Right now, as I’m writing this, the citizens of the State of California are about to start week six of staying at home. Globally we’re all in quarantine, bombarded with mixed messages from media and statesmen, each area managing this in a variety of ways.
With so much of the focus on death, it’s so easy to get sucked into the drama when you watch the news and lose hope, especially if you’ve been fired, furloughed, or lost someone close to you.
In times like this, it’s more important than ever to pay attention to what would bring you joy to make the most of the time that you have.
I’m the kind of person that can always find something to do, so I haven’t even reached the “boredom” stage by far and don’t expect to, so I may be a rarity, and maybe some of the activities below can inspire you if you run out of things to do.
Here are some suggestions in random order, some I’m doing, others I haven’t even gotten to:
1. Catch up on outstanding projects
What projects do you never seem to get to that you want to dig into? Is now the time? I’ve been cleaning up notes from the past 3 years and placing them all into my Evernote account. It’s so much easier to have my relevant files in one place for easy access.
2. Move your body
What exercises can you do from home? If you live close to nature, then take long walks or runs. Working out from home is another option; from workout programs on DVDs to downloading apps, there are so many great programs out there. Some that I’ve used are, BeachBody workouts: some of my faves are P90x, Les Mills Combat, Core de Force, Cize, and many more; Jaana Kunitz Figure 8 – works your entire body while wiggling your hips (great for loosening up a stiff spine and waking up your muscles); Zumba – I revisited this program yesterday via their free app, and I’m feeling it all over my body.
3. Revisit your dietary needs
Is your current diet working for you, or are you sitting at home eating junk that doesn’t make you feel any better? I had a couple of weeks of that and then got a strong urge to make some changes. My target is to get out of this seclusion fitter and healthier than I was before, so I figured, why not now? With fewer distractions since I only go to the store once a week or so, I decided to go on a purification diet 2 weeks ago (only veggies and fruits). I’m now at the stage where I’m starting to add new food groups every couple of days. In the process, I’ve noticed how little I actually need to eat now that I’m sitting on my butt in front of a computer most of the day. It’s been really easy so far, I’m happy that I did it and I feel so much better than consuming the comfort foods I did prior to this.
4. Walks, playtime, and cuddles with your pets
One of my targets is being fully present when walking my dog – leaving the phone at home or not looking at it. Playtime is always fun, and cuddle time is great for the soul.
5. Call your friends
Reach out to friends that you haven’t spoken with in a while, as well as your usual network. Connecting with friends has been gold and often brightens their day too. Simply listening to each other, what’s up, etc., makes a big difference. Another option is using apps like Marco Polo to listen and record when you have a moment; check it out.
6. Call your co-workers, clients & vendors
They too are affected, how are they doing? Do they need support? Keeping each other motivated with momentum is key to being able to hit the ground running. The team I’m on has bonded more than ever before with Zoom calls several days a week with learning sessions on work-related topics
7. Pivoting
Are there products you can add to your portfolio that there’s a need for right now? Do you have fabric and a sewing machine? What if you supplied facemasks to the neighborhood?
8. Take a course online
Many individuals and organizations are offering webinars right now, from free to paid. What topics are you drawn to? I’m completing one course as we speak with another one in progress. Want recommendations? Ask me
9. Read
If you’re anything like me, you have a long list of books cued up on your Kindle with more waiting on your Amazon shopping list. Finding time to read them is another story, 15-30 minutes here and there, though daily, feels like a luxury that I enjoy every minute of fully. The joy of reading or listening to a great book – is priceless!
10. Organize your home
From moving furniture, going through cabinets, closets, and papers, and purging or saving for donations. I do this every spring and fall, and I still have more than I need… When you clear out stuff that you really no longer want or need, your home will feel more spacious afterward. It’s so easy to hold onto too much stuff.
11. Watch movies
I love a great Netflix binge [insert your favorite channel]. Being able to zone out and engage in a story or learning expands your mind or gives you a break. I tend to wait until the evening to limit the hours of viewing to fit all the things I want to do during the day. I just watched Colony and am bummed that there’s no season 4, but oh well, I’m already onto one of many other series on my list.
12. Take up a new hobby
Got a guitar in a corner, a piano, or some other instrument? If all else fails, you can always turn a bucket upside down and do some drumming. Then there are creative projects from sewing, painting, designing, creating new clothing outfits, woodworking, fixing up your yard, etc. Have fun researching topics online that interest you.
13. Google
Google funny clips on YouTube for a laugh.
14. Take dance breaks
Set hourly alarms on your phone and play a song that inspires you while shaking that booty.
15. Meditate
YouTube has tons of free stuff; Dr. Joe Dispenza, Deepak Chopra both have channels with many more to be discovered.
16. Take a spiritual deep dive
Explore what you feel called to that you haven’t taken action on. Here are some spiritual/metaphysical recommendations: Abraham-Hicks, Access Consciousness, Dr. Sue Morter – The Energy Codes, Dolores Cannon.
17. Take assessments
They help us get clear on what we bring so that we can create a personal brand and sell ourselves better or simply entertain. Most of them can be taken for free, either by purchasing a book or it’s free on their site; others charge or require a coach for access. Some of my favorites are: CliftonStrengths® and BP10™, GeniusU Wealth Dynamics, How to Fascinate, 5 voices, 16 personalities, How to find your why, How’s your heart, Human design, Love languages, Standout
18. Try new recipes:
Two new favorites are: Radhi and Camila
19. Take photographs
Of everyday life, the people around you, nature.
20. Puzzles, sudoku, and crosswords
Whether you solve the crosswords in newspapers or use apps, there are many options to choose from. Words with friends and BlockuDoku are two apps that I play when I need a brain break to do something that doesn’t require too much brainpower.
21. Sing karaoke
Find an app and sing your heart out.
22. Create a gratitude list
List everything and everyone you’re grateful for. Bonus: email, text or call each person and share your gratitude for them.
23. Create a dream board
Pinterest is a great app for creating boards on different topics and then pinning images that fit each topic. You can travel around the world without spending a penny.
24. Take a sales course
I took this one a while back and loved it. It’ll provide you with all the steps needed to up your game and is great to revisit your current steps in your sales process.
These are some of the to-do’s on my never-ending list 😀
What would be fun, inspiring, and create an experience of maximizing your time while at home?
