I know a lot of us are probably going a little crazy being cooped up inside with self isolation, and even struggling with our mental health with it all as well. With everything going on, it is important now than ever to isolate ourselves physically from one another to prevent the spread of this virus. I know a lot of people are talking about it, it can seem scary and daunting, but we all have our part to do, so let’s do it. People that we love depend on us to keep them safe during these times. Your grandparents, your immuno-compromised friend, your immune suppressed co-worker, your diabetic parent, etc. So, what can you do during a time when it’s not encouraged to be around people? I’m glad you asked, I have some ideas.
I know this one is a lot of what people are doing, and it’s binging shows and movies on Netflix. Sometimes I find it hard though, to choose something to watch, or I just rewatch an old favourite. If you find you’re having a hard time picking something out on Netflix or if you just want to try something new, I’m here to give you some suggestions and ideas. Why not try something in a different language than you speak? Did you know that Netflix Canada has a wide selection of tv shows from various countries throughout the world, even ones from other English speaking countries? I have watched a few from East Asia and found some ones I very much enjoyed and there are a few others that from other places I have been thinking about trying. If you’re stuck, here are some of my favourite East Asian dramas:
My First First Love – South Korea – This is a story that follows a group of friends, four of which all live in the same house, and the dynamics of friendship and falling in love. It’s sweet, funny and cute with a whole lot of cheesy to it.
Love O2O – China – This one is for all of your online MMORPG lovers out there who like some romance in your life. It follows the relationship of two computer science majors who both love playing the same online game who meet in game to fall in love outside of it. It is incredibly cheesy, there are moments that I laughed so hard because it was awkward, but I genuinely enjoyed it.
Accidentally in Love – China – This one is a little ridiculous but full of antics in falling in love. When a girl ends up running away from her own engagement, runs into a pop star fleeing from the wedding of his father, they end up trying to save each other for the night and then go their separate ways. Except they end up going to the same university and they feel like they can’t stand the other. Of course, you know what happens, but worth a good chuckle.
It would seem that they have taken my personal favourite off Netflix AGAIN, but if you get a chance, watching Strong Woman Do Bong Soon/Strong Girl Do Bong Soon, I highly recommend it. It’s from South Korea, and follows a young woman with supernatural strength that has been passed down from mother to daughter. When she is hired at her dream company to protect the CEO from a threat, she will do what she can to make her dreams of becoming a video game developer come true. To add on to it all, there is a man kidnapping young women in her neighbourhood and when he makes an attempt on her best friend, she is determined to catch him. This drama has EVERYTHING. It has comedy, romance and a mystery/thriller aspect. It’s so phenomenal and totally worth a watch.
I have had my eye on some other foreign shows/movies on Netflix recently, and these are the ones that caught my eye. (The synopsis’ are taken straight from Netflix):
Elite – Spain – When three working-class teens enroll in an exclusive private school in Spain, the clash between them and the wealthy students leads to murder.
Isi & Ossi – Germany – A billionaire’s daughter fakes a relationship with a cash-strapped boxer in order to coerce her parents into letting her pursue her culinary dreams.
Oh My Ghost – South Korea – She’s been able to see ghosts since childhood. Being possessed by one might be the best thing that has ever happened to her.
Baby – Italy – Fed up with their families and classmates, two teen girls from a wealthy part of Rome are drawn to the city’s underworld and start leading double lives.
Luna Nera – Italy – In 17th-century Italy, a teenager learns about her destiny among a family of witches, just as her boyfriend’s father hunts her down for witchcraft.
The Valhalla Murders – Iceland – An Oslo detective with a painful past returns to his native Iceland to help a dedicated cop hunt a serial killer with a link to a mysterious photo.
Some other recommendations for you if you want something more North American, I have plenty of those as well.
