The world has paused in the last 8 weeks in an effort to mitigate the spread and impact of COVID-19. Our daily routines have certainly changed, in hopes for the better. Our sanitation standards have been upscaled, and our personal space has been magnified 3-fold. We risk being cited, even jailed, for not complying with the statewide mandate to “Stay at Home”. Sports events, entertainment venues, churches, and places of congregation have been required to shut down, disband, and the people are sent back to their homes. To say that life has been disrupted is a severe understatement, especially for many of us having to conduct our work from home while supervising our young children in a new homeschool environment. But there’s light at the end of this tunnel, even though we are conscripted to our homes, avoid our workplaces, and distance ourselves from our families and friends.
Complying with “Safer at Home” orders has many advantages, and I’d like to address some important ones here. So here’s my top 10 advantages to take while being quarantined at home.
1. Figure out how to exercise at home. Many of us are walking or running on a semi-regular basis, maybe more than before. We are finding new ways to be creative with our living space to use minimal equipment to exercise, and to use our bodies and gravity for “non-gym” exercise routines.
2. Sleep more You control your schedule in your home. Take this time to get extra sleep for the whole family. I realize that you may have early meeting or phone conference obligations, but there’s never been a better opportunity to schedule it on your terms.
3. Learn to cook! Going out can get expensive, but more importantly, it takes away control of how much you don’t want in your body...like excess salt, sugar, and who knows what. So this is a great time to seek out new recipes and try preparing new items for your family.
4. Time to read! Without a commute to and from work, you should theoretically have about 1 additional hour in your day. Read!
5. Learn a new creative skill or language. One of the coolest opportunities right now is to take on a new skill, or improve ones you already have. Take advantage of online based courses, or utilize video conferencing for lessons in art, music, or any creative outlet.
6. Eat better! Take this time to eat better while you are at home. Choose foods that are whole, unprocessed, and balanced in proteins, good fats, and carbs. The goal of eating better is to keep your immune system strong. Weight loss is a byproduct.
7. Save your money! Most retail stores have been closed for the last 6 weeks, and gas prices are at record 20 year lows! Put the money you would have spent on retail goods, gas, movies, and going
out into a separate account...perhaps a celebration account for when things go back to normal.
8. Organize your space. If and when time permits, take time to organize sections of your living space. For example, clean out junk drawers, closets, or garage. Get rid of unused items, or make it available for others.
9. Take skincare seriously Being indoors has many advantages to your skin, like keeping it away from outdoor exposure. Invest in moisturizers and skin cleansers that you can apply 1, 2, to 3x a day since you are at home!
10. Stretch out! Being at home can mean being in comfortable clothing. Take advantage of going casual, or PJs, and sit on the floor to routinely stretch your hamstrings, lower back, glutes, etc. There’s no better opportunity to just lay flat on the living room floor and spend a few minutes stretching your spinal muscles. You can’t do that at work that easily, can you?
There are so many inconveniences of being quarantined, but fortunately, we are not under house arrest. Be free to move around, walk your neighborhood, and take advantage of the increased time being home. Over the next few weeks, as businesses and workplaces transition to become more operational, you should be able to return to the world better than ever, and more prepared than ever.
We are not a society of hermits destined to be islands. We are a civilization of people that need one another, and depend on the strengths of one another in order to do good in our world. So don’t let this temporary setback in our lives limit us, but rather, let it open doors that were barricaded by our busy lifestyle, work obligations, and lack of time. Come out of your cocoon as a beautiful butterfly--refreshed, more flexible, and more capable than when you entered. Watch out world!
Dr. Adrian Pujayana has been providing drug-free solutions for health and wellness to adults,athletes, and youth since 2000 through his private practice at Family Chiropractic Center of South Pasadena, a place for strength training and nutrition based health care. For comments or questions, email him at southpaschiro@gmail.com