Welp. There are no words to truly describe the world right now. I keep saying the world feels both “surreal” and “crazy,” but that absolutely doesn’t capture what we’re all experiencing.

Let me start on a serious note: we are in the midst of an unprecedented (another common word) situation right now, with no clear knowledge of when or how this will all end. Many people have gotten severely ill or died, many are struggling physically, mentally and emotionally, and many have lost their jobs with no way to pay for the basic things they need to survive.

I start with that because it’s the reality, unfortunately, and it’s likely going to get worse before it gets better. For those of us who are healthy, with roofs over our heads and with some sort of income, we have SO much to be grateful for right now. And I believe we have to continue to remember that while we’re “stuck” at home when so many people are struggling AND while so many of our healthcare workers and those working essential jobs go out into this crazy world every day.

If there’s one thing I tell myself every day, it’s to be grateful.

For those who read my previous post, you know that I cut my trip in Europe short due to the U.S. travel restrictions and came back to New York to self-quarantine for 14 days, and this was before New York became the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S. And, I live in Queens, which is currently like the epicenter of the epicenter of the outbreak. Also, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently issued a travel advisory for the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut area. Needless to say, I’m not going anywhere for a long time.

So how am I coping as someone quarantining by myself in my moderately sized apartment in Queens? I thought I would share some of my tips in case it helps others who may be struggling in their quarantine.

I should note, though, that I realize that some of the tips I list below are easier to do when you’re by yourself versus having to take care of young children or an elderly person. This is a situation where the grass isn’t necessarily greener on the other side – because those quarantining by themselves, while not having to homeschool or take care of children, may be experiencing loneliness and isolation – it’s just different. And again, I say this as someone who recognizes the extreme privilege of having a roof over my head and being in good health. Also, I’m an introvert by nature, so to be very frank, so far this quarantine business hasn’t been that much of a struggle for me. A fellow introverted friend of mine sent this to me, and I felt like it was pretty accurate:

Anyway, here’s what’s been working for me:

Starting My Day with Exercise
This has been a must for me, for multiple reasons. I am used to being active so I knew I had to keep that going, even though I can’t go far from my apartment. The great thing is that there are SO many fitness options out there. My favorite New York fitness studio, 305 Fitness, has been doing live stream workouts twice a day and offers the opportunity to support their instructors and pay for exclusive online classes from them. I’ve also been doing Peloton workouts (not the cycling ones since I don’t own a bike), Tone It Up, and so much more. The endorphins leave me feeling so GREAT and ready to start my day.

Listening to Music
Even though I’ve never loved going to big concerts, I absolutely love listening to all kinds of music. I blame my dad, who has been collecting vinyl records my entire life. It has been so great listening to music in my apartment and having the occasional solo dance party. One of my favorite recent listening sessions was with DJ D-Nice, who’s Club Quarantine literally brought the world together for several hours of good music, both recent hits and old school jams. Beyond that, I have music playing from morning to night to keep me going.

Limiting My COVID-19 News Intake
Before I traveled to Europe, during my time in Europe and when I initially came back to New York, I consumed ALL the news on COVID-19. Literally, all the news. I even had my TV on CNN on mute during my first few days working from home during my self-quarantine. Then, a few days ago, I stopped watching. I realized it was causing me more anxiety and I didn’t like how I felt consuming so much news. Now, I go on nytimes.com about once or twice a day to get the headlines, but I don’t make a habit of staying on there. The fact is, I know things are rough out there; I live not too far from a hospital, and I hear the sirens of the ambulance literally all day. I try not to dwell on it and just do my part by staying home.

Donating to Support Those in Need
Something that we all have time for is helping others in need. As I mentioned earlier, there are so many healthcare workers going out into the trenches to deal with this disease, and our hospitals are struggling. People without work are struggling. I have the ability to help from my home, so I try to do so. There are a number of organizations out there providing assistance to those impacted by COVID-19. So far, I’ve donated to Save the Children and Direct Relief, but as I mentioned, there are numerous places where you can donate.

Getting Fresh Air, Safely
We should all be staying home as much as possible. That much, we should all know. But, we also know that getting fresh air is really important to helping maintain your sanity. For me, the fresh air has been vital, but the key is to do it safely. Any time I leave my apartment to go for a walk around the block or jog to my nearby park, I always maintain at least six feet between myself and others, and I carry my anti-bacterial gel with me, which I use constantly. It’s to the point where, if I see someone walking on the sidewalk towards me and I know we can’t maintain six feet of each other in passing, I will cross the street or move out of the way to let that person pass. I am taking this social (read: physical) distancing thing seriously, as we all should be doing.

Helping the Small Businesses Near Me
The unfortunate side effect of this pandemic is the economic fallout, which has seen thousands upon thousands of people laid off and many businesses closing or hurting. One thing I know I can also do from the safety of my home is support the small businesses that are trying to stay afloat. Right now, I support my favorite instructors at my favorite fitness studio and have donated to local restaurants who are running fundraisers to support their employees. I also think it’s as easy as ordering take out from your local restaurants to help keep them going (ensure you mark no contact delivery for the order).

Connecting Often With Family and Friends
This is so crucial, especially for those quarantining alone. Taking the time to connect with family and friends throughout this situation helps you to feel less isolated and will inevitably boost your mood. I’ve done video calls and group text messages with friends, FaceTime chats with family, and I am in video meetings on WebEx literally all day, every day, so there is no shortage of me connecting with others. Even if it’s just a 30-minute catch up with someone or a virtual happy hour, the time you take to connect with someone else will go a long way towards helping you cope.

Settling in with a Good Book, Movie or TV Show
Any introvert knows, there’s nothing like settling in with a good book, movie or television show. For me, it’s all about a good book, which I can easily get into for an entire day (if it’s really good). Though, I do occasionally get into a movie or TV show – I recently succumbed to checking out Love is Blind, which was at times ridiculous, hilarious and just what I needed at that moment in time. There is a lot to consume out there that’s not COVID-19 related, so think about what you’re in the mood for and take your pick.

Trying Out New Recipes
Even if you’ve never considered yourself much of a cook, now is the time to hone your skills in the kitchen. There are millions (maybe billions) of recipes on the internet - pick a few to try every week. If you’re by yourself like me, you can dedicate a whole day to cooking several meals that you can then ration out and freeze so that you’re set for the days to come. Cooking with some music and a glass of wine has been a great way for me to pass the time, and it can be much healthier since you’re deciding which ingredients go into your food and what you will consume.

One thing I will not be doing: learning a Tik Tok dance. Sorry if it makes me sound like a grumpy old man, but I do NOT get Tik Tok and I don’t get why people spend so much time learning these Tik Tok dances. If it works for you, then you do you, but you won’t find a Tik Tok dance happening over here.

Okay, Tik Tok rant is over.

What are your tips for quarantine living?