How to get your life in order while social distancing

So you're stuck inside, nothing to do but watch tv and try not to eat all your pandemic provisions at once. May as well catch up on all those life admin things you've been putting off.

If you're under 30, this time off from your social life might be a welcome chance to indulge your inner introvert, but for others, you could be starting to lose it. And if you're not now, you might in a week or two, when you've eaten all the good stuff and the only thing left in your pantry are a few cans of tomato paste. Whatever your situation, here are a few things you probably should have tackled already, and if you haven't, this is a great time to start.

Find out your family medical history

A lot of us don't think of asking those pesky family medical history questions. But finding out that information will help us manage our health better as we get older. Check in with Aunt Joan about what really went down when she had that cancer scare. Check in with grandpa about how he's handling his high blood pressure and when that started. You could take a DNA test and see what your genes can tell you about your medical future, or even call your parents and ask them. You probably owe them a phone call anyway. Just accomplishing this one act might end up saving your life in the long run.

Understand your financial situation

While on lock down, this is a great time to figure out your financial situation and your goals. It may seem an odd time to do it when there's so much uncertainty, but getting things in order now will help when we get the all clear to start normal life again.

There are three necessary steps to managing your financial situation. The first step is finding out your credit score. The second step is dealing with any debt you might have accumulated, be it from student loans, credit cards or car loans. It's essential to make a repayment plan and set it in motion. The third step is to start saving a small amount each week for an emergency fund. A good emergency fund is one that could handle your expenses for a period of 6 to 9 months. This fund should be created slowly, keeping in mind your other financial responsibilities and never touching the fund to pay for non-emergencies.

Conquer a fear or challenge that scares you

What are you afraid of? Really think about it. And when this is all over, you'll know where to start. Tackling your fears can remove the barrier of fear that stops you from leading your best life. By conquering that fear, or even just learning what it is and how to manage it, no matter what outcome the challenge is, you are proving that you are stronger than failure or fear.

Learn to cook

Learning to cook could be seen as a basic survival skill. You may not be able to sign up for a cooking class right now, but there are online options. You can follow along with a cooking show, or even Facetime some friends and all try out the same recipe together, from the quarantine of your own kitchens. Test out some new recipes, share your results with each other. In a few weeks, you'll be able to share your new ability by cooking for your friends. At the very least, it will give you a better understanding of what you're consuming at restaurants and allow you to make better choices.

Control your social media identity

It's important to take charge of how you are perceived online to ensure you project the right image to your employer or potential employer. Keeping your LinkedIn profile updated and your social sites private can go a long way into furthering your career. If you have a yen to freak out online, try to tamp it down. It won't help you, it won't help anyone else, and you'll probably regret it later.

By completing these five, you will come out of the other side of this social distancing, physically, financially, and social media ready.