There will continue to be times when you’re cooped up, stuck at home, stressed and need to find a little joy in your everyday life.
We’re here to remind you that you have power in each moment to take care of yourself, others and the environment around you.
1. WORK SMART
Hey, some of us find work fun;) And, working from home can definitely be a FUN adjustment if you use a few quick tips and tricks.
Plus, when you are strategic with your work from home strategy, you’ll have more time to dedicate to other things!
Clock In & Out
Make sure that you have set work times so you can sit down and focus when you’ve scheduled your “work hours”.
This forces you to really make the most of the time you’re working. It also allows you to unplug when it is time to “clock out”.
Separate Work & Play
Create a “workspace” for yourself. If you have a home office already, great!
If you don’t, pick a place in your house (NOT THE KITCHEN!) where you can sit down and mimic your routine work environment as much as possible.
Keep Your Routine
Wake up around the same time you would for a “normal” workday. Hop in the shower, make your bed and PUT ON REAL PEOPLE CLOTHES. Sure, maybe you wear that comfy college sweatshirt and/or some leggings. Definitely take advantage of the comfy life. But, if you’re bumming around in dirty sweatpants all day your mood and productivity will also start to hang low.
Limit Distractions
Put your phone on silent (better yet, put it in a different room), keep the TV off and if you need a little background noise, put on some instrumental music.
The fewer distractions you have, the more work you’ll get done in a shorter period of time. Then, you can have MORE time for the other fun things on this list!
Take Breaks
Sitting down and knocking out chunks of work is huge. And, that is possible when you’re giving your mind a break and taking some time to do some other things that fill your cup.
You may feel like “you don’t have time” but here is the secret…
When you carve out time FOR YOU, you come back to your work with more fire, vigor, and motivation.
So, you get MORE done, MORE quickly and you have MORE fun doing it. Win, win, win, right?
2. MOVE YOUR BODY
Most people find that boredom + stress + being cooped up in the house all day = the perfect storm of circumstances to leave me feeling LESS than my best.
Enter: MOVEMENT.
Even if your gym is closed, you can still get in a great sweat at home. See if your local gym is providing any at-home resources for members.
If you can, getting outside for a long walk in the sun will also help to boost your mood and is a great way to give your brain a break between work stints!
3. CLEAR OUT YOUR CLOSET
Are you the Queen/King of “full closet and nothing to wear”? This should be on the TOP of the weekend to-do list.
Pull out EVERY piece of clothing and decide if it stays or if it goes.
This is going to go beyond just “do I wear this” and “does this fit me”. You really want to get rid of ALL of the clothes that you don’t feel good in. Clothes allow us to literally build ourselves up with confidence and there are definitely pieces in my closet that do the opposite. You know the pieces we’re talking about – the ones that you put on and regret wearing the second you’re out of the house.
Or, the ones you bought at the store because they were so cute on the hanger but they just don’t fit your body type or your style.
Be ALL about wearing things that make you FEEL good these days.
And, when you are stuck at home, we’re sure you will end up keeping the momentum going and getting rid of tons of other stuff in the hohttps://findnflip.com/use that you don’t use or need anymore. Remember FindnFlip & Paper Shop will help you sell that stuff and remember there are no fees when you sell those unwanted items.
When things are feeling uncertain and out of your control, making your environment clean, calm and uncluttered goes a VERY long way.
4. LEARN SOMETHING NEW
If you’re stuck at home, you’ve likely been given the gift of time.
More time with your family, more time with yourself and more time to get after a hobby or interest that has been on the back burner for you or find a brand new one!
Consider these “2 more hours in the day” hobbies… as in, this is totally what I would do with my extra time if the phrase was “26/7” not “24/7”.
Here are some things you could try:
- DIY house projects
- Drawing/calligraphy
- Learn a new card/board game
- Learn how to cook or enhance your cooking skills
- Learn about finances/budgeting
- Dance
- Start learning a new language
- Photography
- Read a great book
- Write letters
5. UTILIZE TECHNOLOGY
If you’re “forced” to stay inside or if you’re just stuck at home sick there are so many ways to stay connected to the people you love!
You could…
- Schedule a Zoom or Facetime call with friends
- Call your siblings or parents
- Send a quick message or email to someone you’ve been meaning to catch up with
Feeling disconnected is a sure way to find yourself feeling more down. Using the amazing technology right at your fingertips can help boost your mood.
6. AT-HOME SPA DAY
Although self-care doesn’t have to look fancy, it can if you want it to.
During times of stress, taking care of your body and letting it really relax will go a long way.
Take that bath you never had time for, put on a face mask, paint your nails, maybe even swap massages with a partner!
If you really want to do it right, you could even schedule these things into your day!
Relax and watch a movie, nap, light some candles, take time to read a trashy magazine or the novel that has been sitting on your bedside table for months.
Really go all-out to create a full, relaxing experience.
7. GET CREATIVE IN THE KITCHEN
This could mean one of two things:
- Pick a totally new recipe that you want to try! Then, collect ingredients and budget the time to actually follow it fully.
- Get creative with what you already have.
Utilize recipes from some of your favorite places or find a recipe on line that catches your eye (and your taste buds).
Then, if you’re working with limited ingredients, check online for cheat sheets to make swaps as necessary!
NOW WHAT?
Focus on what you can control. Grab a journal or open a note in your phone and write down the things you have DIRECT control over.
Then, when you find yourself worrying about things NOT on this list, bring your attention back to those controllables.
When you do this, you’re much more likely to find calm and peace in your day.
No matter why you’re stuck at home, there are still things you can do to keep your routine as solid as possible. From here, make sure you’re allowing yourself some time to take care of your mind and body!