Ready for another week in quarantine? 

No? Indeed, I don’t doubt that we all are anxious to get back to the daily pace again. However, since pulling through this wave of pandemic is crucial to every Saigonese, why don’t I give you some suggestions of things to do in quarantine to keep yourself entertained? Or better yet, maybe we can take a look at what advice my tarot deck has for you? 

So, buckle up. Let me pull some cards! 

1 – Four of Swords: Rest, Heal, and Continue 

As the maiden lies on the ground, deep in contemplation, this card is a sign that it’s high time you got some rest. The year of pandemic has been rough on all of us, especially as we tend to forget about our physical and mental health in favor of work and deadlines. 

Quarantine can be a stressful time because most of Saigonese cannot go to work or study but why not turn this anxiety-induced nightmare into a valuable time that we can take a break, rest wholefully, until we are ready to pick up our luggages and ready to be on the road again? 

Take time for yourself and enjoy what life has given you (Photo of Quynh Nguyen) 

2 – The Fool: It’s Time To Learn 

While waiting, the Fool suggests a more productive way of spending our time: learn something new! What is something that you can learn in Saigon? 

Anything! Take photography lessons, learn how to cook, buy a tarot deck and experiment with it – There are so many possibilities that you can always invest your time and effort in. Even though the city is going through lockdown in most parts, essential services are still available to the masses like the supermarkets or you can always order necessities via digital platforms such as Shopee, Tiki, Lazada… 

Home meals by me (Photo by Saigon Hotpot-er Nhu Le) 

3 – The Magician: Be Creative 

While the Fool gives you the opportunity to explore new hobbies, the Magician proposes to us the idea of being creative with our life. I know you would say, “I am not a creative person” but are you sure of that? 

Have you tried to re-decorate your room? Here is an example of how people have done it! A spectacular, individualized private space is psychologically proven to improve our efficiency while working at home. This is one of the must try methods to keep yourself entertained in quarantine. 

Decorate your private space and be inspired by its look (Photo from Pinterest) 

Or, have you picked up your brushes and started painting? There is a form of therapy called art therapy where the person can draw on a piece of paper whatever first comes to mind. Not only does this help with your brainstorming process, it grants you a white space to relax and keep your mind unoccupied. 

If you need to listen to something while working or experimenting with your imagination, we have the right thing for you. At Saigon Hotpot, our members have a great opportunity to utilize this time to create amazing podcast episodes which explore different aspects of Saigon and its citizens. They are able to freely experiment with the content of each episode. The podcast’s name is Saigon Hotpod and we are available on various platforms: Spotify, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast. 

Official poster of Saigon Hotpod – A podcast about humans of Saigon (Photo by Saigon Hotpot-er Danh Doan) 

Whatever form of creativity you choose to do, immerse yourself in the process and be surprised with the outcome!

4 – Three of Pentacles: Tackle The Workload With Your Team 

Even in quarantine, life goes on with most employees working from home. However, it is extremely difficult to maintain a work-life balance in the safety of your home as we tend to get carried away and let the line be crossed. Hence, the appearance of Three of Pentacles.

This card recommends that we should build strong work relationships with our colleagues, especially in forging a workflow that can help each individual in a team flourish under the pressure of working from home. It is crucial to maintain a dynamic between the team members’ interactions to ensure that the workflow won’t be affected. 

The key to surviving a period of working from home is to find supportive colleagues who can share your burden while keeping you in check from being lazy! 

Team picture before the lockdown (Photo by Saigon Hotpod-er Nhu Le) 

5 – Ten of Cups: Family Quality Time 

As most of us grow older, we dedicate our efforts, attention, and time to further our careers. This is not necessarily bad but you will soon realize that having some family quality time can improve our mental state better. While we are with our family, we become more relaxed so that later on, when we get back to work, we feel refreshed and ready again. 

Therefore, there is no time better than this to turn off your phone, sit down and have a conversation with your family members. Maybe they miss you just as much as you miss them? 

Family time is essential to balance your inner and outer world (Photo from Freepik)

6 – Ace of Swords: Are You Ready? 

Armed with determination, the angel tightens her hold on the sword, ready to march to battle again. Of course, once the lockdown is lifted, we are not going to any battlefield. We are returning to our daily life! 

Not as exciting, right? However, it is also crucial that you remember to adhere to the 5K rules and take precautions, too.

My tarot deck wishes you all the best of luck! If you would like to know more about Saigon Hotpot, do check out our blog for more exciting contents like this coming up!

Written by: Liên Lê

Image Source: Google + SGHP + Liên Lê