1. Toilet paper!

If you haven’t hoarded, do it now! This is the most essential thing you need to have at home when quarantined. The bigger the stock the better. Two grocery shopping carts filled with as much toilet paper as possible is a minimum. Okay, no, I can’t even take this any further. Having a small storage of toilet paper is probably not a bad thing. But what happened at the beginning of this pandemic has branded humanity forever. Future generations will read about the ’20s corona pandemic in the history books and browse to the chapter “toilet paper hamsters” and little Leif will ask “what is a twenty-twenties toilet paper hamster?” from his mother. During the war, bark was mixed in the bread and during the corona pandemic we emptied the shelves of toilet paper, “poteto potato”.

If you are not on the last roll of toilet paper then you can forget this point and we can start over on the list instead.

1. Accept that the situation is what it is

It’s not as easy as it sounds. Your new year’s resolution was that 2020 would be your year and then it started like this. But what can we really do other than accept that the situation is what it is right now? You don’t do yourself a favor by going around and pondering “why” it became this way or “how long it will be like this”. Accept that the situation is what it is and that it will take the time it takes before everything becomes normal again.

2. Keep your routines or create new ones that work for you

It’s easy to start sleeping longer, lounging on the couch for too long and just letting go of important things when you lock into quarantine. Make sure you keep your routines. Try to wake up the same time you always did even though you don’t have to drive to work for half an hour now that you work from home. Take advantage of the time and enjoy a longer morning before work in peace and quiet. Also, try to end your work day at the same time you always did. I myself can easily get swallowed up by the job so that the hours just fly away and the work days can get longer than usual. End the work day, if possible, when you usually end it and then do the things you usually used to do after work.

3. Don’t postpone your goals and better health

The fact that the Corona pandemic is in full swing can absolutely not, in any circumstance, be a reason for you to feel that you are going to do something later. “Waiting out” for this to end and working your way to a better health and starting to work for your goals after the corona pandemic is over is not the way to go. We have been starting up with several new clients now after last week’s launch. A recurring question has been whether they should wait this out and go for it later. At the same time, they tell how all this is affecting them negatively and that their health does not feel as good as before. The equation of waiting and having at the same time started to feel worse does not add up. There are so many good ways to continue or take the first steps towards a healthier life even though the situation is what it is right now. It’s always the right time to start working for a better health!

4. Be active, move and keep going

There is no reason not to be active and exercise just because you may not be able to go to the gym right now. Try some new activities you can do outdoors or why not upgrade your home gym. You will find that some rubber bands, dumbbells / kettlebells and a barbell take you a long way. Take no stress that you cannot follow the training program you may have had before completely optimally for a while now. If necessary, switch to home or outdoor training. If you do not know how to do it, then contact someone who knows. Maybe you will find some new activity that you keep on doing when all this is over. The important thing is that you continue or begin to be active.

5. Eat healthy and remember to hydrate

Restlessly you go to the cupboard and look in … what’s here? You find a biscuit or two and take them to the couch. You eat them while you continue watching TV. It wasn’t that bad. A biscuit package, half a length of cinnamon and a jar of peanut butter with a questionable best before date later, you wonder how it went like this now… again! Does that sound familiar? Yes, the restless eating. Remember to try to eat healthy even though you are at home most of the time now. Satisfy yourself with good and healthy food instead of that bad “biscuit snack” eating between meals. Also, make sure you drink enough water and have a water bottle available at all times.

6. Keep in touch with your friends, family and loved ones

We may not be able to knock on the door, go in and enjoy a coffee with them. Especially not with those who are considered to be within the risk group. But we can still keep in regular contact and it is important that we do it, both for yourself and them. If you do not want to use apps like skype, facetime, hangout or the like, a regular honest, “old fashioned”, phone call works just as well as it always has. Remember both old and young. A “hi, how are you?” or “how is it going?” is so underrated in today’s increasingly hectic everyday life. Pick up the phone and call! Do you have a four-legged furry friend? Then add some extra time to the cozy-times.

7. Take advantage of the time you have been given

Have you got more time at home? Laid off from work or otherwise work from home and save an hour each day from traveling back and forth to work? You know that book, the garden project, the room you always wanted to repaint or whatever you dreamed of getting time to do. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to finally catch up and do it.

8. Take time for yourself

I have always encouraged finding enough time for ourselves in our lives. During these times, I think this is more important than ever. Getting away and being alone for a while is not about being asocial or boring. Daring to be in our own thoughts often brings clarity to things. Disconnect from work, family and home for a while. “Sit on a tree stump out in the forest” – as my father would say. Dare to be alone and reflect on the things you need to think about without being influenced by anyone other than yourself. You will learn a lot, become more efficient and you will appreciate what you have so much more. Try to find this time where you can focus on yourself and your own thoughts.

The list can go on, but these are the most important things I want to tell you, who are reading this. Think about if there are things you can improve in your own life right now. Do you have suggestions for other things that are important to think about or do you need help getting out of a bad routine or habit? I am passionate about this and I like to share thoughts, ideas and suggestions with you.

Talk to you soon! Take care!