Becoming a Homebody

We could all do with some positive news and stories about now. So I am going to jump on the bandwagon of people who are sharing uplifting, inspiring and positive stories and I want to encourage you to do the same.

For someone who loves being out and about, you would think this lockdown will be difficult for me to cope with. On the contrary - I actually love being a homebody. I am comfortable enough being on my own and quite enjoy quality time with my favourite person, myself! And yes, there are arguments.

These are some of the things that I have been up to while in lockdown and how I keep myself safe and sane.

1. Stick to a routine - I still get up and go to bed at regular times as I would on a normal working day. For those with kids at home, I would recommend putting on a lanyard when it’s work-time, so your kids understand ‘boundaries’
2. Get dressed - It's easy to stay in your pajamas all day, but consider dressing up, or for some, at least try and put some clothes on - I struggle with both, but I try
3. Start a new routine – for the time I usually use to commute to work, I have a home workout instead. Commit to a manageable consistency – I promise myself that at a minimum, for each morning, I will do 2x20 push ups, 2x20 crunches, 2x40 squats and stretches. I then go for walks in the evenings - embrace the good weather before it gets colder
4. Take breaks from work (sitting in front of the computer) and clean the house, do the laundry, listen to some music or cook
5. Support small businesses - check in with the restaurants and venues you normally frequent and see if you can order take away from them. I am cooking more regularly but still order deliveries!
6. Spend some time checking up on friends. This is when email or social apps (WhatsApp and Instagram is my go to) come in most handy. Drop a line to friends to see if they are OK and it they need anything. Share photos of what you are up to!
7. Be productive - for those who have time on their hands, consider updating your resume or LinkedIn. It's never a waste of time working on these, because normally, we never have time for them
8. Cook up a storm - I am not a good cook but being at home has inspired me to challenge myself in the kitchen. Make it a goal to master a few recipes in the next few weeks - My win so far? Creamy prawn alfredo pasta!
9. Nurture and talk to your home plants (if you have them) – beats talking to a wall
10. Sort out your photographs, if you are like me and take lots of photos, this is a great time to get organised. Clear out your phones and cameras and have a trip down memory lane from when you were out and about at events and holidaying! And share them!

I started a hashtag #CovidAffairs to remind me of all the fun and exciting stuff I get up to during this social distancing period. So share your ideas with me, and follow me on the hashtags #garyleecious and #CovidAffairs (LinkedIn and Instagram) so we can keep each other entertained!