Aleix Cabrera on being quarantined

Hi ISGlobalians! As some of you might know, two weeks ago, I was one of those five colleagues who were affected by quarantine measures as we had been in touch with one positive case of COVID-19. Consequently, I was suggested to share this first experience with all of you. So let’s get started! I stay at home! Firstly, I would like to focus on working from home. It was my first time “teleworking”. I realized that, as there are neither a physical nor a temporal separation between staying at home and staying at your new office, It’s very useful to organize your work schedule according to your routines. I’m talking about getting up at the usual time, having breakfast, having a shower, getting dressed; not working in pajamas. Nope.

00:57 - That’s good to be productive and to avoid any home distraction, This is a distraction. But also to keep in mind when to finish your working day, when to have a break for lunch or breakfast, or even when to rest and do some exercise and stretching. You can set some alarms as a reminder. However, your day has much more time. I mean the time for leisure. In my case, I was not doing my usual activities that are doing theatre, learning French, or singing in a choir. What could I do then? Here is a list of proposals. One. Make “to do” lists. Think of what you would like to learn, to read, to watch or to visit. I mean holiday trips.

01:38 - Move that positive energy around you! Two. Do things you really love, those you’re passionate about and might require extra time. For example, reading, watching TV series or movies, cooking delicious dishes, learning something new, listening to music or playing an instrument. And don’t forget to do some exercise as well! Three. Try to phone call every day at least one person close to you to share this experience, your feelings and so.

02:11 - Or even someone you would like to hear from, to keep in touch again. Four. In my first week of quarantine, I felt quite anxious at the end of the day. It was probably because I’m a very active person, I actually go to the office by bike or on foot, and, as I told you before, I’m doing some learning and cultural activities that cannot be done right now. Moreover, it was quite annoying not being able to go freely to the groceries, or meeting someone else. For this reason, I tried to practice some relaxation techniques such as meditation and deep breathing, and it was really helpful.

02:51 - Well, that’s a little bit of my quarantine experience. What about yours? I hope that everything goes well with all of you and will see you soon. .