Quarantined or Social Isolation? Let me give you some tips on what are the things to do and how to overcome social isolation to keep you busy despite of the pandemic.
In this time of crisis, everything drives us mad. Nobody is safe. The virus is just around the corner. Face mask is mandatory everywhere (with face shield, is way more better) . If you walk around the streets and you don't have one, you may end up yourself in jail, pay some fines or do some community services for a short period of time. Whether you like it or not, wear those things, it's for your own safety after all.
Foods and other commodities or consumable items are not scarce, but we may not be able to acquire them due to the possibilities of spreading of the virus from other people who we may encounter in the streets, stores, and etc.
As I roam around within Lapu-Lapu City and Cebu City, many stores, shops, schools and other businesses are now closed and may not or will not go back for operations and it create job loss. Everything are affected. Nobody expects this worldwide pandemic is gonna happen.
As an OFW, I lost my job as well, on the other hand, I didn't lose hope and I must stay strong in this time of crisis. Thinking of negative things may affect your mental, physical and spiritual health and it doesn't help at all.
If you're being quarantined in a hotel, in your own house or isolate yourself from others for safety reasons, these things might help you:
Workout or Yoga
Studies confirmed that exercises or yoga gives benefit not only your body to stay fit but your mind as well. If you do this routine everyday, it helps you to enhance your overall health, increase strength and flexibility and reduce symptoms of stress, depression and anxiety. You don't have to go to the gym with monthly fees, just stay in your house. There are a lot of things you can grab on and make some sweat. I suggest to watch some videos in YouTube because it has the wide range of workout and Yoga videos to choose from. It's time to limit the screen time and hit the floor!
2. Read Some Books (or E-books) or Learn New Language/s
Another thing to reduce stress, anxiety and depression is to read books or learn something to feed up your brain and stay healthy. Read something like novel, sci-fi, mystery, and other kinds of books. Learning other language also is a great help as well. Try to learn and practice your favorite foreign language, so you don't have to put subtitles in your favorite Koreanovelas of yours. The reason is that it will entertain you and to "escape" from troubled times. According to experts, reading and learning promotes empathy, social inclusion, self-esteem and community cohesion, improve your memory and attention, at the same time, it helps you sleep better.
3. Blogging or Vlogging
The reason I started to have blogs and vlogs it's because of being quarantined and isolated and nothing to do, so I need to stay productive. Creating a blog or vlog will help you to be creative. This may not be your passion but it expresses what you knew or what you learned something and you want to share to others about your past jobs, childhood life, current situations, sharing your reactions or thoughts and ideas, and etc. Other people took this opportunity to gather income aside from online selling. You might not know that a lot of people out there liked and loved your contents from your blogs and vlogs. You don't have to be a pro to do some one of a kind blogs or vlogs, just make it simple and catchy.
4. Unleash your skills and talents
Being isolated in the house and no where to go, just you and your family, it's the right time and opportunity to explore something like you haven't done before in your life. I learned a lot of things during quarantine and social isolation; like how play music instruments, photography, online selling and etc. Since I started to play drum everyday, I feel like I can't live without it because there are some benefits in learning music, you will not only like it but love it as well. Try to explore or practice to do something like singing, dancing, cooking, play some musical instruments, learning new things like fixing or something and etc. There are a lot of videos over the internet which gives you some ideas and free to download and watch it.
5. Study with Online (Crash) Courses
I always believe in the saying, "Keep on learning because life never stops teaching." Another way to keep yourself busy and learning new things is to study or enroll online courses. I know it's expensive and you have to pay those courses you always wanted. I payed like $10 or Php 500 for each course in Metrodeal.com. They offered or sell a lot of different courses. The advantage of learning courses online is that you learn something even though it's just a crash course, however, the disadvantage is that there's no interaction between you and the instructor, at the same time, you don't have any classmates. It's all on you. You study at your own phase at your own time. These courses are legit and you will learn something because the courses may provide some videos with instructors. At the end of the course, you can gain also a certificate, just like what you saw in the slide.
TESDA is offering free courses. There are tons of courses for you to choose from. You just need to enroll and look for the right course that suits you. Check this link https://www.e-tesda.gov.ph/. I enrolled Entrepreneurship and Computer System and Services in this website or platform. It enhances and develop my ideas on how to install, fix and troubleshoot computer hardware and software.
If you want to acquire courses from online with masterclass and all you want is free, just check with this websites, https://katcr.to/ and thepiratebay.org . Make you have torrent downloader and you know what to do.
6. Apply Online Jobs
If you lose your job, you don't have to worry because everything is still possible. There are a lot of job opportunities over the internet, especially if you just want to work at home and you don't want have to leave in your house. One of the best website that I can recommend and I've been using for applying some jobs is mynimo.com. They offer a wide variety of jobs. There's for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. I applied there once and I got the job offer as a part-time ESL Teacher online (home-based). By the way, mynimo.com is not an agency.
Nowadays, they still discourage workers to go over the establishment when applying for a job but they gonna schedule you for online interview instead. They gonna conduct interview through google meet, skype, zoom, and other platforms. You just need to dress up half of your body and wear short pants, and you're ready for the interview! Lolz! Here's the tip, make sure you have a white background and make sure your internet connection is stable. At the same time, your room or area must be noise-free because your employer doesn't want to hear any noise from the chickens, dog barks, yell from your neighbor or from your angry mom.
7. Advertise Your Goods and Services Online
If you have passion in cooking or baking, why don't you try to produce some finish products and sell it online? If you don't have any skills or talent in cooking or something, maybe it's time for you to discover and unleash your skills and creativity to do something and sell it online as well. If others can do it, so do we! If you really don't have the passion in cooking, baking, preparing some milk teas or anything at all, there are still other possible ways to earn income online like buy/sell and the skills or talents you have ( like fixing air-conditions, computers, cellphones, etc.). Nowadays, these are the things you can find online or trends due to the fact that most people are laid-off from their previous jobs. So, this is the only way to sustain the everyday needs and wants for the family.
You don't have roam around the streets or cities and shout with banner just to sell your goods. All you need to do is to take a picture and post it online (social media's marketplace) and your neighbors will see it in few seconds. Use your vehicles or bike for delivery. I think it's time for you to make some cakes and compete Goldilocks. Lolz! Never forget to wash your hands daily.
8. Always Keep In Touch With THEM
One of the most important thing to do is to call and chat with your family and friends in just a click. The best option to reach out them is to use your internet instead of seeing them personally. Either you have a laptop, phone or both, try communicate with them. Seeing them over the internet may not cost you a lot, you know how it feels if somebody reaches and thinking about you. Talk with them once in a while.
Always remember to stay healthy and strong; physically, mentally and spiritually. Keep or make yourself busy. Never forget to PRAY. Good things are about to come. Number 1 rule in survival, Never Lose Hope.
I hope my suggestions and recommendations may help everyone who are in social isolation, quarantined or house arrest, to do something and be productive. Always wear face mask (and face shield) and wash your hands daily.
Thank you!
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