At this point, there is not much need for background information. Summing up the state of the world will only leave you feeling overwhelmed, an emotion we all have become a bit too familiar with lately. So instead of listing all the reasons to worry, let’s take a few minutes to focus on how we can cope with everything that is going on.

We want to start off by thanking those of you who go to work every day despite the risk because society is depending on it. The both of us are now a little over one week into a two-week quarantine and realised, during a much-needed Facetime session, that the main problem we have faced in terms of coping with isolation is how the days seem to melt into one another. On top of that, the uncertainty of the future makes it difficult to look forward, making it is easy to get stuck in an unproductive and uninspired routine. Whether you are self-isolating or suffering from a lockdown that left you without a job, we hope we can help you by making a difficult time a bit more manageable, varied and entertaining.

DAY #1:

Welcome to the 90s, baby!

You guessed it: We are kicking off this challenge by asking you to unplug - get off social media and kiss goodbye all the celebrities who are singing ‘to raise morale’. Put on some plaid, get out a card game or see this as an opportunity to dust off your old yoyo and kaleidoscope. While a good old card game might not be the solution to the bigger problems we are up against today, it will keep you entertained and we can promise that a game of Yatzy does not come with push notifications about virus stats. Dive deep into 90s nostalgia whether that means sifting through a bundle of childhood photos or playing Britney Spears on the overpriced walkman you got at Urban Outfitters but have not actually used yet (because why would you?).

DAY #2:

Sit back, relax and catch up.

The pile of unread books on your nightstand and ‘My list’ on Netflix will not shrink without you doing something about it. In other words, now is the perfect time to finish what is unread or unwatched. But do not worry if you cannot relate. Maybe you are one of the few people that can resist the urge of purchasing a new book before even reading the first few chapters of the ones you have at home. Or maybe you have an extensive collection of series and films waiting in “My list” which you are not actually going to watch because it is either a series your friends kept going on about that is not really your cup of tea or films that you thought you would watch one day but know deep down you will never actually take any interest in. Either way, here is a list of recommendations for films and books to entertain you for the day:

DAY #3:

Stay in touch… not literally

When Danish Queen, Margrethe II said: “Right now we have to show our togetherness by keeping apart.” she did not mean that you have to go completely off-grid. Thanks to modern-day technology, you can now self-isolate without becoming a lonely island. Plan a collective FaceTime-party with your friend group (it is not your typical conference call, so a glass of wine is definitely allowed and even encouraged!). You could also attempt going through your entire contact list: Family members, friends and people you have not talked to in ages. Check-in with them and make sure they know how much you love em’.

DAY #4:

Love thy neighbour.

If you wish to support your local community, check if it is possible to make donations to your local foodbank online or purchase gift cards from local businesses to save for later.

Another way to give back to society is by taking the time to go through your belongings and see if there is anything that can be donated.

If you are in the financial position to be able to cook food for others, consider making some freshly baked loaves of rye bread, squeezed orange juice or homemade granola. It can be the gesture that lightens up an otherwise gloomy day.

Especially if you have elderly neighbours, offering to help them out with grocery shopping can make a big difference. Call them up or write a note and slip it into their mailbox.

DAY #5:

Love thy-self.

Self-love goes far beyond a face mask and some breathing exercises. Clean your apartment, declutter your inbox, go through who you follow on social media and delete messages from people you no longer talk to. With all this extra time on your hands, there is no longer an excuse to postpone tidying up all aspects of your life. Think outside the box. Tidy up your kitchen cabinets by experimenting and making an extravagant brunch with the food items you tend to overlook in the back of your fridge and cupboards, try bullet journaling or simply check out Lynks Afrikka’s self-isolation tapes to have a laugh in a time of crisis - whatever floats your boat today.

DAY #6:

Expand your horizon.

Self-improvement, or self-expansion as we like to say, maybe something we all love in theory, but typically dread putting time and effort into it. But maybe it is worth giving it a try? See this as a chance to brag on Instagram about all the beautiful redesigns you made after learning how to sew during your time in quarantine? And when we can all finally leave our homes again, you will have the option to show off some new language skills if you download that language learning app now. Maybe you could try to write a letter to the pen-pal you have been neglecting or find someone on social media and get started on your first written letter in years? Or give a new documentary and podcast a go!

DAY #7:

Try another challenge.

Enjoying this more than you expected? Lucky for you, we have an archive of other challenges to try! Most of these are focused around writing which is perfect as what you write down now, may become valuable in the future as historic sources;))

Stressed, bored and a bit lost? Here’s how we cope