Making the Most of Your Time at Home
We're nearing the end of our second month in quarantine and now is a wonderful time to take stock of the routine that you've set for yourself and make sure that your mind and body are getting the care they need. If you're looking for ways to take your days from Groundhog Day to Happier Days, here are some suggestions intended to help you become proactive with your schedules and routines.
Be Intentional With Your Time
Remember when you were in middle school, and you would look at the clock every two minutes to check if it was recess time yet? Well, shelter-in-place may feel a little reminiscent of those days, but it doesn’t have to be. Just because we are staying indoors for safety doesn’t mean that life itself stops. We can still be mindful of our time and choose how we’ll spend our days. Some unique ways to be intentional are:
- Create a daily plan that includes your daily needs / activities
- Try out bullet journaling to structure out your days
- Create engaging and customizable calendars
Experience Cultural Activities and Entertainment
While we may miss the joys of going to the museum or listening to our favorite songs live, staying at home doesn't mean that we have to be cut off from these cultural activities. Many museums, parks, and musicians are holding online tours and streams to welcome you into their spaces.
Here are some that you shouldn't miss:
- The Paris Opera is posting past opera performances online for free. Tune in!
- The Google Arts and Culture team has teamed up with five national parks to hold virtual tours, including beautiful parks like Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska and Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Check here for the complete list.
Other fun activities that can help brighten up your day and take your mind off of things are:
- Coloring: look to Amazon for amazing adult coloring books
- Cooking: online cooking classes are an amazing way to learn and grow
- Puzzling: Check out this list from the NYT for the best puzzles
Prioritize Self Care
Arguably the most important thing to do during this time is to be mindful of your body and mind. Whether that's through exercise, meditation, or breathing, make sure you're engaging in activities that help you take care of yourself. Here are a few suggestions:
- Orangetheory Fitness is posting a free daily at-home workout, modified so that special equipment is not required
- Barre3 offers 15 days of free classes when you sign up for a trial
- CorePower Yoga is offering free on-demand classes
- Breathing can be a powerful way to restore your energy
- Amazing apps like Calm and Headspace are offering free resources to help you learn to meditate
Get off of Social Media
Have you seen a recent uptick in your daily screen time usage? Now is a great time to set a time limit on certain social media apps and let your eyes rest. Although social media is a great way to stay connected to friends and family, we often get stuck in a loop of endlessly scrolling. Plus, with the endless cycle of 24/7 news, it can be easy to get wrapped up in details beyond our control. Try to schedule time blocks for social media, and then get off and do something active.
In Summary
Your habits and routine can be powerful for bringing order to your current chaos. Making the most of your time at home by being intentional and prioritizing yourself can be amazing for your resilience and sense of control.