If you enjoyed The Umbrella Academy you might enjoy:
Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency – The first season is so great. Dirk Gently is a holistic detective. He believes that everything in the world is inter-connected, and that coincidences are clues. Incredibly strange, and quirky, this is one that you have to pay some attention to because you are following a long with a mysterious murder that no one knows much about. It’s based of a book series by Douglas Adams, who also wrote The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
Locke & Key – Based on the graphic novel by Joe Hill (son of Stephen King) and Gabriel Rodríguez. This is another mystery series that follows the Locke children as they move into their ancestral home with their mom after their father was murdered. There is something strange about this house though, and there are all of these keys that do all of these different things. There is something more sinister going on and it’s another one that you really have to pay attention to. Bonus, is that it’s partly filmed in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.
iZombie – Another one based on a graphic novel, iZombie follows the story of Liv, a young woman who is studying to be a doctor who ends up at a party she doesn’t even want to go to, where something strange happens, and she ends up turning into a zombie. Everything in her life has changed, from her personal relationships to her career to her eating habits. She ends up getting a job at a morgue, which enables her to feed her hunger, but she soon finds out that she can help solve the mysteries of these murder victims by seeing their memories after consuming their brains.
And if you’ve never watched The Umbrella Academy, it’s about a group of people who all have abilities, brought together by this eccentric man, who they called their father. Each of the children were born to women across the world, who the morning of the day they gave birth, they weren’t pregnant. Built as a superhero team, with one being left out, and felt as if she was not special because of her lack of abilities, starts a rift in the family after the passing of their father. Except, the world is about to end, and they need to band together to try and stop it. Incredibly weird, and quirky, based on the graphic novel by Gerard Way (of My Chemical Romance) and Gabriel Bá.
If you like some drama in your life you might enjoy:
Gilmore Girls – I’m sure most of you know this one, but you can binge this mother/daughter drama on Netflix. If you don’t, it’s the story of Lorelei and Rory Gilmore, a mother/daughter duo who are basically estranged from Lorelei’s parents. Except when Rory gets into an elite private school that could help her get into her dream University, Lorelei has to make the hard choice in reaching out to her wealthy parents so that she can send Rory. There is so much more to this series than just this, and there is so much to it. It’s just an easy binge type show that you don’t have to pay too much attention to but still find it entertaining.
Gossip Girl – Another popular one, an easy binge. This follows the lives of New York’s elite teenagers going to an exclusive private school where rumours, drama, and scandal are all exposed on a website hosted by someone mysterious who seems to enjoy letting out all of their secrets.
Jane the Virgin – This one is by far one of my favourite series. Another that is incredibly easy to binge, it follows Jane Villanueva, a young woman who has vowed to save herself for marriage who ends up getting pregnant. She was artificially inseminated and it turns her whole world upside down. Between who the biological father is, her relationship with her boyfriend, and her family dynamic. There is so much that happens in this series and it’s so incredibly well done.
Atypical – What an incredibly touching story of a young man who is on the autism spectrum, and wants to find love. This one is a tug at your heart and your empathy series at times.
Grace and Frankie – Two women who hate each other are gathered by their husbands to be told that they are leaving each of them for each other. This starts a wonderful friendship and a business between the two. This was a show that my mom and I sat and found ourselves laughing so hard at times that tears were rolling down our faces.
Schitt’s Creek – A very niche comedy type show, this one follows the wealthy Rose family as they find out that their business manager stole all of their money and they are forced to live in a town the father had bought as a joke called Schitt’s Creek. As the family adjusts to having no money, living in conditions they are unfamiliar with and meeting the strange people in their new town, it’s not for everyone, but some might really enjoy it.
Below I listed some shows in English that I have found myself quite interested in watching lately, that have been added to my list:
The End of the F***ing World – A budding teen psychopath and a rebel hungry for adventure embark on a star-crossed road trip in this darkly comic series based on a graphic novel.
Altered Carbon – After 250 years on ice, a prisoner returns to life in a new body with one chance to win his freedom: by solving a mind-bending murder.
Dracula – The Count Dracula legend transforms with new tales that flesh out the vampire’s gory crimes — and brings his vulnerability into light.
Peaky Blinders – A notorious gang in 1919 Birmingham, England, is led by the fierce Tommy Shelby, a crime boss set on moving up in the world no matter the cost.
The Witcher – An epic tale of fate and family. Geralt of Rivia, a solitary monster hunter, struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts.
