50+ Things to Do during a Pandemic: Singles’ Quarantine Survival Guide

She said:

We haven’t official shut down here in the United States, but I think it is just a matter of time. So here is Chase’s guide for surviving this thing as a single woman.

Keep your routine:

• Put on shoes. Yes, I know you are in the house. You, walking around for two weeks with no shoes, is going to make putting on your heels pure hell when this is over. Your arches will thank me.
• And since you would look silly in shoes naked, every day get up, shower and put on clean clothes. Keeping a routine is very helpful.
• Put on jeans every couple of days because jeans don’t lie. Trust me, your pajamas and leggings are lying to you. Your butt is definitely getting bigger.
• Sleep. Enjoy the lack of activities pulling you in a million directions. Rest. If you have trouble sleeping, enjoy some chamomile tea.

Get your quarantine glow up:

• Do not slack on your beauty routine. Wash your face, use your serums and creams twice a day, every day. You will thank me when this is all over and your skin is glowing.
• Schedule a in home spa day. Bath with some aromatherapy oils and light some candles while giving yourself a facial. (But don’t use the cucumbers on your eyes, we need those for the salad later. We are not wasting any food right now, not even for self-care.)
• If you don’t do baths (Who doesn’t do baths though?) Try putting essential oils in a steaming shower.
• Tweeze those chin hairs, wax the mustache. Shave your legs and your arm pits. You never know when you will get a video chat from a cutie.
• Master that make up look. You have been watching tutorials but really haven’t tried it. Keep trying until you get it right and then have a dope selfie session.
• Take your vitamins. Enough said.
• Learn how to braid hair. Your wig will look so much better if you braided your hair underneath.
• Speaking of wigs, dust off your wigs and throw those old ones away.
• Paraffin wax for these hands. All that hand sanitizer and hand washing has your hands a bit crusty and ashy.

Polish up on your skills and pick up a new hobby:

• Take advantage of free classes online. Here is a link to some free Ivy league classes. If you cannot cook, take cooking classes. Update your resume by gaining some new skills and certifications.
• READ, READ, READ. Check out the app Libby to access free books.  Sign up for a 30 day free trial of Audible books or Scribd.
• Check out some new podcast.
• Learn a new language. Try Memrise, Duolingo, or Rosetta Stone.
• Do puzzles, sudoku, pick up an old hobby or learn a new one like knitting, crochet, or sewing that will give your brain an outlet.
• Make a bucket list.

Emotional Self-Care and Glo Up:

• Journal: We have never gone through a time like this. Capture your feelings through a real journal, video blog, blog, pictures. But document your story.
• Stay connected: Call, text, video chat with your love ones every day. (Not that trifling ex though. DO NOT CALL HIM.)
• Complete your vision board. Yes, I know it’s not the new year, but did you do one? No? Get it done.For those of you who actually got your vision board done, great! Does it need an update though? 
• Take a break from social media and the news. Absorbing this news, conspiracy theories, and political tomfoolery going on can be freaking depressing. Watch a comedy or feel good movie.

Get Your Rapunzel on (She found her boo in lock down):

• Update your dating apps. The folks that just want to smash and waste your time are now weeded out. Use this time to find some genuine conversations with people. Use your sexy selfie from your make up session to attract new admirers.
• (Leave a comment below with your favorite dating apps so I can try them out myself)
• Answer that nice dude in your DM and give him a chance. (But do not call that trifling ex)

Get Organized:

• Clean those receipts out of your purse. You are not taking those shoes back, sis.
• Clean your email out. Yes, you with the 22,000 unopened emails. Also, as you clean them out, unsubscribe to emails that you never read.
• Clean out your closet. You can create an account on Poshmark and make a few dollars for that stuff you are never going to wear again. Here is one of my favorite closets.
• Clean and organize that junk drawer.
• Clean up your Facebook page, delete friends that are draining, never post, or just there spying on you. BUT DO NOT PUT THE ANNOYING ANNOUNCEMENT THAT YOU ARE CLEANING UP YOUR PAGE. Don’t be that person.
• Organize the Tupperware. Throw out the ones with that strange white build up from the dishwasher. You can get new ones.
• Clean out your makeup and beauty supplies that are expired.
• Organize your pantry so all your soon to expire goods can be used first. Again, we are not wasting food at a time like this.
• Clean out the storage on your cell phone, iCloud and Google Drive. You really do not need 30 pictures of that same selfie. Organize your memes so you don’t have to scroll to find them.

