Westlake Word

“[I] like being able to do the homework on my time, and not being on a strict schedule,” residential student Edward (Eddie) Olszewski says about his favorite part of these trying times. 

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Many are experiencing this same feeling of freedom from their once strict routine now shaken up by the ongoing pandemic. And, many are self-isolating and quarantining in their own houses, like the aforementioned Olszewski family.

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The new trend of being quarantined in your own house is becoming quickly widespread, as this trend follows the Coronavirus wherever it goes. When a pandemic sweeps through an area, many individuals either know an immunosuppressed person or are themselves, making them more susceptible to the virus. Thus, they isolate themselves and their family to not pass it along to the ones who would suffer the most. 

This trend is most interesting because it provides a look into how different people think, and by examining how most people generally act during this time can show just how resilient and flexible people are, and whether or not they are willing to change for the benefit of their neighborhood.

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As of now, Andrew Cuomo, Governor of New York State, says that lockdown and quarantine is a necessity, but “[t]his is not a sustainable position… lock yourself in the home. You can do it for a short period of time, but you can't do it forever.”

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The explosion of people quarantining came with trends like baking bread from scratch or learning a new instrument or skill to keep one’s self entertained. There is even a trend for celebrities to dye their hair pink for the spring season. All of these prove that anyone can self-quarantine in their house for this limited time. 

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People are even making quarantine fun: creating entertaining videos for others to watch; teaching people a new skill so that they may keep their sanity during these trying times; and showing people that being in quarantine is not impossible for anyone to do.

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Another student from the area, Jessica Motta, says, “I like being able to sleep in… I’ve been working on painting and piano.” This quarantine is restricting people from going outside and being social, but it has also given people a new freedom to govern themselves. 

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This quarantine has even had an effect on people’s mental health and well being. “I became a lot more fit and like a lot more happier… mentally,” Meera Joseph says in regards to what she she likes most about quarantine. 

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The ability to make your own schedule and have time to yourself for hobbies and passions is the key to having a healthy mindset. And, while quarantine is restricting people from seeing their friends, it is opening people’s eyes to a major problem:; we don’t give ourselves enough free time.

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Without the ability to do what we love, many people fall into the toxic mindset that they need to be working constantly. This quarantine has allowed people to see that.

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Allowing people to set their own routines and schedules, like Jordyn Kratz saying, “I sleep in because it is so rare that I’m able to during school season,” allows them to be in a better place, both physically and mentally.

 

Quarantine is hard, but it doesn’t have to be all bad.