The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

SECLUSION-"You're handling this almost too well," a friend said to me. Sure, I've always been the upbeat type, it usually comes pretty naturally, but these days serenity isn't achieved without purposeful intention.

Stressing out about what you can't control won't help anyone. In fact, stress tears away at the immune system, weakening one's defenses against infection. Instead, I'm managing what I can control: myself. It is paramount to maintaining good health. Yes, it is important to stay informed, but now more than ever it is of the utmost importance to take care of you.

MEDITATE

Forget the idea that nirvana, or even a quiet mind can be achieved in one day. Meditation, like yoga, or any other skill will require practice. In my experience, meditation gains are made by building a habit of short meditative bursts. Sit with yourself for 30 or 60 seconds. Focus only on deep breaths and try to release all other thoughts. They will attempt to seep in. If you're anything like me the meditation narrative will sound like, "oh this is nice, breathing in, breathing out, I wonder when my Amazon delivery will arrive, oops I should be breathing focusing on breathing and did the dryer stop? And..." Again, it's a process. What's important is that when you finally catch yourself off task that you attempt to refocus. That's it, just try.

The more time you spend with yourself, the more you'll enjoy your company.

If you're someone who would prefer a mantra, or other auditory stimulus, consider a white noise machine set to ocean sounds.

I'm no guru, but I have a friend, Alexandra Love, who might have the key to calming our collective nerves in these hibernation times. Love leads Beautiful Chorus, a singing group based in Orlando, Fla. that specializes in meditative chants and vibrations that are as soothing as they are healing.

"If you still think you're too busy to meditate, or claim that you don't know how or just can't turn off your thoughts, consider this: Meditation isn't about turning off your thoughts. Stop thinking about it like a goal to achieve," Love suggests. "The purpose of meditation is to provide space from your up-close, human, third dimensional, physical-only experience."

You have to start somewhere. What's most important is the starting. "You're not behind and it's not too late and you can do this and it will help," Love said.

"You sit. Or lay down...Figure it out. And do it every day. Same time, different times, doesn't matter but try to do it when you wake up because we have a small space right then to slow and redirect our momentum. Every morning is a new day. You sit, or lay down and breathe. That's it. Pay attention to your breath, let the thoughts come as they may and do your best to focus on your breath as often as you can throughout. You'll see how much energy it takes to even just focus on our breath for one full minute. Commit to once or twice a day, for one week. And your life will change,"

Available for free on the Beautiful Chorus YouTube channel, are simple breathing exercises for one minute and five minutes. There are also covers of classic songs such as the Beatles' I Will, and Michael Jackson's Human Nature.

Listen and resonate in a seated pose, or complete some repetitive task. Dishwashing or folding laundry can be meditative, too!

LEARN

The YouTube Learning channel is a destination designed to offer teens and adults quality educational content. Users can find Learning Playlists, which organize content into chapters and are designed to facilitate focused study. These free, curated playlists range in subjects from physics to film making.

•Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing

Computer sales and internet use are at all-time highs. If you're new to computers, take the time to practice keyboarding skills.

•Skillshare.com

Skillshare offers focused lessons taught by industry professionals. You'll feel like an insider as you complete each class, and leave inspired to find something new to learn.

•Lynda.com

Lynda.com is a leading online learning platform that helps anyone learn business, software, technology and creative skills to achieve personal and professional goals. Because Lynda is such a big name in online learning, corporate or academic subscriptions may be available which greatly lower the cost.

•Adobe.com

Built right into Photoshop, inDesign, Premiere Pro, etc are quick tutorials designed to take your skills to the next level.

•Duolingo.com

Duolingo is a language learning app that is fun and easy.

•Google Arts & Culture App

Google's Arts & Culture App is free, and has an interactive quality to it. You can point your device at a wall in your home and see, in real space, famous artworks up close or from a distance. There is also an entire introspective on Frida Kahlo's work titled Faces of Frida.

COLORING

Chaosium.com has made their Call of Cthulhu coloring book free for download. Print and color the time away. Find the link available at: http://www.chaosium.com/blogstaying-in-color-in-at-home-with-chaosium-weve-made-call-of-cthulhu-the-coloring-book-a-free-download/

MAKEQUARANTINEFUN.COM

Makequarantinefun.com is a randomized aggregate list of things to do. Simply click 'Hit Me' and new activities populate. Users can also make suggestions. Examples:

Write a poem, you sensitive soul, you

Make a scrapbook, I guess

Start a journal so you can look back fondly on how bored you were

Clean out the old contacts in your phone

Setup a virtual happy hour with friends

Learn all the moves to Gangnam Style

Get in the habit of exercise

EXERCISE

Speaking of exercise, not only is it a great way to strengthen the lungs and body, but regular exercise can really help to combat weight gain due to all your quarantine snacking. Using this time to build a new habit will incubate the relationship between you and your workout. Yes, gyms are closed, but going to a gym was never a necessity. At-home workouts burn just as many calories. If your house is too small, or too populated to workout in, go for a walk.

HOUSEHOLD TASKS

Remember to balance screen-based activities with IRL ones. When you're not learning a new language, or binge-watching Netflix, consider tackling some physical household projects that might have evaded your attention so far:

Sharpen scissors and kitchen knives

Clean and maintain tools

Organize that junk drawer

Clean out closets, prepare donations

Detail the car / truck / rig

And remember, wash those hands.