We have just finished the second lockdown in my neck of the woods, and places are starting to open up again. However, since the COVID variants are still running strong and the vaccine is yet to be available, most of my time when I am not working is spent at home. Being at home is amazing, but it is easy to get comfortable and hibernate instead of being productive. After the first lockdown, I started getting bored of board games and taking interval naps and started thinking of better ways to keep busy and take control of my time while at home. This article will offer some tips on how you can keep busy while at home and stay motivated during the pandemic.
Step #1 Schedule your Time
The first step in keeping busy is taking control of your time by writing out the things you need and want to do with your day. Whether you are more comfortable writing a list of tasks each day in an agenda or inputting your daily tasks into a digital calendar, it is important to organize your day. The best advice I have been given is to add all the tasks you want to get done in a day and rank them in order of priority. Then, no matter how many tasks you have, make sure to add 30 minutes to a full hour of time that is dedicated just for you to relax, workout, or pick up a hobby. By making a daily schedule of things you need to do and being consistent with giving yourself some well-deserved personal time, you become more in control of the day and can feel a sense of accomplishment. It is easy to feel stuck and trapped when you have to be home, but it is easier to manage if you can plan your day to keep yourself busy.
Step #2 Balance your Indoor Time with Outdoor Time
Even though you are stuck at home, there is nothing stopping you from enjoying some time outdoors. If you have a backyard, use it! Lay out a blanket in the grass and have a picnic. If you do not have a backyard, visit your local trail area or even take a stroll around the block. Getting fresh air will help reset your mind and help prevent you from feeling stir-crazy indoors.
Step #3 Stay on Top of Clutter
Remember when you were a kid, and you got bored and told your parents so they would give you a chore to do to stay busy? Well, flash forward to the covid-19 pandemic, and similarly, one of the best ways to stay busy at home when you are bored is to clean! Staying on top of clutter will help you stay productive and keep your living space organized and tidy. If you read my previous article on Femonomic about how to turn your home into an oasis during the pandemic, you will learn some tips on how to declutter and reclaim the space in your home!
Step #4 Schedule Video Calls with Family and Friends
Since you can’t visit everyone you want to see, it is important to make a scheduled time for your family and friends to stay in touch. Since we live in a world of the glorious internet, it is easier than ever to interact with anyone you want over the globe. One great example of a way to interact with friends virtually is through WatchParty, where you can watch a movie in real-time with somebody else as if you were in a theatre together. There are also awesome online websites like Jackbox Games that offer interactive and funny mini-games for you to play with your family and friends. Even a simple video call will bring a smile on someone you love’s face; it’s really that easy!
Step #5 Plan a Post-Covid Trip
The best way to get over the fact you are stuck inside is to plan what you want to do as soon as you are allowed to travel freely again! Start saving for a future trip somewhere you have always wanted to go. Research and plan what you want to do when you’re there, and get excited about it! It doesn’t have to be an all-inclusive resort in Bali; even planning a road trip to see your family can give you something real and tangible to look forward to.
Overall, being stuck at home sucks, but you can do things to make it more manageable! Scheduling your time, getting outdoors, living a minimalist lifestyle, keeping in touch with friends, and planning for future events are just some of the many ways you can stay busy during the pandemic. Comment below some of the things you’ve been doing to keep busy during covid!
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