Making The Most Of Your Time At Home

Well, life at the moment is all very surreal. There are so many unknowns at the moment. None of us are sure how long we will be in this state of social isolation for – a week, a month, 3 months? I admit that yesterday I felt a little overwhelmed with it all. I’m doing my best not to dwell on what I can’t change and continue to live fully and in the moment. As my sister always says, “Don’t waste a crisis!”.  So whether you are indoors out of precaution or necessity, I thought I would put together a list of 15 things you can do at home.

1. Exercise Gratitude – Start each day with gratitude – count your blessings!!! Write your list in a  journal or notebook and look at it every so often, particularly on days you feel discouraged or when cabin fever sets in.
2. Rest! Take some time out to chill. My husband’s commute is about 2.5 hours every day. The fact that he can get an extra 1.5 hours in bed every morning is a blessing in disguise. Have a lie in. Go to bed early. Rest your mind too. Don’t underestimate the need for rest.
3. Establish a new routine – Establish a new normal to see you through the coming days and weeks.  This is particularly important if working from home is a new thing for you. Get up, have a shower, get dressed, have a healthy breakfast, look at your to do list… Having a routine will ensure that you are productive during this time.
4. Meal Prep – Who knows how long supermarket shelves will be empty or when the next food delivery slot will be? Don’t eat all the food (much as it looks appealing). Gather your ingredients and be creative. Try new recipes. Cook once, eat twice.  I am meal prepping and rationing meals to help get us by. If you need some ideas check out previous meal plans here.
5. Spring Clean and Declutter – It’s that time of the year, right? Might as well get on with it! Clean and organise your space. Yes, thats means the garage too! You can easily spend a week in each roon of your house to declutter, clean and tidy.
6. Exercise – So many of us complain about the lack of time to workout so here’s your opportunity. Get those endorphines going! Make use of free youtube videos (check out Lucy Wydham-Read or Fitness Blender), go for a walk… do something. Let’s emerge from this quarantine, stronger! Did someone say, hot girl summer?
7. Connect – Why not use those extra hours to spend some quality time with your family? Play board games, tell stories, make home videos, teach the kids how to cook, snuggle with them… create memories. Use technology to connect with family and friends who are not closeby. It’s like Christmas has come round again.
8. Learn a new skill – You know all those things you wanted to learn and never had the time or money? Do them now! There are so many online courses available. Some platforms are offering free courses for a limited time only. Now’s your chance for personal development! Check out Coursera, Skillshare, Open University and more.
9. Be creative! I’ve been chatting with a friend this week about finding creative solutions to problems. Be observant – what have you noticed is lacking in this period? What changes need to be made in your industry? Who knows you could be the pioneer of something new and incredible! Also, paint, draw, create music…
10. Pray and have Bible study – Commit part of your day for spiritual development. Sunday service has not been cancelled! Join online services with your church on Sunday or mid-week connect groups. Get started on a devotional on an app. I particularly enjoy using the Bible App or Abide.
11. Help others in need – Find out what is needed in your immediate community. There are facebook groups that have been set up with this in mind. Your community may also have an association that is co-ordinating efforts. Find out what’s happening with your neighbours. We are in this together.
12. Selfcare – take care of your mental and physical health. Have a bath. Make a DIY face mask. Paint your nails. Eat healthy food. Listen to music. Dance. Read those books that are collecting dust on your shelf. Laugh! Do whatever you need to do to look after yourself.
13. Get on with it – Suffer from procrastination? Now is the time to get started on those things you have been delaying. Revisit the goals you set at the beginning of the year. Start working on your  business idea. Get those home updates and DIY projects going. I’m hoping my husband reads this and finally installs our new doorbell!  You may never get this time again.
14. Budget – With the economy taking a hit and many people losing income, now’s the time to think through and take action regarding your personal finances. My husband has written a helpful article on how to do that here. Also, read my previous posts on personal finances here.
15. Catch-up on posts you missed here and the Life Lately Podcast – You didn’t think I would forget, did you! Let’s keep you entertained. Click here to listen to the podcast!

This list is by no means exhaustive. There’s so much more that can be done in this period, so do comment and add to the list. I hope this time at home is fruitful and restful and that we all emerge with renewed sense of purpose and gratitude.