Life in Quarantine: How I’ve Dealt

On Friday, March 13^th, the world changed for all of us. An announcement was made by the government of Ontario concerning the rapid spread of COVID-19. Since that day, almost all of us have been social distancing and staying inside.

With many people craving social interaction and not being satisfied inside all day, I thought that I’d provide some insight into the world of quarantine for me, a 16-year-old kid living in Toronto.

The most important thing for everyone’s mental wellness is to find ways to cope with being inside all day. Here are a few ways that I’ve been coping with social distancing. 

1. Online Social Interaction 

For me, being able to speak to friends, family and loved ones is very critical in a time like this. Personally, I’ve been keeping in touch with family across the world using Zoom and other types of telecommunication software online. Thanks to modern day technology, there are countless ways to get in touch with anybody that you know. One of the most popular one of these methods is Facetime. The iPhone feature allows for people to see and speak to each other in real time just like a normal conversation. I’ve been using Facetime for the past month to stay connected with friends and family. Something to remember is everyone is just as bored as you, so don’t worry. The virus can be a mentally draining topic for a lot of people, so once you’ve taken the first step and begun to reach out to people, make sure your conversation doesn’t revolve around the uncertainty and fear that a lot of us are living with. Discussing things that you would have pre-COVID-19 is a great way to remember that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel and this won’t last forever–remembering that has helped me get through this difficult time.

2. Online School Work

All Ontario high school students have begun online studies. Before it started, the government communicated to everyone that marks were only able to improve, not fall. This news was definitely a motivator for me, and I am using this time as an opportunity to raise the marks I wasn’t pleased with prior to this. Most students find the worst part of school is waking up so early every day, so the great thing about online school is the fact that you don’t have to follow a schedule, you just need to make sure you complete everything in a timely manner. I know a lot of people are probably starting to lose that driving force that motivates them to do their work because we’re so far into this quarantine. When I have those thoughts, my first reaction is to remind myself that this is temporary.

3. Finding New Hobbies

With all of this extra time on everyone’s hands, it’s a great idea to start doing things that give you joy. One of these could end up being a hobby that you keep up with years down the road. Everything is a little limited because we’re inside but there is so much to do inside the comfort of your own home. The most common ones include learning how to bake, cook, or do something productive in the kitchen, but this is also a great time to learn an instrument, learn how to sing, or maybe even build furniture. There are countless options and picking from them is easy. Try everything once and don’t be afraid to mess up, because nobody is watching. Personally, I haven’t found any new hobbies, I’ve just kept up with those that I’ve already been doing for years. I’ve been playing a ton of music during this quarantine to keep busy. A really big positive that I’ve found is that time goes faster when I’m playing guitar, which supports the idea that finding a new hobby or continuing one that is already existent is a great way to pass time.