At this point in 2020, we as a global collective, are responsible for our own lives. With limited access to group activities, access to places like theme parks, hotels, concerts and even schools, it can become difficult to stay in an energetic and happy state.
As we all practice social distancing to some extent (most persons actually do still work and still shop in physical stores) there are plenty of things that those of us who either work from home, or are homeschooling their children can now do.
You are responsible for your days, and while it’s easy to fall into the trap of over relaxing, you can put your body and mind in a low energy frame of mind. Your mind is the most important part of your body. Keep it engaged on a daily basis. Here is a list of things that you can do to keep yourself and your family entertained in the quarantine period. Quarantine won’t last forever, but while you’re in transition, you might as well enjoy the time!
1. Build a Robot: The world is changing towards automation. If you have young children, you can keep them entertained by engaging them in activities such as building a robot. Lego systems has a program called Mindstorms that teaches children how to build robots. There are plenty of kits available for both adults and children.
2. Start a journal or blog. This can be about anything that interests you. With the advent of the internet, now’s a good time to either document your experiences of any critical skill or artform you may have. You can actually start to write your memoirs at this time. With an extra two hours per day, you can actually write a book in two months.
3. Learn a new skill: Computers are tools that many people underutilize. Dust off your keyboard, and google how to type, how to project manage, or any critical skill that will be applicable to your job when you’re back in full time work.
4. Host a virtual happy hour. Many things that you did with your co-workers you can actually do via platforms such as zoom. Organize a group chat, have every one pour their wine, and just catch up.
5. Read a book. Leaders are readers. With the work and family week full, you can actually take the time to catch up on some reading. Since you don’t have to commute to work for a while, you can actually read in the time that you’d be travelling.
6. Watch movies that you haven’t gotten a chance to. With streaming services like Netflix, you are in a good position to catch up on series.
7. Download Duolingo, or a similar app, and teach yourself a foreign language.
8. Plan The Future. The beauty about downtime is that you’ll be in a position to actually create a future that you love. If you weren’t happy in your current job, now’s the time to send off all those job applications.
9. Craft. If you haven’t had a chance to finish your tree house, your green house, your knitting, or any additional things that are necessary to the household, now’s a good time to do it.
10. Go on a virtual tour. There are lots of places like concert halls, theme parks and museums that will allow you to go on a virtual tour of their properties.
11. Work out at home or in your neighborhood if you live in a suburb. Try out at-home aerobics or yoga videos. Consider downloading a fitness app with curated workout playlists.
12. Take a bubble bath (bonus: Add a glass of wine). Self care is the key to a successful and peaceful mental state.
13. Take time to reflect: What have you accomplished in the last year? What goals are you setting for yourself in the next year?
14. Declutter your living spaces. While you wait, now’s a good time to tackle all the things that have been accumulating in your basement. Clear out the family room and camp indoors with all blankets, popcorn and scary movies.
15. Catch up on home maintenance activities. Start gardening. Finally get around to fixing that broken door knob and loose tiles or cleaning scuffed up walls. Draw inspiration from people like Martha Stewart.
16. Unless you’re planning to order delivery on food, now’s a good time to actually cook. Learn new recipes that you never thought of previously, or have loved forever and just didn’t know how to cook. Go on a health kick and learn how to cook new recipes with ingredients you may not be using already, from miso to tahini.
17. Make a list of things for which you are grateful. An attitude of gratitude for the things that you are grateful for such as a home, a garden, your family will make you more appreciative of the little things.
18. Have your own wine tasting of whatever bottles you have at home. Create a wine and cheese platter, learn about the origins of the wine and allow yourself to become a sommelier.
19. Now’s a good time to look at your budget. With the money that you have saved from being in quarantine, what can you invest in?
20. Plan your future vacations. With a year “off” 2021 will definitely be a year that will facilitate more mobility once we all heal. Plan where you want to go…and create your visionboard to go with this desire.
This list is by no means exhaustive, but it’s one good way that you can allow yourself to enjoy your life. Life has a way of restoring itself.
