Go-To Guide for a Fulfilling Quarantine | Penn State College of Health and Human Development

As we face these unusual circumstances, it can be hard to balance all that we have going on in our busy lives. We are all in this together and we are here for you to provide support. Below is a list of tips and tricks to master working from home. There are also some free trainings that you can do for professional development on the Learning Resources Network. Plus a few fun items for you and your families.

Take some time for yourself

Pet your animals. They could always use some love.
Take a 15-minute break to read a book
Cook a meal for yourself or your family
- 50 Most-Popular Healthy Recipes
- Half Baked Harvest Cookbook Recipes

Working from Home Tips

Update your to-do list and write things down in a planner
Take a walk occasionally and get away from your workspace when possible
Listen to music

Activities for the Children

Painting/Crafts/Online Coloring Books
Get your children involved in cleaning the house, vacuuming, wiping counters down, or dusting
Break out the Wii that you have in the closet and play Wii Sports or Animal Crossing (fun for everyone)
Build a fort with couch pillows and blankets
Make Indoor Outdoor Smores
Educational websites

Trainings on the LRN

How to Help Others during this time

Meditation

Mindfulness

Steps to Achieve Mindfulness
- Focus on your deep breathing
- Concentration
- Awareness of body
- Releasing tension and stress
Ten Steps to Mindfulness
- Walking meditation- enjoy your steps
- Eat mindfully- focus on tasting your food and eliminate distractions
- Connect with your senses- smell your morning coffee, take some time to observe the blooming flowers around the neighborhood
- Pause- do not feel the need to rush with every task

Benefits of Mindfulness
- Memory boost
- Better control of emotions
- Happier/fulfilling personal relationships
- Higher morality and less fearful thoughts
Benefits for Adults, Teens, and Children
- Decreased stress levels
- Improved general health
- Self-acceptance
- Increased empathy and resilience from traumatic experiences
- Higher academic performance