How to Pass the Time When Staying Home

I hope you are all well. None of us could have predicted just how disruptive COVID-19 would be to our daily lives. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and anxious at the moment so protecting our mental and physical health has never been so important.

It goes without saying that the true heroes are the doctors and nurses and other key workers who continue going to work everyday. For the rest of us, our part is simple; stay home, take care of ourselves and others where possible. For those like myself who are being asked and are able to work from home, this is a chance to show gratitude and do things we wouldn’t normally have time for.

While some of our daily rituals might not be possible at the moment, we can find new ways – however small they seem – to have fun, be productive and restore some balance along the way. Some of the things I am/will be trying include:

• Writing: blog posts, journalling, Insta story ideas sharing while social distancing
• Reading: finish that neglected paperback or set yourself a challenge to finish X number of books in a month
• Language apps: learn a new language on Duolingo for quick daily learning
• E-learning: online training courses (many of which can be freely accessed) and Youtube tutorials on anything from beginners coding to french braiding your hair…even twerking!
• Podcasts: simple really, search and listen – there seems to be a podcast for every interest imaginable!
• Planning: free online platforms like Trello are perfect for setting up to do lists and tracking progress whilst Pinterest is my go to for saving posts on organisation ideas, recipes and travel and interior inspiration
• Craft kits: lots of great options on Etsy depending on your interests
• Home-school support: get creative to help parents with activities for kids; write quizzes & clues for indoor scavenger hunts, schedule video call reading time
• Organising home storage: kitchen cupboards, bathroom shelves, wardrobes
• Clear outs: finding unused items to set aside and donate to charities or shelters (when able to do so)
• Phone and computer hygiene: delete unused files and photo duplicates, run updates
• At-home Yoga: practice for all levels with Yoga with Adrienne
• Indoor workouts: Youtube fitness channels for cardio and strength training – Blogilates, Fitness Blender, to name a few
• Outdoor walks or runs: fitness apps offer motivation with guided runs and progress tracking
• Cooking: dust off those cookbooks for recipe inspiration and feel free to substitute ingredients with what you already have at home
• Healthy baking: because sweet treats like protein brownies and energy balls are welcome – in moderation!

These are just a few ideas to try at home to pass the time. Some practical, some fun and hopefully some to help find inner peace and grounding over the next few weeks. Take care and I would love to hear what you’re doing in the comments.