With the coronavirus pandemic as the topic of conversation with everyone, it is hard to see the positives as the entire world is impacted by this virus. For many people, quarantine is not a time for self-care. For our doctors, nurses, health care professionals, truck drivers, grocery store workers, and more, this crisis has resulted in working around the clock to make sure the country is safe. But for the average person, looking for a positive way to approach the next month–and maybe even more–in quarantine, we can start seeing quarantine as a time for self-care. 

Growing up in such a technologically advanced time period, I feel as if we are always on the go. Sit down dinners with family are hard to come by with nightly sports practices and jobs. Daily walks, movie nights, game nights, and crafts with the family are nearly unheard of during chaotic weeks. 

Until now, I have never seen so many people outside, taking walks with family members, or playing catch in the yard. I have never seen so many people posting game nights with their families. Playing with younger siblings and connecting with grandparents via FaceTime are also gaining popularity. 

For the majority of Americans, the world has basically stopped–it’s frozen in time: No plans, no commitments–just time. More time than any of us can even comprehend. Each day is a blank template only you can decide what to do with it. 

Many of us choose to loaf around, on our phones, watching TV for hours on end (myself included), and feeling bad about this situation. If we just sit back and think about the negatives, we will be miserable. We have always wanted a “mental health break.” How many times have you wished you could just stay home all day? How many of us begged our parents to skip school? And look at us complaining! 

Yes, for seniors especially, this is heartbreaking to miss the best part of your school year, but it is out of our control. So, let’s make the best of the time we have off and take control of what we can. 

Finally, we have a break from our mundane schedules and stressful weeks. We have time to spend with family, to take care of ourselves, to rest, to live without having to worry about times, commitments, practices, etc. 

These endless days may seem overwhelming, but taking it day by day, and making time for activities that make you feel good is going to save you. Instead of feeling sorry about this situation, let’s focus on our time off as a self-care break. Self-care includes something different for everyone, so discover what makes you feel good and do that! 

Take this time to focus on yourself. Discover your passions. Find new hobbies. Develop deeper relationships. Exercise. Create. Read. And when all of this is over, we will feel refreshed and grateful for every little thing we once took for granted.