WHY QUARANTINE MIGHT BE THE BEST THING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO US IN A WHILE By Ava Kasner
It is a fact that the coronavirus pandemic has had a major negative impact on our economy and people’s mental health but what about the positive, the good news? Think about what we can make this self-isolating into. This pandemic, which is to be taken seriously, is all over the news with mainly bleak information. People await for a cure, an approval to go out by reopening places, economic growth or decay, anything that gives into our anxious questions. Although, it is important to handle this time off as a self retreat. We can not make excuses for things anymore. We can not let ourselves fall into a dark place by laying in bed all day on our electronics. This is the time to discover who you are and what you are useful for. What is it that you have been holding off for a while? Many people have started working out more which I think is great because that is a common activity that is avoided with excuses. If you live in a sunny state like Florida, going outside to tan or swim is great too. Working out and tanning are usually summertime hobbies but now it is simply “year round”. Although, those two are not necessarily talents. Art, music, writing, and cooking are all hobbies that you can discover and get good at. It is a great use of our time and can seriously affect our future in a positive
way. Maybe you will realize you want to go to culinary school or become a journalist. Although I suggested using this quarantine as a self-retreat, that does not mean to disconnect from other people. It is important to keep yourself in a stable mental state and talking to others typically helps with that. Netflix collaborated with Google Chrome to make “Netflix Party� which is where you and all your friends can watch the same show or movie at the same time. You are also able to use the text chat while watching so it is like you are together. There are many activities you can do with your friends (online/app games)or simply just having a conversion together helps with a boost of serotonin. This coronavirus pandemic is like an alternate reality. No one is familiar with such a world-wide lockdown so we all have to learn to adjust for however long it takes. Beaches and small businesses are starting to slowly open up but some people are getting too excited. In California, Orange County, they opened up the beach and it got flocked with people as if this pandemic was completely called off. The government was not happy to see this and quickly closed the beach back off. This is a fear for many government officials because some people get insensitive and forget their place. If places start to open back up, it is important to still follow guidelines of six feet apart and to keep only a small circle of people around you. Despite the fact that it is predicted to release this lockdown soon, it is also predicted that the virus will come back at a peak and we will go right back to where we started. No one knows until it happens which
is why it is such a concern. So all you can do is be careful and considerate of others around you. All in all, the coronavirus pandemic causing a national lockdown might seem like the death of you but there are so many ways to make it the best thing that has happened to you. This is your time to work on yourself and discover new hobbies. This is your time to get that break you kept saying you needed. This is your time and it is up to you to make the most of it.