Get your Money right:

• Go through your bank statement and cancel all those auto charges for subscriptions that you don’t use (Start with the gym sis, you haven’t been there in three months).
• Do your income taxes. Yes, I know they extended the deadline, but get to it!
• Create a realistic budget so that you won’t be compelled to overspend out of boredom and you can pay your taxes.
• Sign up for apps that allow you to save money while shopping.  Try Rakuten (click here and get $10 dollars added to your account when you sign up and make your first purchase), it’s one of my favorites.

Exercise:

• Go outside for a walk (If you are not required to shelter in place). Avoid crowds but try to get some fresh air. If you can’t go for a walk, sit outside on your patio or enjoy your backyard. Find a way to get some fresh air.
• Complete challenges on your favorite fitness tracker app (Fitbit, Samsung Fit, Apple). Find some accountability partners and create group challenges.
• You are trapped in the house with food. Don’t let the munchies take over. Move, dance, dust off your elliptical machine. It is important for staying healthy, relieving stress and releasing endorphins. Try at home yoga, online exercise classes or anything to help get your heart rate up. 
• Learn the newest dances and slides. There are going to be so many parties when this is all over, make sure you have some smooth moves ready.

Inner Kid Playtime:

• Play board games. When is the last time you put your phone down and spent time with the people you live with?  Try some old school bonding activities, like Monopoly, Jenga, Uno or Phase 10.
• Learn to play spades and Bid Whist. I am tired of never having a partner to play with.
• Do some coloring. They have adult coloring books. We won’t judge you for not staying in the lines.

Chill and connect:

• Netflix (minus the chill). Catch up on the great shows folks been talking about. Try the new Netflix party so you can through virtual Netflix parties with your friends.
• Schedule a google hangout happy hour. Get all your friends together and sip drinks and swap quarantine tales.
• Spend more time with your pets. Play with them and find creative ways for them to get exercise. Trust me they are tired of looking at you too.
• Get dressed up and head to your living room and enjoy the free concerts and mix tape parties many artist and DJs are offering on Instagram Concert.
• Load the Nextdoor app and get to know your neighbors.

Be Creative:

• Do some of those dope DIY’s from your Pinterest board. Check out my Pinterest board.
• Post your Pinterest and DIY’s fails. It will at least make someone laugh. And laughter is good for the soul.

Get Tech Savvy:

• Ask Alexa to do some new cool stuff. Create some skills for Alexa.
• Learn how to use Snapchat and Tik Tok.  The teenagers are having a blast with them.  So, if you haven’t created an account on these platforms, you should. Get your quarantine streaks!
• Checkout #quarantinelife on twitter for more ideas and sharing yours (But please spell Quarantine right lol!)

Get your spiritual life right:

• Pray, meditate and read your bible to help you shut out the negativity.
• Churches are livestreaming amazing messages right now.  Find those messages that resonate with you the strongest.

Redecorate your digs:

• Change the furniture around. It will make you space feel fresh and brand new and break up the monotony.
• Grow a garden, get a plant. Studies have shown indoor plants may boost mood, productivity, concentration and creativity. Reduce stress, fatigue, sore throats and colds. Clean indoor air by absorbing toxins, increasing humidity and producing oxygen. Add life to a sterile office, give privacy and reduce noise levels.

Leave us comments on how you are surviving the Quarantine!