Another pandemic summer: What else can you do?

Picture this: It’s summer, you look for a nice place to relax and unwind. Maybe go to the beach, find a private pool, or just go somewhere relaxing like Tagaytay or Baguio, anywhere to cool you down and escape the summer heat.

If this was 2019, you can go ahead and do all these things. Sadly, it’s 2021 with the pandemic showing no signs of stopping, and you’re in a country where it seems the only thing the government knows to do is implement lockdowns to curb the spread of COVID-19.

So how can we enjoy the season meant for vacationing, dipping in the pool, and spending time with friends and family outdoors when you’re stuck at home because of the threat of the virus, and with strict quarantine protocols in place?

Step outside

Yes, go out and get some fresh air in this boiling summer heat! You can’t roam around the streets, though. But just for some change in scenery, you can step out of your house, sit on your front porch, if available, and just look at people and cars passing by. Feel the wind on your face and get a little sunshine. While it may not be palm trees and blue skies, at least you are able to escape the sight of your walls even just for a while.

But if you really do want to go out, be sure to make it count! Go and sign up for your local government’s COVID-19 vaccination program and get a schedule for inoculation. This way, you can worry less about going outside. Maybe you can even get yourself some ice cream or your favorite Halo-Halo on the way to your nearest vaccination center.

Read also: Facts vs Myths: What you need to know about the COVID-19 Vaccine

Channel your inner green thumb

Magtanim ng galit is not good for our mental health but with all the negativity and evil that surrounds us today (defend me!), it’s hard not to do so. But did you know that aside from anger there is another thing you can tanim—plants! So go ahead, bury those roots, and watch that plant grow and bloom! Its transformation is a reminder that there is still hope out there, that even when you feel stuck and stagnant, you can still grow and progress even at a time when everything seems to be on hold. Also, the more plants you have, the cooler the breeze you get!

Read also: Plantitos and Plantitas Assemble

As you flourish yourself with nature, also make sure to stay away from the triggers of your anxiety. It can be the news or the people in the news saying the status of COVID-19 response in the country is improving even though cases already breached the 1 million mark, of course, this is just an example. It can be many other things! But what’s important is, you can distract yourself by taking care of plants (even if being a plantito or plantita is so last year). Besides, we are in, what they say, the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) 2.0 right? *wink*

Get a pool

If you can’t go to the beach, let the beach come to you! Well, it is not really a beach but something close to it, right? There are now shops online that offer portable pools for rent that you can set up in your backyard or any open space inside your property.

You can use this time to step out of your room and bond with your family. Get some Vitamin D, take a dip in your portable pool, get some refreshments, and maybe order yourself some dolomite sand while you’re at it since these sands seem to have solved a lot of problems nowadays, maybe it can also cool you off.

Watch, read, and listen

You’ve probably swept through almost all the Netflix series and movies on your account. Maybe you even subscribed to other streaming apps like Amazon Prime, HBO Go, or Disney Plus. When all else fails, it is proven that your casual binge-watching always does the job of killing time. Even before the time of these streaming apps, watching TV has been the past-time of all ages. You can change things up and try shows that are different from what you usually watch.

You can also do some readings. Open those books you bought a long time ago but haven’t had the time to start reading or maybe you can just relax, lie down in your bed and listen to some good music or podcasts.

But apart from this, you can also watch, read, listen, and observe the things that are happening today. Take note of some key events that will help you in the future like perhaps, the late-night shows of the president or some of the government’s daily press briefing to keep us updated on the latest numbers of COVID-19 cases in the country. Because really, we just want to know the count, right?

Read also: True Philippine Horror Stories: 2020 Edition

Exercise

Yes, work out! Invest in yourself. Prepare your body for that summer when you can finally go out free from the worries that you might get infected. There are lots of exercise routines you can try online. You can also organize virtual workout sessions with your friends to keep you motivated and committed.

Speaking of exercise, apart from your body, why don’t you exercise your rights as well! Millennials and Gen Z’s, now is the time for you to register to vote so that by 2022, you can exercise your rights and elect a competent politician that you will entrust the future of our country and the next generation.

Read also: Your Vote and Your Voice Matters

Summer is such a fun time especially in the Philippines where it is home to a lot of majestic and serene beaches. That’s why for many Filipinos, it is very frustrating that at a time like this, we can’t explore and travel to these summer destinations because of the health crisis the whole world is going through. Aside from restrictions, most are also struggling financially due to the challenges the pandemic has posed to the economy.

We don’t know when but one day, we shall get back our summer traditions and we will swim once again. So hold on to your bathing suits and look forward to the future with hope because, in the Philippines, it’s always summer. Just be sure to register and vote wisely in 2022!

Read also:

• Speak up, Act, and empower
• A brief review: The Philippines and COVID-19 after a year in lockdown
• The art, the artist, and everything in between