The current Coronavirus pandemic is leading to many of us spending more time at home than usual. Some of us are taking this in stride; finally having time to accomplish our chores and goals. Others are turning into lumps on the couch, slowly wasting away. There’s nothing wrong with taking extra time to catch up on sleep, or start a new series. However, we can take some of this new pseudo-freedom to improve ourselves. Here are my top 5 things to do during your quarantine.
Dry Fire
Most ranges are closed due to restrictions on essential businesses and gathering sizes. While some people have access to private land for shooting, that is unrealistic for most of us. That doesn’t mean we can’t get practice and training in with our firearms!
Ask any high level competitor or operator if they dry fire, and it’ll be a unanimous “yes”. It’s a free and easy way to work on refining skills while removing the subconscious stresses of live fire. This ranges from the draw, to pressing the trigger, reloads, and more.
Curious how you can make your dry fire sessions more effective? Check out our article on Dry Fire Habits, or grab a copy of the Dry Fire Primer. Maybe you can make a habit that stays even when coronavirus is long gone!
Exercise
How many of us are in the shape we’d like to be? I’d say almost nobody. Whether we have spaghetti arms or a few extra pounds, we all have room to improve. The gyms may be closed, but we can still get gains.
The military has based nearly its entire fitness program on body weight exercises. There are a disgusting amount of fitness programs online for all levels of experience and strength. From simple push-ups and squats, to running, and more. Set realistic goals, make a schedule, and soon you’ll be on your way to a better you. Those in good shape have a better time preventing and fighting illness, and coronavirus is no different. As someone who enlisted at 168 pounds, ballooned up to 240, and dropped back down to 180, I can’t begin to describe how much better every aspect of life can be when you’re physically fit.
I’ve personally used Couch to 5k and Hundred Pushups to prepare for PT Tests with the military with good results.
Study
A strong body should be complimented by a strong mind. Shockingly, the internet is filled with more than just Primer Peak articles and porn ( I swear I only watch for the story!). There are hundreds of books, videos, and articles online to help you get smarter on a wide variety of subjects.
Want to learn how to cook? Check out Cowboy Kent Rollins. Interested in HAM Radio? Maybe SolderSmoke is for you. History nerd? Everyone likes Hardcore History. You might need to know how to fix things around your house, and WeldingTipsAndTricks can help you. Greg Ellifritz of Active Response Training puts out content almost daily, and has massive digests of information every Friday. Maybe you want a solid gun related podcast, but something a little smarter and less tactical? Guns Guide to Liberals is an excellent podcast.
Reach Out to Friends and Family
We all have relationships fade when life gets crazy. Some people do well on their own, and others not so much. Take this time to check in on those around you. Make a phone call. Send a text or a message on your preferred social media platform (hit me up on AIM and Xanga). Times like these can lead folks to dark places as uncertainty grows, and you can help bring them back to reality. Maybe you can talk about your new fitness regime or that new podcast you just started. Debate whether or not that bitch Carole Baskin killed her husband. You’ll be happy you said something.
Plan for Next Time, Coronavirus or Otherwise
I don’t consider myself a prepper, but being prepared for the random emergency is always smart. Recent events caught a lot of people off guard, resulting in some minor chaos. How did you feel when stay at home orders started coming down and toilet paper flew off the shelf? This is the time for you to reevaluate your plans. Did you have enough food, water, and toiletries saved up? How is your ammo stockpile looking?
Some local governments are continually encroaching on our rights as coronavirus responses continually evolve. While you are making yourself comfortable for the current situation, you need to be getting ready for the next. I know I’m more prepared than most, but even I got a little bit nervous in the beginning. I’ll be rewriting my emergency plan over the coming weeks.
Support My Work
If you made it this far, thanks for reading! Writing isn’t my full-time profession, and nearly everything I do comes out of my own pocket. Between ammunition, tuition, range fees and more, expenses add up fast. If you like what I have to offer, consider making a donation to my Patreon.
Every bit helps bring more work like this to you, and contributes to shortened timelines or more in-depth work on my part. You’ll also have more direct access to me, offering suggestions for future projects, looking behind the scenes, and getting early access to some content. You can find my Patreon >>HERE<<
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