I hope you all are well and staying safe. I’ve been laying low myself and have come to a comfortable place with the whole stay-at-home situation. For a while I was going stir-crazy but that was before I realized the potential for self-work and growth that this time offers.
There are a ton of lists and videos floating around for things you can do during self-quarantine to help the time pass. I’ve seen them and you’ve probably seen them. However, I don’t want to ask you to go watch Netflix shows for the next few weeks just because you’re staying home. I love Netflix as much as the next person but I hope to enlighten you with some different ways you can make the most of your time in self-quarantine.
This is a list of some of my favorite things to do during self-quarantine to tend to my body, mind, and spirit.
Learn a new skill
Everyone on the interweb is telling you to take up knitting and painting but pick up a skill you like. I’m personally drawn toward creative projects but skills can also be more educational. You can find TONS of tutorials on YouTube for how to fix broken appliances, construction projects using extra plywood you have laying around, or how to use QuickBooks! Yes, you can learn skills to improve your financial organization (do your own taxes!), start an online business, even how to code or do data entry. There is a lot of FREE information available, which is what I’d encourage you to utilize first before buying anything; it just requires a little digging–but, hey, you have time, remember?
Dive into self-work
I know I’m not the only one who had a minor (or major) freak out when businesses started shutting down, news reports of people contracting the virus showered TV and online media sites, or when the government released mandates to stay home. It’s important to be informed but what helped me, and what has helped me for a while now, is turning my fears inside out. After a moment of panic, I try to regain my footing and ask myself why something is freaking me out. Why am I afraid?
One fear is usually attached to another fear. So, if you can take yourself down that rabbit hole, you can get to the bottom of things and create new belief systems. When you engage in self-work, you can use fears as an opportunity to see where you’re unintentionally keeping yourself small or where you’re repeating patterns not serving you. This is honestly a topic that needs more than one tiny paragraph to do it justice but, if your interest is piqued, I’ll direct you to some of my favorite resources to get your feet wet.
My very accessible 30 Days of Self Discovery Journal Prompts
The Holistic Psychologist YouTube
Movement
Oh, movement, how I adore you. In my earliest days of dabbling with self-care, movement was my way to feel good. Move your body and, naturally, you will flush out stagnant energy and find a new flow. Contrary to what anyone might tell you, there is no “better” or “worse” form of exercise. The best kind of exercise is the one you’re going to enjoy doing. If you don’t have any movement routine at the moment, or if your current one ever feels like a chore, then change it up. You don’t have to be married to ONE form of movement.
In fact, every form of exercise has its own health and mood-boosting powers. The reason for that is because when you get movement in, you take your mind off of stressors or anything else going on. You’re focusing on the activity you’re engaged in, balance, strategy, and potential (i.e. that’s why it’s important to rotate exercises or attempt more advanced movements when they no longer challenge you). So, I think you’ll follow when I say movement challenges your body and your mind. And that post-workout high you get? I’d say that’s your spirit being lifted.
Deepen your faith
Do you have a spiritual practice? Spirituality is our way as humans to explain the happenings of the world and give us purpose. It is once I developed my sense of spirituality that I was able to see myself as more than just a hamster on a wheel (going nowhere). If you’ve ever been told, “things just happen” or “that’s just the way it is”, you’ll know that is not at all comforting. An effective spiritual practice piques thought, proposes reasons for why we go through things in life, and offers possibilities for how to navigate them.
My sense of spirituality isn’t just tied to religion, churches, and prayer but if that resonates with you then keep at it. Deepen your practice, read the scriptures, and have discussions. Additionally, I think talking about our beliefs with a community that is open and receptive is one very important component to spirituality. I have found my like-minded community through podcasts I listen to and online groups on Facebook. Don’t ever feel like you’re an oddball in terms of beliefs–there is a community for everything, you just need to go out there and find it.
