**Disclaimer: Please note that this post is not meant to make light of a crisis, but to be light-hearted. To the medical personnel who are risking their health to help others and who don’t have the privilege of staying home: thank you. To those who have suffered illness, job loss or tragedy in the midst of this: my heart is with you.

It’s a crazy world out there, folks, and we have to do what we can to keep ourselves and each other safe…but also appropriately entertained.

I’m writing to you from Málaga, Spain, where businesses are shut down, store shelves are cleared of basic necessities, beaches are blocked off and lively streets—that can typically be seen bustling with people on any given day—have gone ghost-town quiet. The country has escalated from encouraged social isolation to a national state of emergency and over 46 million Spanish citizens are being ordered to self-quarantine in their homes.

Wherever you are in the world, it’s likely that the COVID-19, or coronavirus, pandemic has disrupted your routine. I’m here to address the critical, underlying question that everyone subjected to job loss, travel cancellations, self-quarantine, etc. is asking themselves: what the heck am I supposed to do with all this new-found free time? Well, the answer to that question looks differently for each of the nine Enneagram personality types.

Don’t know yours? Click here to read a description of each type or here to take a free quiz!

Enjoy the ways each Enneagram type can capitalize on their strengths to maximize their free time in self-quarantine, as well as how they can take advantage of this time to challenge themselves in new ways!

Enneagram 1 – The Reformer

Type ones, the universe has blessed you with time to catch up on your never-ending to-do list. Grab your AirPods and listen to your favorite playlist or true crime podcast while you knock out some Spring deep cleaning or tackle that organization project around the house you’ve been wanting to get to.

Your daily self-quarantine mantra? “Things are out of my control and that’s okay.” Challenge yourself to channel some of that Type A energy into a creative outlet or hobby—or teach yourself something new! Check out this list of YouTube tutorials for ideas!

Enneagram 2 – The Helper

Deep breaths, twos. Here’s your reminder that, during this time, the best way you can help others is by staying home and taking care of YOURSELF. Turn your phone off and indulge in a little self-care (whatever that looks like for you) without feeling guilty about it.

We all know that won’t last long, though, so here are some ways you can be intentional and love on others during your self-quarantine: offer to go to the grocery store once a week for someone in need or at risk, try a new recipe and cook for your family/roommates, perfect the chocolate-chip cookie, write letters to friends in far away places or call your grandparents!

Enneagram 3 – The Achiever

Threes, while the thought of unscheduled free time and not being able to keep up with your daily routine might send you into a panic, you can still be productive and make the most of this time. It’s all about perspective: choose to see this as an opportunity to better yourself by setting new fitness goals, investing in your side hustle or taking a free online class from Harvard!

Remember, though, balance is important and it’s okay to give yourself a break. My challenge for you is to practice being still and present. Try meditation or making a list each day of something you’re thankful for.

Enneagram 4 – The Individualist

Your time to shine, fours. Being cut off from the rest of the world gives you the opportunity to unashamedly indulge in all your emotional and creative energies. Watch movie marathons of your favorite guilty pleasure rom-coms, try yoga from home (for free!) or unleash your inner artist/musician/dancer/etc. and create something!

There is such thing as over-indulging, though. Keep yourself grounded in reality by creating some form of structure in your days so they don’t all start to run together.

Enneagram 5 – The Investigator

Me-time without feeling guilty about your cancelled plans? You were made for this, fives. Make some coffee, light a few candles or make a blanket fort and curl up with a good book. I also recommend these documentaries on Netflix: the “Explained” series, Abducted in Plain Sight (for any true crime lovers out there) and, lastly, to get you in the quarantine mood—Pandemic.

Don’t forget to take a break from your solitude every once in awhile, though. Put down the news articles and call someone you love to tell them you are thinking about them.

Enneagram 6 – The Loyalist

Game faces, sixes, you’ve been preparing for this and have likely already thought of (and planned for) every worst case scenario. The only thing left for you to do now is to take a deep breath and give yourself permission to rest and relax. Find creative ways to stay connected with your people for support, such as group video chats on Houseparty, remote Netflix watch parties with this Chrome extension or by bringing back your favorite, old school online video game…RuneScape or Club Penguin, anyone?

Some daily, healthy habits you can practice to keep yourself sane during this time are: minimizing screen time, journaling and positive affirmations such as “I am safe in this space and I trust that everything will work out.”

Enneagram 7 – The Enthusiast

Trying to think of creative ways to liven up both your time and Instagram content during isolation? Grab some snacks and try these Pinterest craft ideas, learn a TikTok dance or two, play board games with your family or plan your next adventure for when all this is over. If you’re lucky enough to be stuck inside with friends/roommates, you can turn your favorite show or movie into a fun drinking game! Hang in there, sevens, I know you’re struggling the most.

My challenge for you: take this opportunity to slow down and practice self-discipline. Set a routine for yourself and learn how to be alone with your thoughts (no distractions!) with fulfilling activities like mindfulness meditation, going for a run or doing a puzzle!

Enneagram 8 – The Challenger

You’re a force to be reckoned with, eights. If you’re not already working from home, you should find another productive outlet to channel that boss b*tch energy into—like high-intensity home workouts or seeing a home-improvement project through from start to finish.

If you’re the type of person who isn’t ashamed to call people out for not social distancing, you might be an eight. Counter your instinct to stir the pot at home – or through Twitter advocacy – by focusing on ways you can help others. Check out this Instagram post with great tips for how to support small businesses during this crisis.

Enneagram 9 – The Peacemaker

Nines, you might appreciate an extended (and socially-acceptable) period of isolation more than most. Take all the naps, watch all the Netflix, snuggle with your furry friends and lean into the fact that you have no social commitments or obligations. No furry friends at home? Check out these soothing animal livestreams or pop over to see what the animals at the San Diego Zoo are doing with these exhibit live cams.

Make the most out of this time by challenging yourself to do something out of your comfort zone. Whether it’s a major closet purge or committing to a 30-day challenge, setting small, intentional goals for yourself each day (and following through!) will help you build confidence and take control of your life. Then, you can carry these positive habits into your daily life, post-quarantine!

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At the end of the day, you’re not defined by your number and there is something to be learned and gained from each one of these personality types. Stay safe and stay hopeful out there, friends. Prioritize your mental health and check in on your people—we need each other now more than ever!

xo

Sarah

Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! If you enjoyed it, share it with someone you know who either loves the Enneagram or is bored and looking for ways to stay entertained during their self-quarantine or social distancing.

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