14 Dec Feeling Isolated in Your Kamloops Apartment This Winter? Here’s How to Beat the COVID Blues This Holiday Season
With the rapidly approaching holiday season, you may be envisioning yourself hunkered down in your Kamloops apartment, binge-watching your favourite shows and indulging in holiday treats. You are most certainly not alone! 2020 has been a rough year for everyone, and for many, particularly singles, the isolation and drudgery of an all too familiar pandemic routine will be hard to stave off over the holidays.
In this post, we’ll discuss things that might help to cheer you up over the holidays. First, though, we at McGill Ridge Apartments would like to wish you and yours a healthy and happy holiday season. May 2021 bring all of us prosperity, health and hope for a brighter future, after what has been a trying year.
Things to Do in Or Near Your Kamloops Apartment
Living alone can be somewhat lonely at the best of times. The pandemic has made this worse for many Kamloops apartment dwellers. Mental health experts advise that staying connecting and being active are two of the best remedies for stress, anxiety, and depression. They are #1 and #2 on this list of “Tips for supporting your mental health through the COVID-19 pandemic” by BC Mental Health Services.
The following is a list of ideas to help you beat the COVID-19 isolation blues this winter.
Connect with Family and Friends Through Video Chat
Video-chat though Zoom, Skype, Google Duo, Microsoft Teams, or other platforms is where it’s at to stay safely connected with the people in your life. Many are free, and while it does take a bit of effort to get your friends and family set up on the same platform, particularly for people who aren’t very tech savvy, it’s worth the effort. Once you get used to it (video has a different feel than face-to-face meetups), it can be fun and rewarding. You can have one-on-one or group video chats with your besties, enjoy a family dinner, have drink nights with friends, play music, or have a tele-karaoke night – all through live video.
Connect with Nature
Connecting with nature is easy to do in Kamloops and so important during the pandemic! As we’ve all learned, the virus isn’t transmitted as efficiently in the outdoors, and there is more space to enjoy. Go for a walk or bike ride in your neighbourhood just to be outside, breathing fresh air and seeing different sites. Hike or walk by yourself or with your core bubble, as permitted within the provincial guidelines. See a list of 7 parks near our Kamloops apartment buildings.
Take Up a New Hobby
Hobbies are a great way to spend time when it feels like it’s dragging on and you need something new. Having a new interest to focus your attention on just makes life better. Some hobby stores have experienced an uptick in business since the start of the pandemic. You can learn to play a musical instrument, take up cooking, baking, crafts, sewing, puzzling, painting, drawing, creative writing, online multiplayer gaming, or any number of hobbies or activities suitable for indoors. In an episode of CBC’s “Our Vancouver”, Gloria Macarenko discusses hobbies people are taking up during the pandemic.
Participate in Safe Holiday Activities Near Your Kamloops Apartment
Tourism Kamloops has published a list of safe holiday activities in the Kamloops area. Most are either outdoor, drive-through, or remote activities. For your safety and the safety of others, please follow guidelines for mask wearing and social distancing, and know the current province-wide restrictions (the page is updated regularly).
Sleep Well, Eat Right, and Exercise
Eating healthy foods, getting a good night’s rest and a little exercise, are vital to maintaining physical and mental health. Marathoning the latest online series until 3 am may seem like a good idea at the time, but too many late nights will likely affect your mood. Snacking more than usual? Try replacing carb and sugar laden snacks with something healthier. “Exercise” doesn’t have to mean a strictly adhered to regimen. Go for a 30-minute walk a couple of times a week, do some stretching or yoga in a local park, or try body-weight only exercises you can easily do in you living room. You’ll keep your spirits up and your “pandemic pudge” down.
Reach Out When You Need Help
If you can’t seem to beat the COVID blues, winter blahs, or holiday stress, talk to your family doctor or a mental health professional. There is free mental health support available in BC.
Looking for Rental Apartments in Kamloops? Consider McGill Ridge
If you’ve been looking for an apartment in Kamloops, McGill Ridge, one of Kamloops newest apartment communities, is close to numerous services, shopping, and the great outdoors. Check out our Kamloops apartment floor plans and pricing, then submit a Request Apartment Availability form and we’ll contact you with next steps. A new apartment might be just the ticket to improve your lifestyle during these trying times and contribute to a better you in the year ahead!