I Am Not Okay With This – Angsty Syd navigates high school awkwardness, family drama and an unrequited crush on her best friend while trying to rein in her budding superpowers.
Dead to Me – A hotheaded widow searching for the hit-and-run driver who mowed down her husband befriends an eccentric optimist who isn’t quite what she seems.
The Stranger – When a stranger makes a shocking claim about his wife, family man Adam Price becomes entangled in a mystery as he desperately searches for answers.
Tidelands – Ex-con Cal McTeer’s return to her hometown of Orphelin Bay blows the lid off a generation-long conspiracy of silence around murder, drugs and Sirens.
I’m not sure why, but I haven’t been huge on movies on Netflix, but here are a few that I have watched that I really enjoyed.
Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Dystopian/Action
Ready Player One – A dystopian future, where the mass majority of people are not well off, a virtual reality game connects people, and after the passing of it’s creator, launches an in game competition for ownership. Based off the novel of the same name by Ernest Cline.
Snow Piercer – A revolution breaks out on a train that has the remaining humans, where the boxcars divide the social classes from one another.
Romance/Rom-Com/Hit you in the Feels
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before – Lara Jean has written out five love letters to boys she had previously had a crush on. Somehow, they find their way out into the world and changes her quiet existence.
To All the Boys: PS. I Still Love You – The sequel to To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, another recipient of Lara Jean’s letters makes an appearance, causing some trouble in her personal life.
Dumplin’ – This is the story of a teenage girl who’s mom is an ex pageant queen and is still involved with the pageants, who doesn’t feel like she really fits in with her mom because of her weight. She decides that she wants to start a revolution and join up in the pageant to see how far she can go. If you love Dolly Parton, you’ll probably love this movie because there is A LOT of Dolly songs. Based off the young adult novel Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy.
Love Rosie – Complicated relationships between guy and girl best friends, this movie is about two friends, Rosie and Alex, who may have always been secretly in love with each other but life never seemed to work out for them. Between going to a dance with the wrong person, to unexpected life changes, it’s about two people who are in love finding their way back to each other. Based off the book Where the Rainbow Ends by Cecilia Ahern (author of PS. I Love You).
Wonder – Auggie Pullman has been home schooled for all of his life. Auggie has Treacher Collin’s Syndrome which is a genetic disorder that deforms the features of his face and he’s had multiple surgeries to help make sure he’s healthy. Now, at 10 years old, he’s going to a public elementary school, and he’s worried about how everyone will react to his face. This movie shows had cruel kids can be, but also, how kind they can be too, and it will probably make you cry. Based on the middle grade novel Wonder by R.J. Palacio.
Flipped – Things get complicated when a young boy moves into the house across the street from Juli Baker, and she’s convinced that she’s in love with him. As for that young boy, Bryce Loski, he finds her incredibly weird and annoying. After overhearing him say something incredibly mean, Juli’s crush starts to wither, but Bryce has seen a new side to her, and then things get complicated. Based on the middle grade novel Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen. This book has one of my favourite quotes that they also used in the movie, “Some of us get dipped in flat, some in satin, some in gloss; but every once in a while, you find someone who’s iridescent, and once you do, nothing will ever compare.”
Soul Surfer – An aspiring professional surfer at a young age, Bethany Hamilton is on track to become that. A sponsorship from RipCurl, and going into highly competitive competitions, everything is going smoothly, until it’s not. Out surfing on Halloween morning, Bethany has her arm bitten off by a shark, and her whole world and life plan are flipped upside down. With struggles and her faith and family to push her through, Bethany will continue to try and make her professional surfing dream come true. Based on the true story of Bethany Hamilton, it’s one of my favourite actual stories of faith and perseverance.
The Little Prince – I was worried when in initially heard that they were going to be making The Little Prince (or Le Petit Prince) into an animated movie and let me tell you, it’s everything I wanted any more. The Little Prince is a short French novel (translated into English and many other languages) that can be read as a children’s story or a philosophical one reflecting on the world. The movie though, is a pure delight and totally child friendly. It follows a young girl who’s life is scheduled down to the minute, and her friendship with her eccentric old neighbour who tells her the story of The Little Prince. The animation is gorgeous and it’s a feel good movie.
