The day and age we are living in tests our patience. Even before this eruption of self-quarantine and social distancing, there were obstacles I faced that required diligence and tolerance. While I am not the picture of peace, I do find hobbies and ways to steer me down a more positive path. I have lately been employing a few particular techniques to keep me calm while my household is full of individuals trying to maintain a schedule of work, school, and play.
I have found that sensory strategies better balance my mood than most other things. For example, cooking is often something I use to my advantage, both to prepare a tasty snack and to ease any stress I have about the events surrounding my life. When I cook, I focus on the smell of the ingredients, the texture of the batter or mixtures being made, the portrayal of the finished product, and how much or how little of each ingredient to use. Paying attention to minute details pulls my mind away from stressors momentarily and gives me space to step back and rethink my decisions moving forward. Focusing on the senses can present itself in the form of a walk. Going for a stroll with intention is very different than going for a stroll lackadaisically. With a given purpose, I often get more out of my walk than when I leave without an end goal. I try to name five things I see, four things I hear, three things I touch, two things I smell, and one thing I can taste; all the while, I describe each of these senses in detail to myself. In doing so, my exercise is spent in a dual effort to stay healthy and to relieve stress.
If I find myself having a lot of free time, which is a rare occurrence, I try to steer away from TV and video games. I have noticed that electronics tend to put me, and often my younger siblings, in a terrible mood. Instead, I ask my brother and sister to go for a bike ride with me, or start an art project to gift to our family members. Sometimes I allow my little sister to put makeup on me, or read about Walt Disney with my younger brother. The point being, when I am intentionally spending my free time with my siblings, I hardly notice the chaos (probably because I am taking part it in.) Given that I would normally not be allotted this time with them away at college, it helps me appreciate the quality time I am able to spend with them.
Finally, I will leave a nerdy note regarding a simple hobby: reading. It is awful to think about the lack of exploration that self-quarantine ensues. I am the type of person who wants to see new places and try new things. Life can suddenly seem bland when the ways you express curiosity are snatched away from you. However, when I read books, fiction and non-fiction, I find my sense of wonder fulfilled similarly as if I were to go on an extravagant vacation. I am not advising to stay complacent surrounded by books once self-quarantine ends, but for the time being, reading about the places you can go and things you can try might incite new ideas of what you would like to do once this strange time meets its end.