’t go out with my friends and enjoy the nightlife as the days starts to get warmer,” he said.
An important lesson in quarantine is to ensure you are checking in on your mental health and those around you.
For Lori Barbosa, it has been a bit difficult.
“My life in quarantine has been a challenge. The last few weeks have been a test on myself. Having my routine changed, trying to keep my mental health stable. Gym and soccer were my ways to stay stable. Not having that has been putting me through a loop of emotions,” she said.
It has also changed her routine.
“Every day I try to keep myself busy while at home but it’s not easy when you’re a person always on the move with a specific routine for years. It’s been a few weeks and I still have my good and bad days. I am just hoping to see the finish line to this all soon and back to normal,” she said.
For many of us being in quarantine has been tough. But when this is done, we will have a greater appreciation for the simple things in life.
