- Go to bed and wake up at a regular time.
- Establish and follow a strict daily schedule.
- Begin each day with morning routine.
- Exercise every day. If you can’t leave your home, work out with YouTube videos.
- Exercise your mind: Listen to inspiring and challenging lectures and podcasts and read substantive books. Do this preferable in the morning when your mind is at its freshest.
- If possible, spend one hour outdoors every day. Get some sunshine to boost your vitamin D levels.
- Limit the time spent watching Netflix, Hulu, and TV.
- Limit your screen time overall, including social media.
- Schedule regular Skype calls with friends. Enjoy a meal together via FaceTime or WhatsApp.
- Maintain order in your home.
- Get dressed in normal clothes. Don’t wear PJ’s all day just because no one sees you.
- Schedule one hour of quiet time daily for prayer and meditation. If you aren’t sure how to pray, start with St. Patrick’s prayer of protection, also called St. Patrick’s Breastplate.
- Read the Bible for one hour each day. You can read through the entire Bible in about 80 hours. Hopefully you won’t be isolated that long, but at least you will make good use of your time. If you don’t know where to begin, start in Genesis 1 or Matthew 1.
- Make a gratitude list.
- Don’t let yourself get fixated on anxious thoughts. And don’t make any big decisions during this time unless absolutely necessary.
- Find peace in the here and now. Live one day at a time.
- You may not be able to control the externals, but you can take responsibility for your emotional response.
- Make or learn something creative every day. Find tutorials online for things you’ve always wanted to learn, like a new language.
- God can handle your anger, disappointment, and loneliness. Be honest with Him about your feelings.
- Remember, this time will pass. Use it for good.
Adapted from Dr. Johannes Hartl
During the Great Plague of London, Cambridge University shut down and Isaac Newton was forced to stay home. During this time of social distancing, he invented calculus and parts of optic theory. While sitting in his garden, he saw an apple fall from a tree, which inspired his understanding of gravity and the laws of motion.