2021 Quarantine Upgrade
By: Sophia Williams ‘22
By now, everyone is exhausted by having to find new innovative ways to fill the long days of quarantine. However, boredom often leads to innovation, which is why I’ve pulled together a list of some fresh new takes on how to make the most of our time at home.
1. The Science of Well-Being
Professor Laurie Santos and students.
The most popular course at Yale is available for all of us to enjoy from the comfort of our own couch. Apparently not every university has palm trees and near perfect weather year-round. So to make up for that, Yale has decided to teach how to be happy in a course. I know- I was was a bit skeptical at first, but it’s legit. Professor Laurie Santos is a top prof at Yale and leads students through a 10 week curriculum that covers misconceptions about happiness, why our expectations are so bad, how we can overcome our biases, stuff that really makes us happy and putting strategies into practice. Best of all, unlike basically any GE at USC, there’s absolutely no required reading. It’s a free, low-stakes and low pressure way to achieve some at-home enlightenment.
2. Virtual Escape Rooms
Okay yea it sounds a bit cheesy. But at this point we all have to keep an open mind (because let’s be honest, scrolling through Tik Tok all day is going to get old eventually). If you were one of those kids who had a Highlights For Kids magazine subscription, this activity will be right up your alley. If not, well, this will still be a good way to exercise your brain. After all, who doesn’t need a little bit of escapism right now? These escape rooms are a great alternative to watching couple’s travel vlogs on YouTube (which is my current favorite escapism strategy btw).
3. Spruce up your Work-From-Home (WFH) Space
Some of us take class from our kitchen counters, some of us take class with cameras off and head underneath the covers, and some of us even take class from a desk. However, one of the best ways to make online school a bit more bearable while also giving you a brand new thing to obsess over is to give your WFH space a bit of an upgrade. It’s important not to underestimate the impact of creating a clean and productive space that feels personal to you. Digging into small, unique and reasonably priced furniture and accessory shops will boost both your space’s aesthetic as well as overall Zoom morale. I’m telling you, if you’ve already got an online shopping addiction like me, try out some cool decor pieces instead of outfits to wear with nowhere to go.
Link to Black-owned decor boutiques
4. Start a Magazine
If long hours at home have done anything, they’ve given people a reason to dive into their creative side. Some of us were born creative geniuses, but then again some of us weren’t. No matter where you fall on the spectrum, starting a digital magazine is a great way to express yourself and share with others the things you love. The task seems daunting at first, but there are plenty of online resources to help you along. Lucid Press has a huge variety of free magazine templates, and Canva not only has templates but a step by step guide to help you get started. As far as where to publish, Madmagz and PaperLit are two easy and FREE options. The key is to not overthink it. Choose a theme, get writing and remember- the world deserves to hear what you have to say!
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