It has now been one year since the Coronavirus pandemic hit the United States and caused people to go into quarantine. During this extensive period of time, people have gotten used to stagnant routines. Procrastination and laziness become harder to resist when working and studying at home, especially since working from your personal space creates more potential distractions from work. Not feeling productive and being stuck in a funk makes it hard to feel happy during quarantines.
One way to get both fresh air and physical activity is hiking. It is very accessible for people living in Los Angeles and its surrounding areas. In and around DTLA and Hollywood, there are the Hollywood Hills hiking trails like Angel’s Point and Runyon Park. Further north, in the San Fernando Valley, there is the Aliso Canyon Park, Limekiln Canyon Park, and Rocky Peak. Walking around the neighborhood is also a great way to relax and get more fresh air. Before COVID forced everyone into quarantine, people participated in much more physical activity than they realized.
To combat procrastination and laziness, try scheduling things and creating a rewards system. Scheduling events to look forward to, like Zoom meets with friends, going to the park, or hiking, forces people to complete the important tasks they need to finish before relaxing. Socializing with friends through online platforms is important for maintaining happiness during social distancing. Being isolated for long periods of time is unhealthy for human beings and being able to talk to people and have more social interaction can greatly reduce stress and the symptoms of depression. Scheduling remote social events makes the day feel more structured, enjoyable, and therefore more emotionally manageable like life prior to quarantine. Creating structure for oneself is important in trying not to procrastinate. By getting rid of procrastination and becoming more productive, people experience less stress and anxiety.
As quarantine drags on, people are feeling the effects of social distancing. Less social interaction, physical activity, and fresh air are all effects of quarantine.
