How To Unplug During The Pandemic
Before the shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the daily commute was hectic for our family. I would commute with both my sons via the Long Island Rail Road and New York City Transit, taking three to four trains just to get to school and work. With the shuffle, hustle, and bustle of getting my children to school, I often walked into my office well before 9 AM, yet feeling as though I had already completed a full day of work. With that sort of daily morning commute, I often looked forward to vacations to unplug, as you may recall I wrote about in a blog years ago, Why I Unplug During Family Vacations. I don’t miss that hectic commute one bit. However, working from home while the children school from home is its own type of hectic. So, again, I look forward to unplugging. My desire to unplug from hectic daily responsibilities is one reason I love to travel. So, if we don’t travel, how do we unplug in the midst of a pandemic?
I recently documented a bit of this on my Instagram page, as right now, we find ways to unplug in increments. It’s not the same as unplugging on vacation or a getaway where we turn off electronics, breathe in the fresh ocean air, and have no care in the world except to admire God’s handiwork. While we haven’t dedicated a whole week to a getaway during the pandemic, we can dedicate certain parts of each day to being unplugged. This is a great lesson for even after the pandemic because it shows us how to carve time out for ourselves, even on regular days, without even crossing borders and oceans.
Early morning walks with my husband, which started as a part of my recovery and rehabilitation after open-heart surgery this June has been one way in which I unplug. In addition to those morning walks, here are 3 simple ideas to unplug during the pandemic:
Visit The Beach
The combination of sun, sand, and sea is therapeutic. For those in the Caribbean, Southern U.S., or anywhere else where the weather is warm/hot year-round, this suggestion is probably a no-brainer. However, for those of us in New York City, which is often congested, one may not necessarily think of the beach as an option to unplug. Honestly, I don’t do beaches in New York… at least, not in the water because, as a Caribbean girl, I’m accustomed to crystal clear, blue waters, and that’s not usually the scenario in New York. I know, I know, beach snob here! Anyway, with that being said, we still benefit from the therapeutic effects of the sun, sand, and sea breeze even without getting in the water.
This year, New York City beaches closed to swimming for the season on the evening of Labor Day, and beaches in Long Island, New York, stayed open until September 20, 2020 for the season. So now, at the time of this writing, for the most part, the beaches are not open for swimming anyway. Other Northeast, U.S., states and other areas that will experience cold weather in Autumn and Winter may have similar beach closures. Nevertheless, this information is beneficial moving forward because who knows how long travel will be limited due to the pandemic. Additionally, as travel opens up even more, it is understandable that folks who traveled before may be uncomfortable traveling again but may still need to unplug. Taking the necessary precautions, i.e. wearing masks and social distancing, the beach is one way to do so safely.
This summer, we ventured out to Coney Island, Brooklyn, and it was much more crowded than I thought it would be during a pandemic. We strolled around the Coney Island Boardwalk with our masks on pretty much the whole time because of how crowded it was. I know that there are beaches in Long Island that are much more tranquil than Coney Island, so that’s another option for New Yorkers. I think that, even as the weather starts to get colder in New York City and surrounding areas, a stroll along a beach or nearby boardwalk, like at Coney Island in Brooklyn, or Long Beach in Long Island, can be relaxing. This goes for other locations along the Northeast U.S., as we prepare for the colder months. Right now, the Autumn weather seems mild enough to stroll along the beach.
Visit The Park
There are many different types of parks to visit, and folks can enjoy a range of activities from simply relaxing to hiking. As with going to the beach, taking the necessary precautions, i.e. wearing masks and social distancing, going to the park is a great option to unplug.
Parks are great for a stroll, even in Autumn weather. Some parks are good for hiking, like Forest Park in Queens, and others are good for relaxing with a good book and/or picnicking, like Prospect Park in Brooklyn or Flushing Meadows Park in Queens. Unlike the beaches in New York City, New York City parks are open this Autumn. According to the New York City Parks Department, there are more than 1700 parks, playgrounds, and recreation facilities across the five boroughs, so New Yorkers can take our pick. We spent time at Forest Hills Park which honestly looks like a forest in Queens. We also spent time in Flushing Meadows Park where there are open areas in which individuals and families can spread a picnic blanket, sit and relax with each other, read a few books, and admire the gorgeous plants throughout the park. Visitors to Flushing Meadows Park will likely admire and photograph the Unisphere, which is often referred to as the globe, as it is the large stainless steel representation of the earth found at Flushing Meadows Park.
We enjoyed a morning at Sea Breeze Park, located at Freeport, Long Island’s Nautical Mile. There is a pedestrian walkway/bikeway boardwalk that runs along the water’s edge, and we spent time relaxing on the benches along the boardwalk, enjoying breathtaking views of Freeport Bay. Getting there early in the morning was great because there were very few people out there. Perfect for maintaining social distance!
Lounge In Your Backyard
For us, lounging in our backyard is the most comfortable environment simply due to convenience and peace of mind during this time. A mini pool, trampoline, and a giant Connect4 game are some of the things that help us to unplug in our backyard. Along with being the easiest and most convenient option to unplug, if you have a backyard and it’s just you and the same family members from your household going out there, assuming you’re all healthy, then no mask or social distancing is required.
With open yard space, simply going outside to sit and have the children run around or ride their scooters or bikes, is a simple way to unwind. As an adult individual or adult couple, going outside to sip cocktails on a warm sunny day or even on a cool breezy day can be refreshing. A friend actually goes to her backyard to do Zumba with a group on Zoom!
Whether you choose to purchase, build, and use items for backyard entertainment, or just simply get out there for fresh air and Vitamin D, we encourage you to unplug a while in your own backyard.
Thus far, in 2020, we have done all these things – neighborhood walks, visited the beach, visited parks, and spent time in our backyard – which is why we can suggest them as effective ways to unplug during the pandemic. We understand the desire to unplug often comes with a strong desire for a change of scenery, so hopefully, these suggestions can provide that for you or someone you know.
In what ways have you unplugged during the pandemic?