We have been inside for a month.  The honeymoon is over. Some of you may have no idea what day it is or what week it is, and you cannot remember the last time you wore pants! The news that school is not resuming is going to impact us all differently, and it is important to keep your connections and a sense of empathy. While “normal” is not returning any time soon, there are ways to both take care of yourself, and keep going.

Here are some ways that you can provide structure to your days and continue to be social even when you’re home alone:

• Try to maintain your regular sleep schedule. It may be tempting to stay up late and sleep in every day since you don’t have to go to school, but this could make you more tired and unproductive overall. Set a reasonable bedtime and morning alarm, and try to stick to it!
• Create a schedule for each day. It can be hard to motivate yourself to do your schoolwork when you aren’t in class. Making an hourly schedule will help you keep yourself organized, will help make sure that you meet your deadlines, and will allow you to plan your breaks in advance. You can make this more fun and rewarding than a regular to-do list by making a sticker chart for all of the tasks you need to complete each day!
• Exercise! The gyms may be closed, but there are still plenty of ways to get a good workout in and release endorphins. Some gyms are posting free at-home workout videos to the public, some workout classes are being live streamed, and there are lots of at-home workout videos on YouTube! Additionally, going for a walk or a run outside around your neighborhood will not put you at any greater risk of getting sick, so that’s a healthy option as well.
• Be intentional about where you work. Although doing your schoolwork in bed may be more comfortable, you will be more productive setting up a workstation at a desk or a table. When you work in your bed, you’ll be more likely to fall asleep or get distracted. Also, spending a lot of time in your bed during the day can make it more challenging to fall asleep at night!
• Video chat with your friends and family! Having “face-to-face” time with other people will make you feel less lonely than talking on the phone or exchanging text messages. You can even cook/eat a meal or do an at-home workout with others over a video call!
• Make sure you are allowing yourself to lie in bed and watch Netflix.
• Focus on the small manageable things.

Response for Teens recommends:

Look at websites like Jackbox or the app House Party that allow you to play games with friends.  Give one another challenges or scavenger hunts.  Use Netflix Party to watch movies with friends!  Make sure you are checking in, even though it might be easy to pull away.  Find ways to make memories and record those memories – this might not be the year you expected, but it is one for the history books.