10 ways to stay positive during social distancing in Japan

In late 2019, most of us were probably looking to 2020 in Japan as a year packed full of opportunity and excitement, with the cherry on top of it all being the Tokyo Olympics set for summer. Instead, three months into the year we are faced with uncertainty, social distancing, and event cancellations as a result of Covid19, or the novel coronavirus.

Many of us are spending significantly more time at home away from others right now, in efforts to lessen the spread of the disease and protect the most vulnerable members of our society. Rather than treating the current situation like a jail sentence, I'm trying to reframe it as something that presents a great deal of potential.

If you're struggling to find the light in a stressful global time, here are 10 ways to stay positive (and occupy yourself!) if you're practicing social distancing in Japan.

Learn a new skill

If you’ve ever wanted to learn a new skill, there’s no time like right now to give it a crack. Maybe you’ve been looking at sharpening your Japanese language capabilities, or learning to braid your child’s hair, or become a master at knitting just like your granny was. There are so many resources you can use online, or even courses you can take, which can help you grow as a person and give this pandemic some positive light.

If you haven't had the impetus to focus on learning that new skill, now is your time to shine.

Channel your inner Marie Kondo and declutter

I like to think of myself as a pretty organized person, but despite that I still have things that build and cause clutter in my house - namely my kids toys that they no longer play with, and clothes they’ve grown out of. I’m using the Covid crisis and subsequent social distancing in Japan as an opportunity to really go through things and feel optimally organized, even if things around me seem uncertain and up in the air. It’s calming my anxious tendencies, and that’s a great thing!

Use it as an opportunity to plan for travel you may not feel comfortable doing right now

Spring is probably one of my favorite months of the year to travel in Japan, and for good reason. It’s also such a popular time for international visitors to check out iconic sights like sakura in bloom. In saying that, travel is down, tourist numbers are dropping, and not everyone feels comfortable hopping on the Shinkansen or boarding a flight right now. I’m using the current situation as an opportunity to go gung-ho with our planning for the places we’ve been itching to see, including Kagoshima, Miyazaki, and Kumamoto - the three prefectures I haven’t yet visited. Sure, I might not know exactly when I’m going to be booking those trips, but I’m definitely going to know all the things I want to check out and the places I want to stay at!

Catch up with all of your Skype and FaceTime calls

Staying inside more than usual can start to wear on a person after a while - particularly for the extroverts among us. It’s the perfect time to catch up with any Skype or FaceTime calls you’ve been meaning to initiate with friends and family back home. Even if you’re practicing social distancing, you can still be social with the help of technology - and you’re likely to lift someone else’s spirits by getting in touch, too. After all, many other countries are also adopting the same methods as Japan and encouraging distance, limiting events and gatherings, and so forth.

Exercise!

You know what gets those endorphins pumping? Exercise! I don't currently have a gym membership because there simply aren't any of them close by, but if you're practicing social distancing you may not want to work out in a traditional gym atmosphere. There are plenty of free workout options online, or if you live somewhere in Japan with wide open space, it's nice to get out for a walk. The fresh air is good for the soul!

Elle Woods from Legally Blonde had it right - exercise = happiness. Not to mention it's an excellent stress reliever!

Netflix and chill  

Anyone else have an ever-growing list of items on their Netflix “must-watch” list? You’re not the only one. You’d have to be rubbing your hands together with glee if you were the CEO of Netflix, knowing that people are limiting things like trips to the movie theater - and social distancing is the ideal environment for a bit of Netflix and Chill. Not in the R-rated sense, either - I'm talking literal Netflix watching and chilling. Although, people are already speculating that in 9 months time, we’re going to have a generation of coronababies from all of this extra time inside.

Focus on sustainability

The current global climate has also meant I’m thinking more about sustainability. It just takes a quick look at the toilet paper/paper towel/tissue aisle at most supermarkets to make you think about what would really happen if you couldn’t get your hands on those items. After some of my organization and decluttering sprees lately, there have been a number of my kids clothes that have been so well-loved that they’re not in good enough condition to donate - but they’re perfect to cut up into cleaning cloths. Who needs paper towels when you can use what you have on hand!

Think like a child and play

Many of us have children that are out of school environments right now, and I’ve been more conscious of taking a leaf from their books and just playing. There’s something reassuring about seeing the world through the eyes of the child. They’re more focused on the here and now, rather than the “what if’s” of down the road. Playing trains, building forts, and just enjoying our time together has been uplifting for all of our spirits.

Thinking like a child and living in the moment is a lot easier than considering the "what-if's" the future may bring.

Spend time on your creative outlets

Creativity is a fantastic way to pass the time and feel like you’re achieving something, too. Personally, my creative outlet is writing (a great time to catch up on my City-Cost blogs and reviews!) - but maybe yours is cooking, or drawing, or sewing. Right now would be the perfect time to test out a few new recipes. We’re trying to limit eating out at restaurants and cafes at the moment, so I’m sure we’re going to be cooking up a storm in our kitchen, too. I’m looking forward to some new meals being added to our repertoire!

Enjoy some self care

Often, experts say that when you take time to practice self care, you feel better mentally - and I agree wholeheartedly. Maybe it’s a long soak in the tub with a bath bomb, or using that sheet mask you purchased and intended to use months ago. It could be creating a nice body scrub from ingredients many of us have in our homes and giving yourself a nice exfoliation. Maybe it’s burning some incense, brewing a cup of tea, and reading a book you’ve been meaning to delve into. With many people feeling stressed about the current situation, remember to treat yourself kindly!

One additional note to add is if you have vulnerable people in your community (i.e. we have a number of neighbors in their 70's and 80's), please do check in on them! It may be through a text message or even popping a note in their mailbox to ask if they need anything in this climate of social distancing.

Author: genkidesu

Are you practicing social distancing in Japan?  How are you staying positive while being cooped up indoors?  Let us know what you've been up to in the comments.