When I was first introduced to the idea of social distancing, I thought it would be a glorious time. I already engage in minimal physical interaction, now I would just have a better excuse. This attitude lasted all of four days before I began to realize I’m not as introverted as I would once have thought. On top of that, I have an aversion to doing what people tell me to do, so the past couple of weeks haven’t been great. After a brief (absurdly long) glance at the internet, I see I’m not the only one facing this problem. Staying inside with little to no physical contact wouldn’t be good for anyone’s mental health, but there are ways we can ease the struggle during these trying times. 

First of all, I would like to thank the wonders of modern technology. Having a method of communicating with the people outside of my immediate family has been an absolute godsend. This brings us to step one of not losing your mind in self-isolation which is to contact anyone and everyone you can. Whoever you’re hunkering down with for these next few weeks will be a large factor in your stability considering that they will be the sole providers of one of your basic human needs, touch. However as great as your quarantine crew maybe, they shouldn’t be the only interaction you have. On average we see dozens of people every day, and a sudden drop in that number will not be healthy. Plus your friends are probably in the same situation and would love to have a nice chat on the phone. 

Step two to avoiding insanity is escapism. Usually, escapism is seen as an unhealthy way of coping with the issues around us, but considering that we’re fairly powerless in this situation, I think we can make an exception. There are many approaches to this wonderful but it could simply just be playing video games, reading a book, or developing a new hobby. The new Animal Crossing just came out, live your life through a character on a pandemic-less island. On another note, many services are being offered for a free or reduced-price, so if you’re recently unemployed for no particular reason, then this won’t be something you have to worry about as well. Indulge yourself in the leisure culture provided to you. 

Finally, step three, the most important step, is to keep in mind that this is for the greater good. This whole situation can be really frustrating, no one likes to be trapped in their house, but it’s important that we take the necessary precautions. Even if you aren’t in any real danger from contracting the virus, there are other people who are and it is our responsibility to keep them from falling ill. 

Overall, quarantine isn’t ideal, but it doesn’t have to be awful. The world may seem entirely out of our control, but at least we can have a little bit of fun in the meantime.