Seek out expanding media
This is still bouncing off the topic of spirituality but hear me out. I think a big influence on our belief system is the media we choose to consume. The shows you watch and the things you hear are reinforcing certain ideas. Are those ideas benefiting you? Many times, we don’t realize how ingrained our belief systems are until something comes forward to question it.
Start by finding a resource that speaks to you in an area that interests you. This can be a book, a blog, a podcast, a movie, or anything that piques your interest. Maybe you’re a singer and you’d like to start playing shows live; so, watch some documentaries on singers you admire. If you’re a woman who wants to travel alone but isn’t sure how, try reading the accounts of other women who have done the same. Consuming media in this way is a safe method to explore a subject you’re interested in without any commitments.
Cook something new
Ohhh yesss. If you’re typically an eat-out-at-restaurants kind of person then staying home presents an added challenge–but a fun one! For anyone completely new to cooking at home, my biggest tip is to try recreating a dish that you like ordering out. Cooking, like movement, is a lot more fun when you’re eating/doing something you like.
Those who know their way around a mixing bowl (my first kitchen experimentation was through baking before moving into cooking) but don’t often use a grill might want to try cooking something new. I know cooking can simply be a form of fuel for some and they’re pleased enough with a sandwich but, if we’re talking about learning new skills, it feels really empowering when you can make whatever it is you’re craving with confidence.
Some easy recipes on my blog:
Sweet Potato Cucumber Salad with Curried Tahini Dressing
Bond with your family / housemates
It might seem really obvious but staying at home provides a great time to bond with your family or housemates. You all are forced to see each other a little more than usual now and perhaps that has caused some head-butting. I know it has been a little tense in my house! However, talk it out and reconnect with them. Express your intentions and open up the channels for communication. That will make spending isolated time with each other much easier.
Tend to your yard and garden
Those of us who live in a traditional house can use this time to cultivate a visually attractive yard or patio. Trim any askew tree branches, dedicate a spot of land to create a compost, or re-purpose some fresh branches to grow another plant–a no-cost way to get more plants without buying more. If you have packets of seeds, then now is the perfect moment to plant flowers, veggies, or other plants to liven up your yard.
If you’re in an apartment, you can also liven up your space by sweeping the steps, clearing your patio of clutter, and creating a potted plant arrangement.
Relax & Release
Ironically, those of us who have a little more time on our hands might be the most stressed of all! It’s understandable to feel confused and even scared but holding onto such strong emotions can really weigh on you. Movement is one way to ease negative emotions out but also including practices that remind you that you are safe. I like taking a walk, drinking some warm tea while sitting outdoors, or singing aloud to my favorite songs. Let’s also give a special mention to baths because they are so helpful to warm up our muscles and release stored tension in our bodies.
I’ll link to a mustard bath soak that I like to use here: Easy DIY Mustard Bath Soak
Clean-out &clear-out
If you’re staying home, this is the perfect time to sort through any closets, under the bed, or any places of storage. Years and years will pass where we just keep holding onto clothes that don’t fit us, obsolete paperwork, or knick-knacks that a friend brought back from their Cancun vacation. I’m not saying you have to get rid of anything but, going through all the corners of your home might reveal some stuff you haven’t looked at in years. When you create space, you make room for new energy, new products, and new opportunities that better align with who you are today (not the you from 10 years ago that saved that stuff).
Let’s also take a moment to give special mention to clearing out social media, email, and online storage. I know you’ve probably got tons of accounts you don’t even know you’re following on social media. Weed them out and you’ll get a feed more customized to what you want. And, instead of paying for additional storage, make use of free services like Dropbox and Google Drive–just stop clouding them up with assignments from college and photos from high school. You know who you are.
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To be honest, many of the items on this list aren’t too different from things I enjoy doing on a regular basis. The only difference now for myself, and probably for many of you, is the amount of time you have on your hands. Some of these things might not directly seem like they impact your mind, body, and spirit but it’s little actions that add to your overall peace and sense of well-being.