It has officially been two weeks since in-person classes stopped and a week since Pennsylvania state declared all life-sustaining businesses to close. Since then, the government and health organizations have been encouraging the general public to stay at home and self-isolate as a way of flattening the curve of the coronavirus pandemic.

For most people, it may seem hard to stay at home, especially if you’re one who likes to be out and about. But luckily, as an introvert, I find it quite easy to do the whole social distancing and self-isolation thing.  So I feel moderately qualified to offer you a few tips if you find yourself struggling with this temporary change in life.

Learn to love your space…

If you’re going to end up staying in your home for such a long time, you’re going to need to be comfortable in it. Try to find a place in your house that you can call your own, whether that’s an individual room or some cozy corner. Once you choose that place, make sure that every aspect of it makes you feel good. Customize it with things that bring you joy so that it’s an environment where you’ll want to stay. 

Turn every night into self care night…

When you’ve finished all of your remote learning assignments, take some time in the evening to focus on yourself. You can do everything from putting on a face mask or taking a long hot shower to simply just listening to calming music or eating a light snack. 

Brew your coffee at home…

Even though some coffee shops are still available– drive-thru only– it’s important to minimize going out as much as possible. Take this as an opportunity to invest in a coffee maker. I, for one, know how handy this can be when you especially don’t feel like driving for a daily caffeine fix. Though you won’t be able to get the perfection of an artisan latte, there’s a lot of things you can do with your coffee that will make you want to stay home. With quality coffee grounds and a handheld milk frother, you can level up your homebrewed coffee game.

Find out what makes you happy…

As teenagers, our lives constantly revolve around school, sports, part-time jobs, and activities so much that it can often be hard to find time to do things besides them. With school and activities canceled, now is the perfect time to discover what makes you happy. Try out different activities and hopefully you’ll come out of this with a new hobby you wouldn’t have explored otherwise.

Perfect the art of online shopping…

Since retail businesses, including the mall, are closed, the only option we have to go shopping is the Internet. Browse the web from the safety of your home–but not too much, or else you might end up buying quite unnecessary products. Learn to find the best deals and how to decide if products are quality or not. During this time, it could be fun to shop for things to decorate your space, any supplies you’ll need for a hobby, or a coffee maker while you’re at it.

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Above all, refrain from hanging out with friends in person and going to public functions. Please stay home — doing so will help all of us get back to normal sooner. Self-isolation is especially important if you are experiencing any of the symptoms of COVID-19 or have been in contact with a person who has tested positive for the virus.