I have been social distancing in the hope that we can “flatten the curve.” There is a lot you can do from home to stay safe, entertained, productive, compassionate, and active.
Read:
I’ve been spending a lot of time reading. You can download your library’s digital books and audiobooks with the Libby app. I use a Kindle and you can download books from Libby to your Kindle.
If you have a Kindle, you can download one Kindle Unlimited book a month for free even if you don’t pay the $9.99 a month subscription fee. The Kindle Unlimited page has other good deals like books for $1.99.
If you download the Kindle app and have Amazon Prime, you can download free (excluding the price of Amazon Prime) books and magazines even if you don’t have a physical Kindle. You can download them to your phone or iPad. Here’s more info on Prime Reading.
Watch TV and Movies:
I’m sure the hours spent on Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, and other streaming services are high right now! My favorite shows when I was a teenager are all online now: Dawson’s Creek, The O.C., Gossip Girl, and One Tree Hill. I used to buy all the DVD sets and now there is no need.
Cook and Bake:
I have been cooking all of my meals instead of going out to eat. This is a good time to try new recipes or create your own.
Do At-Home Workouts:
My favorite at-home workout is the Bikini Body Guide. I was taking a bit of a break to train for a half-marathon, but now I’m back on Round 3. I wrote a Bikini Body Guide review for Business Insider if you want to learn more about it. I also want to try Tone it Up and Obe Fitness.
The fitness bloggers Sweats and the City put together a good roundup of other streaming workouts to try!
Clean and Organize:
I did the full Marie Kondo method a few years ago and I might do it again. I wrote about it here. So far, I’ve cleaned out all my purses, organized my closet, and cleaned out our fridge and pantries — and found food that we’ve had since Obama was president!
Find a Creative Outlet:
My creative outlet has always been writing my blog, but you can find any creative outlet. Try knitting, needle pointing, painting, drawing, or something else.
Learn Something New:
Brit + Co is offering free online classes until the end of the month. They have a wide variety of options from cake decorating and calligraphy to preparing for your job search and investing in the stock market. (Go to brit.co/learn and use the code SELFCARE at checkout.) You could also learn a language for free with Duolingo and take free college and university classes on Coursera.
Accomplish Something BIG:
Tackle a project you’ve always wanted like writing a book proposal or a novel. I wrote my book in two months while working full-time, so I know that it is possible to accomplish something BIG in your free time.
Call and Face-Time Friends and Family:
Call your family and friends and see if they need anything. Check-in with people and tell them you love them — be social, while socially distancing. Calling or FaceTiming people will also be a huge help if you are feeling lonely. It is even harder than usual now to be single and live alone when you are social distancing, so definitely reach out to single friends and see how they are doing.
It’s especially important to see how you can help people who are at-risk like your parents or grandparents and older neighbors. They may not feel comfortable grocery shopping or running other errands so — if you are healthy — help.
If you have friends and family who are medical care providers, see how they are doing.
Have a Spa Day:
Take a hot shower, put on a face mask, do your nails, make some tea, light a candle, and read a book. One of my favorite parts of going to a spa is relaxing in the relaxation room and you can get cozy and do that at home.
Play Games:
If you live with your family, a significant other, or friends, play cards or board games.
Meditate:
Meditating is helpful for reducing anxiety which is something many people are feeling now. I have the Calm app, but I’ve always wanted to try Headspace and may try that one too. (Calm is offering free meditations, stretches, music, and more right now!)
Journal:
If you journal regularly, write in your journal. If not, keep a gratitude journal or a gratitude list. Write down five things you are grateful for each day to help you stay as positive as possible.
Take Breaks From the News and Social Media:
I’m a journalist so you know I love the news, but it can be hard to concentrate on work and other things if you watch the news or read the news throughout the day. Try to limit it to only checking a few times a day.
I’ve been trying to get out of the bad habit of checking social media in the morning when I’m in bed or at night when I’m procrastinating going to bed. Take a few minutes and meditate, think about what you are grateful for, or check-in with friends and family. If you need to take a social media break, do it.
Support Small Businesses:
Small businesses, including restaurants, are really struggling right now. If you can afford to, support them by buying gift cards to use later so they get the revenue now. If you are healthy and can go grocery shopping, consider shopping at an independent grocery store.
Make Donations:
When I went grocery shopping and stocked our fridge with frozen foods, I realized how fortunate I am to be able to afford to do that. If you can afford to, I recommend donating to Feeding America or using their tool to find your local food bank. If you are in NYC, you can donate to Citymeals on Wheels to provide healthy meals to senior citizens who can’t leave to go grocery shopping. There are lots of ways you can donate money towards food, medical supplies, and other causes.
