Setting and Accomplishing Goals in Quarantine — a Happier You

Covid-19 has made times very hard for all of us, but there are ways of making it a little easier.

It’s Groundhog day, but not the one will Bill Murray, not even Palm Springs, a recent adaptation, but rather the one in Supernatural, which was noted by Jared Padalecki(Sam) as the worst episode to film.

Photo by Niklas Tidbury on Unsplash

One of the best ways to maintain mental health is to set and accomplish goals and have things to look forward to in the future.

At the end we will come out stronger, than ever. It’s a tough situation, and these situations will build our character and allow us to become a better version of ourselves. We just need to spend this time wisely and take advantage of the opportunity. We can come out of this with 6-pack abs, new skills, better relationships, and so much more.

I’ve compiled a list of goals I’ve been working towards to keep sane throughout the pandemic. It’s good to get into a routine and keep it up since we don’t know how long it will last. Take these goals I set as examples.

Goal 1: Daily Gratitude

Start your day off with gratitude. There's so many things to be grateful for, but it’s hard to think of them at times, but they are all around. I’m trying to make it a routine to think about the things I am grateful for at the start of each day. Here are a couple of mine:

• There are so many people that reach out and show they care about me
• I can communicate with my family and friends on a regular basis
• I have a doggy keeping me company
• I have a job I enjoy and amazing coworkers
• Netflix is working

Goal 2: Stop the snacking

Being home all the time, also means we are very close to the fridge and pantry all the time. This means it’s easy to begin binging on snacks.

A tip I learned is, when at the grocery store, just don’t buy that snacks 😉. You can’t eat snacks if they don’t exist. That’s a good way to avoid the snacking, because I won’t be tempted to go out to buy more food.

For replacement of snacks, you can buy fruits and vegetables, and binge on blueberries and carrots instead. They can also be addicting. When at the grocery store, I feel good when I don’t buy snacks because I am accomplishing my goal.

Goal 3: Take more advantage of the empty streets and get some vitamin D

I dusted off my old mountain bike and began riding everyday after work. You can help boost your immune system by getting some sunlight and doing some exercise. I set a goal to ride at least twice a week.

It’s also safer since there are no/few cars on the street and you can still applying social distancing. After this is all done, I’m really considering riding a marathon. This whole situation has helped me get back into one of my favorite hobbies.

I’ve also been giving my dog more and longer walks. In the afternoon she goes straight to bed, and stays asleep a lot longer and won’t bother me at 7am anymore.

What a sleepy doggy

Goal 4: Start a home fitness plan

I bought a fitness tracker, and started tracking my calories and workouts. Since I’m mostly cooking, it’s easy for me to see my consumption.

For workouts, I usually try to complete following throughout the day:

• 5 sets of 25 push-ups
• 5 sets of 25 squats
• 5 sets of 15 dumbbell curls
• 5 sets of 10 burpees
• 5 sets of 15 dumbbell shoulder press

Just 25lbs, I miss the gym :)

Goal 5: Reach out to others

Being locked up can take a toll on your mental health. Make sure you are speaking to friends and family regularly. Call up someone you haven’t spoken to in a while and just catch up.

I try to call a least 1 person during my walks. It helps to maintain relationships, especially at a time when human interaction is getting harder and harder.

Goal 6: Start a new project and pursue personal growth

Whether it be doing things around the house, starting a budget, learning an instrument, or building an application, it’s important to fill your time with something you are passionate about.

Take the time to do something you’ve always wanted. A few of the things I’ve set goals for are as follows:

• Writing a small android application
• Making a better budget
• Start gardening
• Write more blogs

Getting too familiar with a hammer

My goal is to make a mobile application which is meaningful to me! I’m taking the appropriate steps to re-learn android development and getting started.

Thanks for Reading! Setting and Accomplishing Goals has really helped me make the best out of the current situation. I also want to note that it is very important to attend therapy if needed, it’s something that has really helped me as well.

I hope this article inspires you to make the best out of the situation and come out a better person. If you are working out your mind and body everyday and following what you are passionate about, you will see that there isn’t enough time in a day.

Don’t let this virus bring you down!