With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing spreading widely, Public Health experts are suggesting everyone to self-quarantine in order to slow down the spread of the virus. By doing so, it is expected that the number of people who require medical attention does not overwhelm hospitals. 

How to self-quarantine 

Self-quarantine is a step up from self-monitoring because a person at risk of infection – even though the person still does not have symptoms – had a higher chance of exposure.  

Self-quarantine means staying home and away from people as much as possible for 14-day period, which is said as the incubation period of Covid-19 – albeit symptoms can appear within a few days of exposure. 

During self-quarantine, you are not necessarily living alone like a strict self-isolation. During this activity, you should do your best to retreat to a room or find a separate area in your house. CBS News medical contributor, Dr Tara Narula also advised to not go outside be it for shopping, eating, or socialising. You should also not share utility tools with others, such as eating utensils, towels, cups, etc., and should do regular disinfection on all devices, including doors, handphones, and other tools. Narula also suggested keeping a stock of medication supply for at least two weeks and keeping close communication with family members via telephone or video calls. 

See also: Are Your Workers More Productive Outside the Office?

Fun and productive things to do during self-quarantine 

Self-quarantine is a good move to hold the Covid-19 spreading. However, it might negatively affect people’s mental condition, especially those who love socialising. The Lancet report on the Psychological Impact of Quarantine revealed that quarantine is often unpleasant as the social distancing from loved ones, loss of freedom, and uncertainty over disease status could create dramatic effects. The study also showed that those who had been quarantined are generally reported as having a high prevalence of symptoms of psychological distress and disorder. 

Good news is, these symptoms can be prevented by making the quarantine as short as possible to reduce boredom and improve communication. Here are things to shoo away your boredom during self-quarantine that could hopefully maintain your happiness and productivity. 

• Exercising – Taking care of your body by exercising, stretching, and meditating will give balance to your healthy life which lessen the chance of catching the virus. 
• Stay informed but limit the news – Take a break from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. CDC reported that hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting. 
• Enrol to online classes or gain online certification – If you are an avid learner and want to progress professionally, this could keep you happy and productive. 
• Learn languages – Not only can learning languages help develop strong cognitive skills, but it also improves your social abilities and interaction. 
• Widen your online circle – Social networking is important. By contacting strangers through online media, you’ll know that you are not alone in this – something that can support you to go through this pandemic. 
• Composing – Be it music, poems, books, or lyrics, composing help put your stress to a masterpiece. Experts said that expressing yourself on paper, writing what’s troubling you, or writing anything that comes to you naturally could replace the stress and sadness you previously felt. 
• Sing along and learn instruments – This pandemic is apparently bringing people to enjoy the moment. In Italy, people are singing along from their balcony. Even if you cannot join to be a balcony singer, singing while learning instruments can help refocus bad energy into something positive and enjoyable, experts said. 
• Stay in close communication – Albeit you self-quarantine, it does not mean you cannot talk with your loved ones. In fact, staying in touch with people you care about will help relieve your stress and loneliness. 
• Relax and enjoy your favourite shows or movies – Expert Birgit Wolz said that cinema therapy can be a powerful catalyst for healing and growth for anybody who is open to learning how movies affect us and to watching certain films with conscious awareness. It affects our psyche for insight, inspiration, emotional release, or relief and natural change. 
• Reading your favourite books – Finally, you have some peace to finish it. 
• Treat yourself – This is self-quarantine and not a jail, so why not treating yourself by moisturising your skin or masking your face? Your skin also needs treatment during this time. 
• Cook – It is the time to show off your cooking skills to yourself, or maybe learn how to cook well. YouTube can be your personal guide. Let’s see what you can do to all the available ingredients in your fridge. 
• Create video or blog content – Giving away useful information that nobody knows before is always a good thing to share the world. You probably know about the ancient history of Covid-19, share them. But make sure your story is true and honest. 
• Play games with your online friends – This could create a stronger bond between you and your friends while helping you to not feel lonely and stressful. 
• Learn something new – This is the most common advice but is always a great way to improve yourself. Time won’t repeat itself so make sure you use it for the best activities to satisfy yourself while being productive ever. 

Read also: Coronavirus Outbreak: How to Survive the Pandemic at Work (UPDATED)