A Green Quarantine is Probably a Good Quarantine

Don’t be fooled; the ‘green’ in the title is related to planting and gardening.

We’re halfway into the 2nd year under the dangerous clutches of Covid-19; and although stricter measures have now been lifted following stringent vaccination protocols, people are still wary over possible reinfections due to the surging Delta variant and the possibility of more mutations to follow. Aside from mask mandates, routine disinfection, and social distancing, one of the biggest safety measures we took was self-quarantining. Since the announcement of lockdowns during the early onset of the pandemic, people resorted to quarantine regardless of their condition, and even ahead of recommendations from trusted officials.

But this approach doesn’t come without its downsides. Self-isolation can take a heavy mental toll on people to the point of having to fully readjust to a social life once they are out and about again. This mental toll — paired with fears of economic and health insecurities — can often drive them into a downward spiral. Many have coped with this isolation by turning to hobbies or checking off a ‘to-do list’ — a more optimistic attitude as opposed to dreading over their future or doing virtually nothing. The bucket list can consist of binge-watching a TV series, taking up a guitar lesson, learning how to cook, exploring an artistic side —…