For nearly 30 days now, our lives have been turned upside down. We all miss the leisurely walks in the malls; the occasional movie-date; hanging with barkadas; eating fastfood; meeting with colleagues and dealing with the daily grind of the office, and; even though it was the bane of our existence, traffic. We’re not used to being cooped up at home unable to enjoy the outdoors. To make things worse, we are constantly bombarded with real and fake news on social media (and even traditional media), that all tells us that the end of the world will happen in 2020. Hence this article: Dealing with Quarantine Anxiety.

Unplug from the source of Anxiety

If you’re here and you’re reading this, then most likely you are spending too much time on social media thanks to the quarantine. And you are not alone in this, a good number of us are guilty of this given that its one of the last bastions of entertainment, community and information that we have. Unfortunately, it is also the source of most of your anxiety. Even if you can spot fake news or know enough to verify everything you read, social media provides tiny needles of fear that in the end add up and can overwhelm you. Limit your social media interaction. Embrace actual reality. Now this doesn’t mean that you should become a hermit and start living in a bunker, it means that you shouldn’t hunker down and be on Facebook all day. Set specific times when you check what’s happening in the world. Enjoy this time away from a monitor or screen.

Challenge yourself to be productive, daily.

Dealing with Quarantine Anxiety by Improving yourself.

Remember all those times that you looked at the possibility of studying; working out; learning an instrument, or simply doing that DIY project that’s stalled because of the statement “I don’t have time.”? Well, if there’s anything NCOV19 has given us, it’s the gift of time. Again, don’t waste it on a couch watching Netflix while building your anxiety on Facebook. Here are just a few ideas that you can do during this time of quarantine:

  • Workout. You can beat Quarantine Anxiety by releasing your body’s endorphins by working out. You don’t need a lot of space to work out. Yes you can’t go to a gym. But you don’t necessarily need one. Visit Youtube and check out all the workout videos for beginners. Challenge yourself to push to complete a workout for 7 days. The idea is to get you to form a habit which will become a part of your daily routine. Here’s a beginner’s workout example that an MC Home Employee is using:
  • Educate yourself: There are several websites that are currently holding sales (Some of them are free) for their courses. Visit websites like www.Udemy.com which offers courses from learning basic English; to advanced coding, to; learning how to play a guitar. Now if you are looking for something more local, TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) is offering FREE online courses. Check out how to get these courses for free by clicking here.

    Dealing with Quarantine Anxiety

    O’Brian’s Tower, the cliffs of Moher, Scotland

  • If you really don’t want to leave your computer, get some culture. Educational courses are not the only things you can find for free on-line today, you can visit aquariums, museums and even parks. You can check out a list of 22 such wonders by clicking this link – which includes a 360-view from the cliffs of Moher, Scottland that we have here. Take this as a counter to anxiety by basking in the beauty that you can discover virtually. If these places leave you awe-inspired, add them to a bucket list as places for you to visit for real one day.

Remember that you are not alone.

You are not the only one dealing with Quarantine Anxiety. The best way to battle fear is to talk it out. Find supportive friends to help recharge your positivity. Solutions to fear come when you are able to identify the problem. And sometimes you just need a friend to listen, or to provide advice, to help you work the problem through. You can even date creatively! Check out our article on what you can do during a quarantine for our dating ideas.