How To Make the Best Out Of Self-Quarantine

            As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak continues to stun the U.S., entire society is being reshaped. Besides spreading through air and human-to-human-transmission, the scariest part about the Coronavirus is that people can carry it without any symptoms for up to fourteen days, which decreases the possibility of prevention, and thus increases the risk of spreading it in any community. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus, which indicates self-quarantine and social distancing.

            What can you do while self-quarantining?

It is time to do some cleaning to destroy the coronavirus. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is good to clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily, which including tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks. You can use cleaning products such as soap and water, diluted bleach solution, 70% alcohol, and household (3%) hydrogen peroxide.

Online studying has become the new learning fashion. During the spring break, as several coronavirus cases sprung in the Dallas area, McMurry University created the McMurry Infectious Disease Response Planning Team (MIDTEAM) to discuss solutions related to coronavirus health issue. In order to maintain safety for faculty, staff, and students at McMurry, the remainder of the spring 2020 semester will allow students to do remote learning in safe and secluded locations. Besides school classes, there are also lots of free online learning resources, such as edX and Coursera. You can learn academic related subjects or just a new language for fun. This is a special time, but learning should not stop.

Staying physically active during self-quarantine is also important. Sedentary behavior and low levels of physical activity can have negative effects on the health, well-being, and quality of life for anybody. Working out at home can release some mental stress by activing your physical body. There are lots of free exercises resources on YouTube that you can follow. Even just standing up, walking around in your place, and doing yoga can strengthen your health.

Maintaining a social life helps one stay mentally healthy during self-quarantine. If you are living with family, this is a great time to catch up with each other and enjoy each other’s company. If you are living by yourself, please be aware that you are not alone. People who you love and care about surround you constantly. Video calls with loved ones and friends help tremendously, and you can easily chat with your relatives or best friend via Skype. You can make this interaction more entertaining by playing online games together as well.

You can also learn a skill, maybe cooking or perfect a creative talent you haven’t had the time to master. Essentially, make sure you stay active, both mentally and physically. This is not the best time, but we can still try our best to make the self-quarantine to be safe and fun.