By: Morgan Sharbaugh

During this struggle to stay home, everyone needs simple reminders to help keep them sane.

1. It is perfectly okay to watch a spider climb up your wall.

Name the spider Spin and watch it climb up your wall. It’s better than listening to your boring call anyway.

2. Eat what you want.

It’s a pandemic, you’re at home, and stressed. Eat the food you enjoy and don’t stress about it.

3. The great outdoors is there.

When you get tired of the indoors, take a break and go on a walk. The outdoors will refresh you and help you regain your focus. Going outside will make you happier as well. It’s science.

4. Try and keep a schedule. 

I know you don’t want to, but keeping a schedule will help. Try and wake up around the same time, and follow a routine for the rest of the day. It will keep you from feeling frazzled and out of control.

5. Help others

People tend to feel better after doing some community service. Whether it is making food for a neighbor or donating masks, it will make you and others feel good to do good.

6. You are more productive than you think.

Everyone online is bragging about how they’ve deep cleaned their house or got their summer body on some fitness app. Seeing this can make you feel down about yourself, causing you to feel like you haven’t done anything. But by doing all your schoolwork or spending all day on Zoom calls with your boss, you have been productive and deserve to binge-watch Tiger King and 90 Day Fiance. You don’t have to be a fitness guru or have a perfectly color-coordinated closet. You just have to get your work done.

7. Don’t touch your hair.

Believe me, I know you’re bored and tired and looking for a change, but don’t do it. Do not cut your bangs, do not bleach your hair, do not think to yourself that maybe you would look good bald. Just leave your hair be, wash it from time to time, and either pull it into the ponytail or hide it under a hat until you can get to the salon.

8.  Jeans no longer exist

Wear what is comfortable and slay your PJ fashion choices. Just remember to do laundry on occasion and change your socks and underwear.

9. Celebrate the little things

Throw a 6-foot party with your neighbors just because it’s a nice night. Invite a friend for an across the sidewalk chat because you’re bored. Make your own tacos and guacamole and celebrate Cinco de Mayo with your family and research the history of the holiday. You have the time, so you might as well learn something new.

10. Do what you’ve always wanted to do.

Learn to play the ukelele? Check. You have the time: don’t spend it doing something you don’t want to do. Pick up a new hobby you’ve always wanted to try. Build a raised garden bed to try out your carpentry skills and don’t feel bad when you cut all the planks the wrong size. Take up the piano again and find some free sheet music and a tutorial on the internet. Attempt to make that dish you always wanted to try and when it tastes funky, no worries. There’s always pizza one phone call away.