Opinion: Cures For ‘The Quarantine Blues’ exist

Christi Norris, Photographer/ReporterApril 7, 2020Leave a Comment

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William Norris plants vegetables in his family’s new garden. People all over the world are using the global coronavirus pandemic as a motivator to plant gardens, stockpile food and even buy chickens. “I like to plant and take care of a garden especially at a time like this,” staff writer/photographer Christi Norris said. “It’s nice to do something productive outside.”

Christi Norris
Christi Norris makes bread to pass the time while social distancing. Norris has practiced social distancing for the last 27 days and has found ways to creatively spend her time. “I have been cooking a lot while stuck at home,” Norris said. “It’s fun, relaxing, and productive because we still have to feed six people.”

 

Stuck at home for 14 days or more can take a toll mentally, physically and emotionally on anyone. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, people have begun to participate in the seemingly new practices of quarantining and social distancing. Students have recently joined the rest of the world, having been out of school and social distancing for 17 days, and the end seems far away. But despite this drastic lifestyle change people around the globe have had to make so far, boredom has not completely taken over just yet. Celebrities, Instagram influencers and normal people alike have been posting about ways to keep busy and entertained while staying within the walls of your home. Lots of people still have to work or do online school, but that doesn’t fill all 24 hours of your day. In looking at the remaining 20 hours of my day, I realized that I needed to get creative with my pastimes. Without further ado, here is the list I have compiled of things to do or recommendations I have to cure the quarantine blues.

Indoor Activities:

  • Bake or cook a new recipe.
  • Make a care package for your friends.
  • Start a bullet journal.
  • Play board games.
  • Solve a Puzzle.
  • Paint something.
  • Try Yoga.
  • Follow a DIY video.
  • Have a dance party.
  • Build a blanket fort.
  • Learn a new hobby.
  • Practice an instrument.
  • FaceTime friends.

Outdoor Activities:

  • Draw on the sidewalk or your fence with chalk.
  • Go on a walk.
  • Ride a bike or skateboard.
  • Stargaze at night.
  • Plant a garden.
  • Have a water gun or water balloon fight (with those in your household).
  • Play hide and seek.
  • Watch the clouds.

Books you may like:

  • Fried Green Tomatoes At the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg
  • The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
  • Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
  • Timeline by Michael Crichton
  • Boys in The Boat by Daniel James Brown
  • The Help by Kathryn Stockett
  • The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
  • Life of Pi by Yann Martel
  • Divergent by Veronica Roth
  • To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Great movies to watch:

  • She’s The Man
  • Ford vs Ferrari
  • Eat, Pray, Love
  • Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
  • P.S. I Love You
  • Onward
  • Wall-E
  • The Princess Diaries
  • Remember The Titans
  • Dead Poets Society
  • Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
  • Inception
  • The Princess Bride
  • Ten Things I Hate About You
  • Funny Face
  • The Quiet Man
  • Sleepless in Seattle
  • To Kill a Mockingbird

Movie series you should check out:

  • Star Wars
  • Back To The Future
  • Harry Potter
  • Lord of The Rings
  • Marvel Movies
  • James Bond 
  • Men In Black

TV shows to binge-watch:

  • Gilmore Girls
  • The Office
  • Blue Bloods
  • M.A.S.H.
  • Lost
  • Hogans Heros
  • Criminal Minds
  • Law and Order (The Original)
  • Magnum P.I. (The Original)
  • MacGyver 
  • The Mandalorian
  • This is US
  • Stranger Things
  • Full House
  • Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
  • NCIS New Orleans

Music to pass time:

Albums:

Songs to add to your playlists:

  • Ophelia by The Lumineers
  • Angela by The Lumineers
  • Life is a Highway by Rascal Flatts
  • Hey There Delilah by The Plain White Tees
  • Hello? by Clairo
  • Idle Town by Conan Gray
  • Escape by Rupert Holmes
  • New York State of Mind by Billy Joel
  • Love You Anymore by Michael Buble
  • I’ve Got The World On A String by Frank Sinatra
  • Prom Dress by Mxmtoon
  • Ventura Highway by America
  • Jolene by Dolly Parton
  • You’ve Got A Friend in Me by Randy Newman
  • What’s Up? by 4 Non Blonds
  • I Wanna Be Sedated by Ramones
  • Tiny Dancer by Elton John
  • Eleanor Rigby by The Beatles
  • Yesterday by The Beatles
  • Set Fire To The Rain by Adele
  • Lady Bird by Peter McPoland

Podcasts to check out:

  • The Hoopy Frood by Dustin Walker
  • Teenager Therapy by Gael
  • Radiolab by WNYC Studios
  • Ted Talks Daily by TED
  • Global News Podcast by BBC World Service
  • LeVar Burton Reads by LeVar Burton and Stitcher
  • Time Out by Eagle Nation Online
  • Fridays Are For The Girls by Eagle Nation Online

Miscellaneous: