I’m sure you, me and the whole world can agree on one thing right now, being stuck inside SUCKS! Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a little bit, it’s not too bad. To be completely honest, his whole quarantine situation has taught me a lot.
- I’m way more introverted than I had originally thought. Maybe all these years I’ve mistaken being outgoing for being an extrovert when really that had nothing to do with it. I love being out and about and being around my friends and family but I definitely need my quiet time. This new-normal (as I’ll call it) has given me some serious time to focus on things that were taking a backseat to my busy schedule.
- I now know that cats do NOT sleep all day. Instead they torment each other and crawl up my curtains.
- Sticking to a schedule is not as easy as it looks. (I need structure, so this has been a challenge)
- Wine with DeWine is a thing, and most of Ohio tunes in with beverage in hand. (Me included)
But I digress, today’s post is NOT about things the quarantine has taught me, but instead I want to cover all of the things you can do at home that will spark a little creativity or maybe even a little joy…um, yes, that was a Marie Kondo reference thank you very much.
So, let’s get started shall we?
Things to clean or organize…
- clean out your medicine cabinet and throw away expired medicine
- wash your rugs
- mop the floors
- clean out your pantry and fridge and throw away expired foods
- wash your bed sheets and comforters
- vacuum your couch and underneath the cushions
- clean out your car – I have a mini shop vac i use for this and i’m obsessed
- clean your mirrors and windows in your house
- clean and organize your closet
- go through basement and garage storage and donate anything no longer needed
- organize paper files and shred unnecessary paperwork
- clean out the 12,432 photos in your camera roll
- organize the desktop on your computer and create new folders for items
- clean out and swap your purse
Things to keep you creative…
- watch at TED talk, or three! (here’s one I recommend)
- listen to a podcast – The Style Your Mind podcast and The Skinny Confidential Him & Her podcast are two of my faves – screen shot of Cara’s podcast below, she’s amazing.
- start journaling if you haven’t already. I suggest exploring Julia Cameron’s method of the Morning Pages
- read a book you’ve been eyeing but never seem to “have the time” to sit down and read
- create a vision board with cut outs outs from old magazines
- create a budget – I swear by EveryDollar
- download a photography editing app and learn how to edit the pictures you take on your phone – i love VSCO and A Color Story.
- create new artwork for your home with some paint and a canvas
- start an outdoor herb garden – if your space permits, obv.
- finally break out that adult coloring book and get to coloring – it’s therapeutic AF
- take an online tour of a museum or zoo – this one could be fun if you had kiddos too!
Things to keep you feeling healthy & happy …
- take a walk outside (but keep your 6 foot distance, okay!?) – don’t forget to grab a good pair of sneakers
- go for a hike as most state parks are still open – hey, you can practice your photo taking skills while you’re in nature
- donate items you no longer want/need – clear the clutter, it does wonders for the mental clarity and giving to those less-fortunate has never been more needed than now.
- practice yoga and do some stretching – especially necessary for my people working from home right now who find themselves sitting all.damn.day. (me!)
- do an online workout class – here are a ton of free live stream classes you can do right now
- open up the Headspace app and practice meditation – I love this app because it’s guided and for the rookies, like me, that helps
- get creative with new, healthy meals – this is a great chance to scroll Pinterest for some new recipes. By the way, follow me over there, I tend to Pin A LOT!
- do a face mask and focus on developing a new skincare regimen that works for you – read more about the skincare basics here.
Things to do because, well, it’s a quarantine and sometimes you just gotta chill….
- binge a good Netflix show or two (or three, no judgement)
- drink a martini (or should I say, a quarantini) randomly at 2 p.m. – it’s Wine with DeWine after all (Google it, it’s a thing)
- make a tiktok video – follow me at @marieruskin
- have a good a make out session with your partner – wink, wink
- paint your nails – because right now, you’re the only one who can do them – get hip to the press-on game. i’m obsessed.
- FaceTime with your loved ones who you can’t see IRL – insert sad, crying emoji
- have a virtual happy hour with your friends – best part, you don’t have to worry about getting an Uber because, well you’re already home
- share your favorite meme from social media with someone who needs a laugh – because this shit is tough for everyone right now and we all need a good laugh
I think that pretty much covers just about everything I can think of to do when stuck inside. Obviously we’re all having to get a little creative these days so i’d love to hear of some of the things you’ve been doing, even if it’s just catching up on sleep, or day drinking because homeschooling your kids is harder than you thought! We’re all in this together.
Stay safe and healthy my friends. – xo Marie
♥ learn more about how to keep your productivity at a max while working-from-home
♥♥ hungry? this french toast ought to do the trick
