My favorite restaurants are closed. All my classes have been switched to remote-learning. I am forced to stay 6 ft. away from my loved ones, AND I haven’t been out of the house in days. I admit, this whole quarantine thing is starting to take its toll on me. Seems like the world around us has stopped, and we’re all forced to stop with it. Do I appreciate the extra time to relax and focus on myself? Yes. Would I prefer to be living my “normal” day-to-day schedule? Of course! During this time, I’ve been on a mission to make every day productive. I’ve decided to share some of my best ideas in hopes of  inspiring some of you to stay as positive as possible.

Problem 1: My favorite restaurants are closed

Solution: Whip up a recipe

Although I would love to be dining out with friends, that’s not possible. In the meantime, I encourage all of you to try a new recipe or support local businesses by ordering take-out. This week, I made Food Network’s Skillet Taco Pizza. It was delicious! You can find the recipe here.

Problem 2: Remote-learning

Solution: Learn new technology and get organized

Thousands of colleges nationwide have switched to remote-learning. When I first heard the news, I instantly questioned whether or not I would be able to get on board. Many of us students have never taken an online class, so this prompts a difficult change. Thankfully, many schools have offered to help through providing free software/internet access, video conferences, tutorials and plenty of encouragement. Personally, I’ve figured out some helpful tips to overcome these challenges.

Tip #1: Rearrange your room to create a functional workspace. Creating a workspace helps me separate school from home even if they share common space.

Tip #2: Remove any technological distractions from eye sight. Doing this helps keep the brain focused and engaged while learning.

Problem 3: Social Distancing

Solution: Stay connected, stay sane

Staying away from family and friends has been one of the hardest things for me. I’ll never take having a social life for granted again! Like everyone, I’ve been using social media to connect with loved ones. I’ve also discovered Zoom, which allows you to hold meetings or even teach a class. Although I am grateful for the technology we have, it still doesn’t amount to receiving a hug from a family member or having face-to-face conversations.

Hope these tips give you some new ideas, and a possibly a new way of looking at being in quarantine. Stay healthy, stay positive, this too shall pass.