Relaxing at the beach is a good way to decompress during a pandemic. Photo by James McIntosh.
As COVID-19 continues to dominate life in the United States, we have been forced to learn a new way to live and survive, all while staying six feet apart of course. Since coronavirus has taken away things like sports, some in-person classes and the dining hall, staying inside all day can make you go a little crazy. Here are some ideas on ways to stay sane during quarantine.
We have the privilege of going to school right next to the beach, which I think we all should take advantage of. The beach can be a lot of people’s safe havens: a relaxing spot for them to think, breathe and get some fresh air. It is perfect for social distancing as well, as masks are not required once you’ve sat down as long as you’re six feet apart from other groups of people. So the next time you’re feeling a little stir crazy, make your way over to the beach for all of your recharging and relaxation needs.
Back in March when things were really tough, I spent a lot of time on FaceTime with my friends and family. This helped me stay connected to the world and not feel so isolated. I know I missed my friends a lot, so seeing their faces and catching up was the closest thing to being with them in person. If you don’t have an Apple device, platforms like Zoom and Google Hangouts have the same effect. Both platforms are available free of charge and are very user-friendly.
Mason Smoller, a first-year student, said that he and his friends enjoy getting together in small groups and watching sports since they’re back on TV.
“I love sports, so it’s a shame that we can’t experience that in person this season,” Smoller said. “Instead, my friends and I love to sit and watch the games together in the common rooms; it isn’t the same as being in person, but it’s as close as we can get.”
If sports aren’t your thing, there’s plenty of Netflix shows, movies and even recorded Broadway shows that have the same effect.
Some other things you can attempt are silly activities that you can try out with your family and friends. An example of this is a PowerPoint night. It’s simple and easy: you and the rest of your party prepare a PowerPoint presentation on anything you choose and present it to each other. I did one of these with my family and we laughed until we cried. The crazier the topic, the funnier it is. Safely and socially distanced within your main circle, this is a great idea to keep yourself entertained.
Freshman Jack Wren said that he and his friends like to get outside on nice days and walk around the University of Rhode Island’s campus to explore. Whether you’re on campus or off, walking and exploring is something that’s easily accessible and relaxing.
“When it’s nice outside, my friends and I love to go on walks,” Wren said. “It keeps us busy and gives us exercise all in one. We’ll just walk up to the emporium and back and explore parts of campus that we’ve never seen before.”
The coronavirus pandemic definitely threw us all for a loop and left some of us feeling isolated, scared and bored. It doesn’t always have to be boring with these great activities.