There hasn’t been a lot of movies that have caught my eye, but here are a couple that I might try:
Irreplaceable You – A stunning cancer diagnosis spurs Abbie to seek a future girlfriend for fiancé and childhood sweetheart Sam, who’s clueless when it comes to dating.
The Edge of Seventeen – When Nadine’s best (and only) friend starts dating her detested older brother, the teenage cynic’s life becomes even more unbearable.
I know that these are scary times that we’re living in, and it’s okay to feel cooped up, overwhelmed and even missing the people in your life. I know a lot of people have mentioned it, but a great way to connect with your loved ones over a movie on Netflix is using the Netflix Party extension for Google Chrome. I have yet to try it, but I did try using Facetime and watching Tangled on Disney+ with my friend Abbey recently, and it was so much fun.
If you feel like you’ve watched just too much on Netflix and you’re looking for something else to do on your own why not try some of these:
- Find a colouring book or free colouring pages on line, print them out and colour until your heart is happy. Colouring really helps me with my mental health. It keeps you focused on something, you feel productive because you can see an end result and all of the colour can help remind you have happy things.
- Do crossword puzzles/sudoku/word searches/etc. A great way to keep your mind sharp while keeping you occupied.
- Take a drive. Roll down your windows (unless it’s really chilly that day) blast your music and just go. Don’t go anywhere where lots of people could be, just go to get moving somewhere other than your house. I like going for a drive along the coast, stopping at a beach and just enjoying the sounds of the waves crashing. Very therapeutic.
- Go for a walk around your neighbourhood. Put some headphones in, and just go. It’s good to get your body moving. Just because you can’t be at work, or go to the gym doesn’t mean you have to stay inside all of the time.
- Grab a garbage bag and some gloves, pick a place in your community and clean it up. It’s a great way to keep yourself productive, helping out the planet and keeping your community clean and beautiful.
- If you have it, dig out an old video game console that you may have hidden around, hook it up and play those old games that you loved so much. I would list all of the old video game consoles I have, it’s quite an extensive list, but it’s something I have been thinking about doing lately.
- Do some spring cleaning and find some things that you can either sell in a yard sale or donate. This is a great way to make space, make a little money, do a little good in the world and/or help the planet.
- You know that book that you have sitting on your bookshelf that you’ve promised yourself you’d read eventually but never had? Pick it up, this is a great time to get lots of reading done. Also, I’m not sure if many of you know this, but you have access to lots of books through your local library digitally. The two apps I know that The Halifax Public Libraries use for their digital content are Overdrive and Libby. All you need is your library card number, and voila, instant access. I do imagine that there are a lot of books being borrowed digitally with all of this going on, so there might be some wait times, but you might also find a secret treasure book you never thought you’d like. And if y’all need some book recs, hit a sister up. I got you.
- Take time to learn a new skill. There are plenty of websites that allow you to learn many new skills. One that I recently signed up for was Skillshare and I am learning how to use Adobe InDesign better. There is so much that these websites have to offer when it comes to learning.
- Write. Write a blog post, write a short story, or be more ambitious and write a novel. Write to get your feelings out, write a letter, write anything at all. If you’re not sure what to write, look up writing prompts, and go off that. It doesn’t have to be incredible, just get yourself using words to express things. Write a love letter to yourself or one to your past self. Write a letter to a future self or lover. Just write.
- Do a photo challenge. You don’t have to have a fancy camera, the majority of us have phones that are able to snap pictures. You don’t have to be a professional, just keep an open mind, use prompts, or don’t. Just snap, snap, snap. Make it a project.
- Have a Skype/Facetime/Whatsapp date with your friends. Though you can’t be in the same space right now, doing this will allow you to connect with the people you love while still keeping that social distancing. Plus, when you’re tired out, all you have to do is say, “Goodbye” and log out. Easy.
- Youtube definitely has lots work out videos if you find that you need to get yourself moving or exercising. Use them, or, y’know, make fun of the ridiculous videos because you need a laugh.
