Protecting Your Mental Health in Quarantine

Ten months ago, millions of American lives were drastically altered and over 266,000 lives have been lost thus far. COVID-19 has changed the way we live and has had a significantly negative impact on our lives as a whole. This pandemic has directly impacted our families, our homes, our careers, our social lives, and our overall mental health. Quarantine has led us to feel extremely isolated and separated from everyone we love and care about. Our day to day activities are quite different than we once knew prior to March 2020. Many of us are stuck in our houses, unable to see our friends, unable to socialize, and unable to go to work. 

Two Young Children looking out a class door

The COVID pandemic has also led to a huge rise in depression, stress, addiction, relationship conflict, and anxiety. It is easy to get caught up in the negativity of the pandemic and as a result, our mental health can suffer. It is helpful to focus on having a positive mindset that acknowledges we have limited control during these times. Controlling the pandemic is not something we are capable of. However, we do have control over the activities we choose to do, the people we surround ourselves with, and the mindset we choose to have and believe in. We are able to stay positive and take appropriate steps to not only stay safe and healthy, but to remain optimistic and ensure that we are in a good headspace. 

Think Positive written in orange caligraphy

So what can we do? How can we remain positive while inside feeling helpless?  How can we protect our mental health in quarantine? Try out the following suggestions to find your “quarantine style”.

  • Try out some new hobbies - break out those puzzles or paint by number kits you didn’t get to in the spring:)

  • Have a self-care day - face masks, yoga, journaling, etc

  • Work on your meditation practice 

  • Cultivate a tea habit - experiment with different brands or try to make your own loose leaf blends!

  • Volunteer in your community 

  • Mentor a child or teen who is interested in an area you enjoy 

  • Have a movie marathon - Harry Potter movies, superhero movies, etc

  • Do home projects - paint a room, get new curtains, etc

  • If you’re a parent, have your kids teach you about something they know and you don’t - how to play Among Us, current slang, what shoes are cool, etc

  • Go for a drive and explore a new area - for some added fun, get lost and try to find your way home without using GPS

  • Go through your closet and donate old clothes

  • Clean out your junk drawers and storage cabinets

  • Try a new nutrition plan or 30 day food related challenge 

  • Learn to cook a new meal - take turns doing this in your family

  • Have an online cake or cookie decorating contest with friends and family

  • Fine new exercise routines to try  inside or brave the cold to work out outside

  • Resume Zoom calls with friends and family - look for some new fun games to play while you’re online with your group

  • Foster or adopt a pet 

  • Start a new journal - try out a new style of writing (bullet journal, poetry, gratitude lists, etc)

  • Write a letter or send a postcard to an old friend

  • Learn something new - listen to a podcast, find an online class, read a non-fiction book, practice learning a new language

  • Escape into a fiction novel, start a virtual book club with friends or family 

Black woman with her short black hair pulled back wearing a black sports bra with her eyes closed and palms pressed together in front of her chest in a yoga pose
Arial shot of a woman in a gray sweater holding a cup of coffe and an open book in her lap in bed

Everyone’s quarantine style is different. Find a set of activities that relates to the uniqueness of your life. For example, if you have a dog at home, you may get up at the same time every day, eat breakfast, and go for a run with your dog. You and your pet will soon start to look forward to this fun part of your day. 


If your quarantine style is all about trying new things, you might learn how to cook new recipes, how to sew your own clothes, how to speak a different language, or start a new puzzle or book. 


If you’re into self-care, create a routine that incorporates a daily meditation, yoga practice, or journal with a cup of tea before bed.


If you value social connection the most, get creative with those Zoom calls, have an online cake decorating contest, or send a card to your childhood best friend in the mail.


Once you find yourself engaging in your quarantine activities on a daily basis, you will have established a new routine for yourself that will feel normal, or at least the closest to normal as we know it! Your routine may not be the same as everyone else and might be inspiration for someone else to try something different! Whatever your quarantine style may be, distracting yourself from the pandemic with routines that bring joy into your life will certainly help with maintaining a positive outlook and headspace. It is always easier to complete tasks that you genuinely enjoy doing. Your quarantine style can help protect your mental health during this challenging time, while ensuring that you are still safe and taking the appropriate precautions during this pandemic.

Colorful stick notes saying "Stay Home," "Be Safe," "Keep Your Distance," "Don't Go Out!," "Write a Letter," "Read a Book," "Online Chat," and "Phone a Friend"
Marisa EttingME Psychotherapy, LLC