7 Ways We Have Adjusted To Living In Quarantine

Throughout 2020, we have had to adjust the ways in which we live our lives. Through the various lockdowns, quarantines, and the alarming increase in COVID-19 cases, people have found a number of ways to try to continue their lives the way they had been before. We also are finding ways in which we can change our lives for the better during this difficult time. Nothing stays the same, but we all hope it can. Change is difficult to accept, especially when it is seemingly forced on us, but we can always make the best of it. 

1. Going to School Online

The first COVID-19 lockdown in Canada was in the spring of 2020 in March, which ended up cutting into the end of the school year for anyone attending or working at a school. Students in elementary, middle, and secondary school had to stay at home, and university and college students had their final exams interrupted. It was a rush to get systems set up to continue classes and exams. The first setups were not very good, but they did the trick in the short term. It took many people a long time to get used to the changes. Doing classes online, taking tests in a way that wouldn’t be considered cheating, and figuring out how to make the best of classroom time to learn and ask questions. 

2. Working from Home

In the same way of getting used to going to school online, a large number of people needed to do the same for their jobs. Now, not every job could be transitioned to an online or work from home variant but those that could be able to use the internet and phones to continue work. In my own personal case, I have been able to do the majority of my work from home by going to the office just once a week. 

3. Fewer Shopping Trips for Groceries

Going to grocery stores just to get milk or some junk food is not a doable proposition right now. People are needed to make trips to the store seldomly, and when they do, it's for the essentials. There are apps in some places that allow you to order groceries online and have someone do the shopping for you or pick up the groceries yourself and not having to enter the store. Remember to shop for what is considered important, like fruits, vegetables, milk, hygiene products, and other things depend on your region and what is considered important and essential. 

4. Socializing Long-Distance

As humans, we are very social creatures, and being suddenly forced to cut-off all physical and close contact is difficult for a lot of us. Technology has helped a lot in that regard. Using Zoom in the same way as school and work to socialize with family and friends helps. Even having birthday parties need to be long-distance. Having a party of some sort over Zoom or something similar helps to fill that gap, especially for young children who usually invite their whole class. At least over Zoom, they will have something to look forward to. 

5. Finding New Hobbies

It can be incredibly easy to get bored nowadays and hobbies are a fun way to fill our free time. Hobbies can help to relieve stress by keeping you engaged in something you enjoy. Hobbies give you a way to take your mind off the stresses of everyday life. Having a hobby can help be a great help to your social life and creating bonds with others. Partaking in a hobby can enriching to your life and helps to gives you a different perspective on things. It doesn’t matter what type of hobby you choose; you will definitely be exposed to new ideas. Hobbies help you grow in various ways, including exposing you to new opinions and to new ways to look at life.

6. Phone Call Appointments with Doctors

Going to a hospital or clinic to visit a doctor seems like a less than ideal situation right now. Many doctors are doing appointments through video conferencing or through the phone. It limits the potential for exposure. It is still very important to have regular appointments with doctors. Seeing a doctor is a vital investment for your health. Regular examinations catch problems early when they are more treatable. This is particularly important for older adults, as susceptibility to illness increases with age and with the increased risk factor of COVID-19. 

7. Wearing a Mask and/or Gloves

One of the arguably largest adjustments we have had to make is wearing a mask to cover our nose and mouth whenever we leave the house or interact with another person, even from a distance. Masks are a tool that is used to suppress transmission and save lives. They also help to reduce potential exposure risk from an infected person whether they have symptoms or not. When someone coughs, talks sneezes they could release germs into the air that may infect others nearby. Face masks are part of an infection control strategy to eliminate cross-contamination. Washing hands and wearing disposable gloves are of great importance as well. 

Our lives have had to adjust and change. Some of the changes are small, but some are rather drastic and take some time to get used to. The changes and adjustments with various policies are a tool that can be used by people to have guidelines to follow. Just remember that life continues, and we will get through this difficult time.