Helix House Quarantine Round-Up: How We're Surviving the Pandemic

Here at Helix House, we’ve been working from home for three weeks now and the quarantine stir-crazy jitters are setting in for most of us. We wanted to lighten the mood and share with you how we’re all “surviving" Arizona’s Stay at Home order. Before we begin, let’s introduce the crew. Nathan Rea Title: Creative director Status: Could happily stay inside and do puzzles. An introvert. Alex Mayes Title: Project coordinator Status: Depending on my mood or surroundings it changes. I am a solid ambivert! Indre Puodzukynaite Title: Creative strategist Status: Not the loudest person in the room, but gets energy from being around others. A quiet extrovert. Brett Casaccio Title: Lead advertising specialist Status: Depends on the setting. Both introverted and extroverted. Vianka Villa Title: Social media strategist Status: Outspoken to family and close friends, but quiet in crowds. A loud introvert. Cody Eastlick Title: Content writer Status: A terrible case of a people person. A full blown extrovert. Casey Watts Title: Content writer Status: A quiet listener who loves spending time with others, but loves being alone even more. A social introvert. Now that we’ve introduced the crew, let’s see how they’re fairing during this global pandemic.

First, tell us how have you been passing the time?

Nate: I have spent a lot of time sitting on my balcony drinking Manhattans listening to music while trying to parse the realities of our situation. Oh, I've also been betting on politics.  Alex: Honestly, certain things I like to do, like reading and watching some form of TV, haven't really been impacted. I'm the type of person who was quarantining before it was cool, I guess.Indre: Watching movies, reading, going outside for a walk/run/hike every day and tackling a whole bucket of chores and projects I always wanted to do. My one big activity for the past couple weeks was watching all of the Marvel movies, yes from Ironman 1 to The End Game, I watched them all. It was a wild ride.Brett: Work, working out, taking online courses, spending time on House Party.Vianka: Work, FaceTime with my family and friends, bike ride, and video games! Another thing I've been doing a lot to pass time is cooking since I try to avoid physical interaction with other people. It's very therapeutic. Cody: Watching a lot of TV. Fiancée and I have started watching New Girl and then a new batch of Terrace House just dropped so that's been a godsend. What else... Lots of playing D&D online, oh, and Animal Crossing!Casey: Animal Crossing New Horizons. All night. Every night. What is sleep?

How have you been getting social interaction?

Nate: Over the last 3 weeks, I have spent more time talking on the phone with my friends and family than I have during the last 3 years prior. I even had a zoom call with my grandparents. I also engage daily in a new social/economical relationship with a raccoon named Tom Nook. I could only describe this relationship as one-sided, adversarial, and exploitative. Alex: Lots of texting, FaceTime and Zoom! Thankfully, as an ambivert, I'm able to get my fill and feel comfortable not talking to anyone for a while.Indre: It has been extremely difficult to be ripped away from my social life. However, I'm lucky, I get to interact with people every day. I live with a roommate and my boyfriend comes over to work and hangout. Besides that, Zoom has been a savior with digital happy hours, brunches and dance parties!Brett: I have been having bonfires and games in my backyard with groups no larger than 10.Vianka: Face Timing with my family, A LOT. We usually FaceTime everyday regardless, but now it's like sometimes 2-3 times a day. But I don't mind it. :)Cody: I have a few groups of friends who are all very active in chats every day so some there. I have also done the whole 'watch movies at the same time and chat' thing. Finally, moving my weekly D&D game to digital spaces like Roll20.net has made it so I feel pretty topped up on social interaction most days.Casey: I live with one of my friends, have two amazing pets (my kitty Olive who loves to butt in on work meetings — literally — and my roommate’s pup Lily), and a lot of gaming online with friends. Honestly, not much has changed!

Have you started any new hobbies, routines, or started learning a new skill?

Nate: I have mostly been focused on hobbies I already had like cooking, baking, and reading. I am also trying to figure out a new routine where I can work out and train for rock climbing from my apartment. So far, the results of the training on my climbing have been mediocre while the impact on my reputation within the apartment complex community has been a clear negative.Alex: I have started doing yoga in the mornings again, which I haven't don't for a few years! It's been really nice routine replacement to start my day.Indre: So much!!! :D I started a small summer garden on my patio, got a couple of tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers growing. I picked up painting and crafting again. I also started doing daily yoga and meditation, my goal is to be able to do a handstand in a month. On top of a small group of my friends started a community art project in Phoenix, we're painting rocks with positive messages and leaving them around the parks to bring some joy and connection back. We want everyone to get involved and leave their own happiness rocks. Brett: I launched a new ecom store! It's been super fun getting to see the company progress from scratch and to oversee all projects involved. Vianka: Honestly, I was already a plant mom before this pandemic, but now I'm a full-time plant mom LOL. I've added about 4 more plant babies to my collection at home. They are trying to survive the change as well. So far so good! I also started playing Animal Crossing. Not much of a video game person, but my co-workers convinced me to get and let me tell you, I'm hooked. It's fun and relaxing! :DCody: I've started working out more regularly using the Centr app. It's the one Chris Hemsworth and his training coaches created. Doing the Centr6 workout, lots of bodyweight exercises, entirely too many burpees and mountain climbers. It has been good though! Haven't painted nearly as many miniatures as I would like.Casey: Yes! I’ve been diving into learning ukulele during breaks at work and picking it up at night. Getting back into music has been so nice, though my fingers hurt more than normal. I’ve also been writing creatively a lot more, which has been so nice. Nothing like a global pandemic to get those creative juices flowing, amiright?

And finally, have you been able to find toilet paper in this crazy toilet paper-less world?

Nate: I was just about to run out of TP this weekend when I made a deal with a friend to trade them homemade chocolate chip cookies for TP. Once I talked them down to a 1:1 cookie:TP exchange rate, we swapped the goods using a pre-established dead drop in an ally. Alex: I have! Don't discount those gas stations! Or your parents' garage...Indre: Ummm no. And I'm literally on my last roll. Send help!Brett: Yep. Vianka: Thankfully, I'm still good on toilet paper. But I went to the grocery store last weekend and the aisles were empty. That scared me so wish me luck!!Cody: Straight up, we had a pretty good amount sitting at home when it all went down and we're just about to hit critically low levels. I'm not entirely sure what I'm gonna do when that awful, fateful day hits. Probably just die I guess?Casey: Nope! I am down to my last three rolls. Not as desperate as others, but I am *this* close to putting on a safari hat, a medical mask, and an explorer’s coat to go an expedition to find some.