I don’t think anyone would’ve predicted this.
Well except maybe the Simpsons, Bill Gate’s in his TED talk, and that one psychic.
The coronavirus aka COVID-19 has wrecked havoc across the world, affecting everything from the stock market, to grocery stores, universities, and beloved sports (I miss you Premier League and Champions League). But we should not let it wreck havoc on our mental health and well-being.
In the Arab world, there was never any importance placed on mental health and there has always been a lack of understanding between generations. Older generations were taught to be dismissive of their feelings and issues, which is pretty self destructive if you ask me. Thankfully these days, that isn’t the case and mental health isn’t considered such a taboo topic anymore. We’re becoming increasingly open about the subject and how it affects us in our everyday lives. In these testing times, our mental health is going to be put under strain and we really need to focus on how we can stay healthy and positive.
While many of us are either in self-isolation or government mandated quarantine for the next couple of weeks (shout out to all my friends quarantined in the Dead Sea or in Saudi loool) , it’s important we keep ourselves active, distracted, and well… sane. So here are some tips and ideas to help!
Set yourself a schedule or routine
Whether it’s an hourly schedule or a rough idea of what you want to accomplish for the day, setting out a plan for the day helps provide some perspective and can help keep you motivated. It may take you a couple of days to figure out what works for you and to adjust, but make sure to write out your schedule and track your progress.
My current morning routine:
Wake up (between 9 and 10am), drink water and take my vitamins, make my bed, drink my coffee while checking emails, have breakfast, brush my teeth, morning skincare routine, and then whatever studying/work I have planned for the morning and I’ll do that until lunch.
In the evening:
Eating dinner while watching Netflix, check emails and my phone, around 10:30-11:00pm I’ll read for a while until I get tired, night skincare routine, get in bed, and last phone check before I sleep.
I’m trying to limit how often I’m using my phone (to avoid headaches and also not to get addicted) while trying to read as much as I can (see my post about reading with recommendations here).
Exercise!
Although many gyms and studios are closing, that shouldn’t mean that we can’t exercise anymore. There are many apps that can help keep you active at home depending on your specific interests and exercise preferences. Whether you use a paid app or watch free YouTube or Instagram videos, keeping active not only improves our physical health but our mental health too. Even walks outside in open, empty spaces can
I’ve been alternating between workouts and yoga everyday- I’m using Freeletics (paid £30 for 3 months/40 sessions) and watching different yoga videos on YouTube. Freeletics doesn’t require any equipment but if you have certain ones (resistance bands, a box, a bar, wall, and more) the app can modify the workouts to use them- which I did. I’ve heard many ‘experts’ recommend outdoor activity like walks
There are other apps out there including Sweat, Glo, Centr, and 7 Minute Workout.
Instagram accounts: @krissycela, @kayla_itsines
Try some new recipes
While we may be stuck at home for a while, I’m sure we’re all going to get sick of the food we cook. These next couple of weeks serve as the perfect opportunity to test out some new recipes (if you even find the ingredients in the grocery stores). Cooking new meals provides some excitement, helps you get creative, and can expand your chest of recipes post-coronavirus.
I’m lucky to have a mama who scanned her recipe book (which she’s had since uni!!!) and typed up a bunch of recipes to Google Drive. I’ve been trying some of mama’s recipes and have been searching online too. Cook with friends and alternate who’s place you cook at to keep you company but also for a change in scenery.
(side note: anyone interested in a new section on the site for recipes?)
Call your loved ones and friends
I’m not one for calls- I can never keep a conversation going for so long but in times like this I’ve learnt how important it is to be connected to your loved ones and friends. Everyone’s in the same situation and we should reach out to each other because no one is alone in this. Even in quarantine or isolation- you are not alone and we’re all in this together (unintentional HSM reference, sorry). We may not have physical contact with others for a while, so we must do what we can to keep our connections. Remind people how much you love them, share your stories, and motivate each other.
Personally, I’ve been calling my parents non-stop (sorry mama and baba) because I’m seriously homesick and my friends who live across the street because I can’t be bothered to go over. I’m trying to sort of calls with my close friends in the US, Canada, and back home in Saudi but time difference can be a bitch.
Apps to use: Facetime, Skype, House Party, Snapchat, WhatsApp, Messenger
Get creative
Time to bring out the paint brushes!!!
Yes, we need to stay focus and motivated now more than ever, but we need to distract ourselves too with…but with healthy distractions. This may take a different form for different people- art, music, even video games. These distractions can relieve our stresses and anxieties, calm us down and makes the days go by easier, which is honestly what we need right now. Even if you don’t find yourself a particularly creative person, there is a creative outlet for you- you just have to find it. Try to include at least 30 minutes to an hour of creative work each day and you’ll find your mood improving with each day and you may even learn to enjoy self-isolation/quarantine.
As a design student, I’ve found myself doing illustrations (like the ones for this site) and sketches and am planning on starting to paint again (something I haven’t done in a couple of years).
Share your creative works with us during this time by tagging us (@friendly.neighborhood.arab) and using #coronacreations, or by dm-ing us.
Reach out
Don’t forget- we are here as a community of friendly neighbors to always help and be there for you. Contact us with your questions, concerns, stories, or even if you need someone to talk to. Not only are we here to provide a platform to give us a voice, but also to provide our community for support. Although we can’t provide any medical advice (seek your local health services or government), we can try to help you with anything else you may be experiencing or feeling. Reach out to us. After all, there is an ‘us’ in coronavirus 😉
Yeah that was kinda cheesy and cringe…. you see what self-isolation has done to me? Fml.
Stay safe and healthy xx
~N
Friendly Neighborhood Arab 