This past weekend I could not tear myself away from the news and social media (I am sure I was not alone!). By Monday though, I knew I needed to distract myself from all of that for my own mental sanity! So I started to think about all the things I want to accomplish in my house and all the things I can do to keep myself (and family) entertained.
When things return back to normal for us (hopefully sooner rather than later), I want to look back on this time and appreciate the things I was able to do and the time I was able to have with my family. With two teenagers in the house, I know I never again will I have them home like I do now! Now I realize we are just in the beginning stages of social distancing and there will be more challenges ahead but for now, here are some things to do at home to keep your days filled!
Stick to a Routine
For starters, stick to a routine. After I wake-up and have my coffee, I check the news and social media. I am working on limiting to checking on both first thing in the morning and then early in the evening. From there, I make our beds, make breakfast, start a load of laundry and put my workout clothes on! After that, I focus on what I want to accomplish and take on for the day (more on that below!). By the time evening rolls around, I like to gather the family back together by making dinner, hanging out by the fire listening to music or playing a game or watching a movie!
Get Out in the Fresh Air
Our two french bulldogs get us outside! My husband and I have always walked them in the morning and in the evening and now we are just extending our walks a little longer. I also have gone on a daily run which does wonders for my mental and physical health!
Workout
In addition to a daily run, I also plan to do at home workouts once my work-out studio uploads them to YouTube this week! I just ordered these bands for them! Below are some apps heavily recommended for at home workouts as well:
Items to Help with at Home Workouts
Clean
Organize Your Wardrobe. There is no time like the present to clean out and organize your closets (I just finished up the kids!). I wrote a post last year with tips on how to do this!
Clean Out Your Make-Up Drawers. Get rid of old make-up and products and sanitize your make-up brushes
Marie-Kondo Your Kitchen! Take everything out of your cabinets and drawers, wipe them down and then only put back the items you use! I am planning a post on “Tips for a Minimalist Kitchen” so stand-by!
Detail Your Car. The sun was out on Tuesday so Rob washed all the cars and I vacuumed and cleaned them on the inside! We also found two bottles of hand sanitizer underneath the seats! LOL!
Cook
What a great time to try out a new recipe or experiment with baking! You can find all of my weekly meal plans linked here. I plan on cooking five times a week and supporting local restaurants offering carry-out and curbside pick-up two nights a week. Looking to for some new cookbook inspiration? Here are some of my favorite go-tos’s:
Read*
How many times do we say to ourselves that we just don’t have time to read anymore? Well, now is great time to start tackling some of those books you have been wanting to read. Here are the books currently buzzing!
- American Dirt
- Atomic Habits
- Dear Edward
- Educated
- Midnight in Chernobyl
- My Year of Meats
- Talking to Strangers
- The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek
- The Giver of Stars
- The Great Alone
- The Only Woman in the Room
- The Silent Patient
*I have provided links to Amazon for these books. However, check to see if your local bookstore is taking orders and offering curb-side pick-up and free delivery. My local bookstore, Lake Forest Bookstore, is doing just that!
Start Listening to a Podcast
Its a free App already downloaded to your iPhone! And every podcast I have ever subscribed to is free as well! Listen to one when cooking, cleaning, walking or relaxing. Here are some of my favorites (clearly I have a favorite genre! LOL!):
Educational:
Comedy:
Office Ladies (based off of the TV show The Office)
For Fun:
True Crime:
Death in Ice Valley (historical true crime mystery)
The First Degree (I love these hosting trio’s chemistry!)
Up and Vanished (a cold case that ended up unfolding in real time!)
Binge on a Series
Truth be told, binging on a series is my favorite past time but I try to reserve it for the evening (as a reward for a busy day)!. Here are some newer series I recommend!
Docuseries-The Pharmacist: Netflix
A French Village: HULU
Fleabag: Amazon Prime (not necessarily my favorite but Phoebe Walter Bridge is so talented!
Little Fireflies Everywhere-HULU (JUST DROPPED!)
Lost Girls: Netflix (true story)
Jack Ryan: Amazon Prime
Midnight Diner-Tokyo Stories: Netflix
Ozark Season 3: Netflix-(Drops March 27)
The Outsider: HBO
Save Me: STARZ & HULU
The Stranger: Netflix
Succession: HBO
Unbelievable: Netflix
Skill Up
Learn something new, get going on a project you have been putting off, start a hobby! There are thousands of free YouTube videos and countless books covering anything you want to acquire! I posted on my Instagram stories that I wanted to start a new hobby during these long days at home. It is a goal of mine to have a green thumb and eventually have a green house! So I ordered this book to get me started!
Do Something at the Grassroots Level
The bright light on social media right now is witnessing my local community take action to help those around us. My friend and fellow blogger, Ann Marie On The Shore, has a wonderful page set up here for all local restaurants still taking phone orders and offering curb side pick-up.
We also have a nursing home in need! We just learned that in addition to no outside visitors, the residents are no longer able to dine together. My heart is breaking over this! The nursing home is asking for pen-pals. The coordinator will match you with someone. Please reach out to me for more details if this is something you are interested in helping with. I encourage you to check in with the local senior centers in your own town and see how you can help!
Finally check in with local food banks. The need here will only be getting greater! I know I still have the luxury to go to a grocery store and stock up. Many others do not. Help here if you can!
Self-Care
Take time to treat yourself. Put on a hair and/or face mask, give yourself a manicure, light your favorite candle, draw a bath and put on some music.
Self-Care Products I love
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Thanks for stopping by!
L, M