- If you are self isolating with your family, your roommates, your partner, etc. have a board game night. Even if it’s one you make up. Just make sure it’s one where you don’t have to be too close to each other.
- Make a playlist of songs that you can have a crazy solo dance party with.
- Not everyone will get this one, but if you’ve ever seen a Studio Ghibli movie you might. Write about your day, or a perfect day, or whatever that makes you feel like when you watch a Studio Ghibli movie. Describe even the most mundane things in your life as if Hayao Miyazaki animated it. Make it feel whimsical, or like you were romanticizing your life. Get creative with it.
- Learn to crochet or knit. There are TONS of videos on youtube to get you started. My mom taught me how to crochet a while ago with just some basic stitches, and when I wanted to learn how to make a really cute little whale, there was a stitch she hadn’t taught me how to make, so I used youtube to watch someone walk me through it, and it was great.
- Use youtube to learn a bunch of new things. How to cook, how to draw, how to solve a rubiks cube, how to do almost anything. We have so many great resources around us.
There are so many other things that you can do to make this a little bit easier, and share the things you’re doing to keep occupied so that other people can get ideas too. I would love to hear some of yours.
And what can you do if everything seems like it’s just getting too much for you and your mental health? Here are a few options for you:
- Reach out. You may not be able to see someone physically, but even talking over the phone to someone who loves you or text messaging them can help a little bit. Don’t let yourself feel so isolated that you can’t get yourself out of it. And if just calling isn’t enough, and you want to physically see someone, keep some things in mind: social distancing. This is very important. Keep AT LEAST 6 FEET AWAY FROM ONE ANOTHER. As much as physical touch can be reassuring, you do not want to pass this virus on, and you do not want to get it. If you both drive, drive to the same parking lot somewhere, stay in your cars, and call each other. Do what you need to to keep yourself both physically and mentally well.
- Turn off the news. We all know that everything seems to be really dire right now, but that doesn’t mean that you have to be constantly bombarded with it. Yes, it’s good and important to be informed, but it’s also okay to take a break from hearing about it all the time too. It’s okay to take a break from hearing about the things that are making you feel bad all of the time.
- Use online resources. An app that I have personally used for my mental health stuff, Sanvello (previously called Pacifica) has all of their premium tools out for free during this time. Use them. Take care of yourself.
- If you have a doctor/psychologist/therapist/whatever, see if they’re able to have an over the phone appointment with you. Talk it out.
- Use your local mental health foundation’s website for help. For us Nova Scotian’s you can use Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia. They have a ton of resources, including numbers for crisis lines, local support, tips to keep yourself well.
- Exercise. Go for a walk or run. Get your body moving. Or if you have any type of work out equipment, use that.
- Don’t forget to have some time away from a screen. As much as our screens can connect us, they can also make us feel very isolated. Take some time to do something away from your tv/phone/tablet/computer/etc.
- Get enough or a proper amount of sleep. Your brain needs sleep to function properly and if you have too little or too much, it can affect your mental health.
- Keep your routines as best as possible, or make new ones and stick to them. With everything going on, your normal routines are probably out of whack, so if you have to make new ones, make them easy so that you can be consistent with them. It helps ease the stress when you know what/how your day is going to look.
- Do get outside. Even if it’s sitting on your back deck, your patio, outside somewhere. Get some sunshine. This time of year is tough enough as it is, so make sure you’re making that effort.
- Eat healthy. It’s easy to just eat snacks and easy to grab/make things, but eating nutritious food helps your body function best, including your mind. Get some fruits and veggies in, get your protein, get the things your body needs to feel nourished.
- Stay hydrated. Very important. Drink some water, or juice. Helping your body function properly can help your mind function properly too.
Remember, even though we’re self isolating and practicing social distancing, you are not alone. You are loved, valued and cared for. This will pass, but in order for it to pass as quickly as possible, we all have to do our part to keep each other healthy. And keeping each other healthy means also keeping yourself healthy too.
I love you guys, stay safe ❤
Sprinkled in star dust... 