The coronavirus threat is constantly evolving and completely unique to our history, and the government’s recommendation that citizens stay home is producing unavoidable nationwide anxiety. While the concept of staying home is simple, the practice is certainly not. In 2020, most of us are proud of our on-the-go status; we associate busyness with importance. Take a deep breath, because there are few excuses to be busy in quarantine.
Take this unforeseen opportunity to reset and refresh. Your TV and your Kindle will only take you so far, so it is imperative to mix in some creative projects to fill up your days. Here are some ideas that can help ward off boredom while you ward off the spread of COVID-19:
1. Have fun in the kitchen! Which recipes have you been thinking of but haven’t gotten around to testing?
You can get the whole family involved in the kitchen with a cookie decorating contest or personal pizza contest, giving awards to the most creative and/or tastiest-producing family member. Also, baked goods last for three months in the freezer in air-tight containers, so if you have baking needs on the horizon, now is the perfect time to get mixin’.
2. Write something creative! When was the last time you wrote something just for yourself? Even those of us who have to write a lot for work (hello!) can really benefit from loosening up and letting go of the rules.
You can and will surprise yourself with your own creativity, and there’s nothing like the “big magic” (as coined by Elizabeth Gilbert) that you can feel after you embrace artistic flow and produce something creative where nothing existed before.
If you’re prone to writer’s block, try browsing the pages of 642 Things to Write About. It’s a thick book filled with clever prompts like: “A plant is dying. Tell it why it should live” and “Retell your most embarrassing moment from grade school.” Some of the prompts could also turn into a family fun night, if every member writes and recites what they come up with.
3. Purge your closet. You know the golden rule: If it hasn’t been worn in 365 days, it goes! If you prefer Marie Kondo’s method: If it doesn’t bring you joy, it goes!
You can turn on some funky pop music and make this fun, so it doesn’t feel like a chore. Closet-cleanouts can easily turn into mother/daughter fashion shows.
Consider donating your “goodbyes” to your local shelter, Salvation Army, or Goodwill. Certain popular brands are also easy to sell online through reselling platforms.
4. Make a vision board.
Put those old magazines to use and cut out the fashion you love, colors you gravitate to, and lovely sayings you find. Use Mod Podge to seal it all on an 8” x 10” canvas board or cardboard. Keeping the dimensions small and regular ensures you can frame it when you’re finished, and your vision board might turn into a masterpiece for your home. These little custom artworks can really enhance a styled shelf or other small area. If you already have a wall with a vacancy, you can flip through with a specific color in mind (like the accent color of that room) and make your collage to fit the space.
5. Plant a garden (inside or outside)!
Gardening is an activity that’s meant to be a pleasure but can wind up feeling like a chore amidst our busy lives. In most of the country, it’s officially planting season, so it’s the perfect time to get your hands dirty. Small, potted plants at home can be a great way to add some cheer to your interior and entertain kids while school is out. It turns out that salad greens are fairly simple to grow at home in a short period of time. It makes me wonder why I've been paying premium for baby kale all these years!
Comment below with your favorite recipes, closet cleaning hacks, gardening tips, and anything else you can add to the conversation.