Quarantine Routine: How to Create Your Own and Stick to it

Do you know what day it is today? When was the last time you went outside? If you’re having trouble keeping track of the time while staying at home, we recommend creating your own quarantine routine. The quarantine may be lifted in several days, but with the uncertainty this whole situation has brought, it’s never too late to come up with your own schedule.

Here are a few tips:

Act like how you usually do on weekdays and on weekends. If you’re working from home, do so only on regular office hours—that means logging out of your computer and not answering work-related messages past 6 PM or on weekends. If you’re used to going out on weekends, try to participate in a modified version of your favorite activities. Loved eating out on Saturdays? Whip up the most luxurious meal that you can and prep the dining area to look like a fancy restaurant. Missing game night with the barkada? Organize a virtual one to keep in touch with everyone.

Reserve an area for work. If you have a spare room, you may use that as your temporary home office. Otherwise, clear out a spot in your home and assign that as your work area. That means only going there during office hours. This spot shouldn’t be used for anything else.

Get up and sleep at around the same time. You don’t have to wake up at 7 AM every morning, but as much as possible, have a regular wake-up time. Also, set a regular bedtime and try to stick to it as much as you can. Not only will this help you keep track of the time better, but several studies have shown that having a regular sleeping pattern may have some health benefits.

Set a time for eating. It’s easy to lose track of the time when we’re busy working, bingeing on movies and TV shows, or even just browsing through social media. Don’t wait for your grumbling tummy to tell you you need to eat. Set specific times for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even merienda. This may also help prevent you from overeating.

Consider the people you are quarantined with. If you live with other people, you need to coordinate your routine with theirs. Be considerate of shared resources and amenities. This means leaving enough bread for everyone and not hogging the TV or WiFi bandwidth.

Get some fresh air. If you’re fortunate enough to be quarantined in a residence that has an outdoor area, maximize it by going outside at least once a day to get fresh air and sun—stale indoor air can sometimes be more unhealthy than outdoor air. Otherwise, open your window every once in a while to let fresh air in.

Don’t be too ambitious. A lot of people have gotten into new hobbies and have listed some goals they want to achieve by the end of the quarantine. This is okay, but you also need to set realistic goals. Don’t suddenly do intense workouts when you didn’t regularly exercise before the quarantine. Also, don’t be too hard on yourself if you fail to accomplish your goals. We are, after all, in the middle of a pandemic.

Be flexible. Allow for some spontaneity. While it is okay to have general guidelines of what you should do for a particular day, don’t be pressured to strictly stick to it. That will only add stress to an already stressful situation. Try to enjoy your extra time and not worry too much.