2020 has certainly been off to a bumpy start, amid the COVID- 19 pandemic and a potential economic downturn, it seems that everyone is uneasy about what the future holds. The unknown has sown the seeds of panic and fear; this is a time where we must band together, and not insist only on self-preservation.
As a society, we are co-dependent on each other for support and survival. The uncertainty of our circumstances should not impede our ability to extend care and concern for others, particularly for those in the frontline battling this dreadful situation every day. Imagine if medical professionals and others who help to contain this crisis only thought of themselves? It is during times of hardships that we can show what the power of humanity can achieve. We must do what is socially responsible for preventing the spread – stay home and keep our minds sharp and our bodies healthy so that we can win this.
Staying in does not have to be all that bad, take it as the quality time that you spend with yourself to prepare ahead.
Here are 15 things to do when you stay in;
1. Catch up on Reading
Instead of binge-watching Netflix, now is an excellent time to start on a book. Here are some books that we love!
- Beloved by Toni Morrison
- The Bluest Eyes by Toni Morrison
- Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
- The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
- Admissions by Henry Marsh
- The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbi
- Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
- Tell me your Secret by Dorothy Koomson
- Handle with Care by Jodi Piccoult
2. Start a Pet Project
Have you always wanted to write, paint, or become a YouTuber? Now is the time to experiment in the comfort of your home.
3. Stay Active @ Home
Although we can head out to exercise, there are times when it gets social distancing becomes a challenge; it is then best to stay away. Yet it is essential to keep healthy to boost our immunity. So why not exercise at home?
It is hard to jump around in front of your laptop alone, but with time, you reap the rewards. The benefit of doing a home workout is that you have the flexibility. You can choose when and what type of workout you want to do. If you are feeling lethargic, go for a HITT for an energy boost, if you are feeling anxious, do a barre, Pilates or yoga workout, the options are endless! Pick what suits your body’s needs. After the circuit breaker period is over, it may well become a habit.
Our personal favourite workout channel is POPSUGAR fitness; their clean aesthetics and variety make it very appealing. Grab a yoga mat, your laptop, and you are good to go!
4. Marie Kondo your Living Space
Never had the time to organise your house? Now you can! Set a goal and start with a space that you have been putting off for a long time. Once you tackle that, the rest of the house will be a breeze. Starting with the hardest will keep your focus because you must finish it!
The result will be worth your time! You will be surprised how a clean and organised living space frees your mind to achieve so much more.
5. Ace that Idea!
Have a burning idea or project that you want to start at work? Perhaps now is the time to give it serious thought. Research, plan and present the idea to your team or boss via email or video chat. During such tough times, companies will appreciate a team member going the extra mile to help sustain the business.
6. Update your Professional Socials
Now with more time on our hands, we scroll mindlessly through our socials without giving much thought about how they can be career boosters. Currently, this is particularly important to stay relevant if you run a business or are a freelancer. As professionals, your socials need to be a platform of positive expression and for people to know you and the work that you do. So, head onto your LinkedIn and Facebook accounts and spruce them up or better yet, start connected with like-minded individuals to expand your business and professional network.
7. Pick up Cooking
Nothing warms the heart and stomach better than a home-cooked meal. Experiment and explore various culinary delights and baked goodies! Whip up a meal using YouTube or online recipes as a guide; this can be a family affair, where everyone contributes to preparing the meal. Leave the online food deliveries as a weekend treat to add variety to your meal plans. Therapeutic and essential, cooking is a great life skill to learn, especially during times like this.
8. Start Journaling
The circuit breaker measures genuinely have made our hearts fonder due to the absence of our loved ones. Though technology has certainly eased our worries about not being able to communicate with our loved ones. It is harder to convey our feelings to family and friends via a video chat. Perhaps penning your feelings and thoughts in a journal might help.
Journaling is a cathartic way to manage the emotions we face. As tempting as it is to write your frustrations and worries, start with what you are grateful for. You will see that when you change the narrative on paper, you change how you feel inside.
9. Create a Vision Board
A little daunting that slightly more than three months have passed in 2020, but it is not too late to adjust and adapt during these trying times. Re-align your goals and expectations for the year. Think about how you have managed the current situation and factor that into your goals. If it has been negative, what can you do to change it and if it has been positive, what can you do to accelerate the optimism?
A vision board helps us keep positive and work towards a future that will be challenging but achievable.
10. Start Drawing & Colouring!
Remember how drawing was a favourite past-time when we were kids? Anytime we were bored, our parents would tell us to draw something. Our walls and fridges soon became ‘art galleries’. Maybe it is time to relive that passion again! With Youtube offering many learn-how-to-draw videos, it has never been easier. However, I love drawing free-hand pictures with my niece; we usually set a theme (the cutie pie decides what she wants to draw), and we work towards it. Her drawings are often way better than mine, and it is incredible to see how our mood changes almost immediately! Have a go!
11. Clean Your House
We wash our hands to keep the germs at bay. What about our living space? It is a good habit to have a basic cleaning routine every day. Start by wiping down the surfaces of daily work areas; the coffee table, kitchen top, and if you have time, do the shelves if you have any. Before you wind down for the evening, give the floors a good wipe down. It does not have to be a tedious vacuum and mop; you can use the something like the 3M Scotch- Brite Easy Sweeper for daily use and leave the thorough cleaning to the weekend.
12. Learn to DIY around the house!
Do you need to fix a faulty faucet? Are your door hinges loose? Do your tiles look filthy, now is probably the time to invest in a bit of DIY knowledge?
Let us know in the comments if you have ideas to add!
Stay safe, Stay Healthy, Stay Home
WriteHaus Asia