Happy Tuesday! Things around the world have certainly escalated quite quickly. In an effort to keep things going strongly positive around here, I’m going to be providing the usual content you’re used to. I want this blog to be a place of refuge for you. A place where you can come for inspiration and something fun. I get enough news from reputable news outlets, and then I need a break. Information overload can be a bit emotionally draining for me. So if you need a break, too, then I hope you’ll find it here.
That being said, I’m not pretending like everything is like it was nor am I hiding my head in the sand. The Coronavirus has us all practicing social distancing. And I think this is a reasonable and prudent thing to do. It seems to be the only way to curtail the spread of disease, and I know I would never want to risk an immunocompromised or senior citizen. I believe in practicing exceptional hygiene and doing our part to “flatten the curve.” Obviously I am not a medical professional, and am not telling you what you should be doing. But I wanted to update you all on how we are taking precautions, things that are making me feel better, and share some fun things to do while you’re social distancing at home.
Since I work from home, I pretty much “self-isolate” as it is. Only now, I’m not going to events or restaurants or even out for a coffee. Paul hasn’t been ordered to work from home, at least not as of the time of this post, so he’s going into the office and taking care to distance himself, wash hands, etc. But he may have to work from home at some point, and I’ve offered him my office for as long as he needs.
The dogs certainly enjoy having me around a lot more, and they don’t seem too affected by anything. They have a yard for exercise and we can still take them for a walk in the neighborhood. I did make sure to stock up on dog food and any medications they need.
I’ve been slowly stocking up on things that we can get by with for a couple of weeks. I am not “panic buying” or hoarding, but rather buying what two people need to survive on. I started by making an inventory of what we already had and I keep a running tally of what our freezer and dried goods looks like. We are fully prepared in the event we would have to self-quarantine – wine included.
Something that Paul and I have always been good at is treating everything we do together at home like it’s something special. A random taco Tuesday doesn’t have to be blah. I like to make the effort of setting a really nice table (I love incorporating a theme into it based on what we’re eating), Paul always chooses a great playlist, and I light some candles for ambience. Don’t ever say to yourself, this is cheesy. Life’s too short not to enjoy things like this together.
Over the weekend we kept busy by reading books, watching movies, and bingeing on shows. Cooking together also helps pass the time and Paul finds it to be his escape. Basically we just kept to ourselves and remained informed but not panicked by any means. I spent a lot of time cuddling my sweet pups. I certainly can’t complain about having more opportunities for that! Oh and of course there was wine consumption. But I don’t need a pandemic for that. 😉
If you need some inspiration,
here are 14 things to do at home in the age of social distancing.
- Practice a little self-care. We hear this term so much, but it’s important to take care of ourselves so that we can be present and rested for our loved ones. Grab that face mask you’ve been putting off and let yourself relax. This hydrogel melting mask from Lancome is a favorite of mine, as is this rose clay mask from Origins. Both feel so luxurious.
- Connect with your significant other, kids, and other family at home. It’s a great time to be taking stock of what we have to be thankful for. Have conversations. Put the phones down. Turn off the tv and play 20 Questions. Party like it’s 1985. You know, before we all had the Internet.
- Organize something! Now is a great time to organize that closet, pantry, or junk drawer you’ve been putting off. Check out my closet tour and organization post to get started.
- While you’re at it, deep clean your home. Start with one area at a time and really get all those dust bunnies. I know that I always feel better when my home is cleaned and organized. In addition to regular cleaning, I’ve also been wiping down well-used areas like door knobs, faucets, light switches, and of course all of our devices with antibacterial cleansers.
- Cook or bake something fun. Remember when it was really fun to bake cookies as a kid? It was a creative process that not only passed the time but had a really sweet reward in the end. Something I’ve loved is our mini waffle maker (it’s under $10). It is so fun to get creative with different types of waffles, mixing in fruit or using cinnamon roll dough. Yes, cinnamon roll dough. You haven’t lived until you’ve tried this.
- Learn a new skill. Try learning a new language (I love the Duo Lingo app) or learning to knit. With this Knit Your Own Zoo book, you can knit yourself some friends to keep you company! There are tons of crafting projects you could pursue, like leatherwork, soap crafting, or jewelry making.
- Get some exercise! I am blessed with the ability to work out at home on my Peloton. If you think now’s a good time to get yourself a bike, check out my posts here and here (there’s a $100 off code in the posts, too). But if you lack the equipment, there are plenty of ways to get some steps in. Take a walk in your neighborhood. I think as long as I’m not visiting with anyone while doing that, it’s safe. Don’t forget to take your dogs with you, if you have them. Also, if you’re a member of Amazon Prime, there are free workout videos you can access on demand. YouTube also has fitness programs to tune into.
- Do a puzzle! Not only do these things help keep your brain sharp and improve your mood, they can be really relaxing. I like doing puzzles of places I’ve been to, like this puzzle of the Cinque Terre in Italy or this one of Copenhagen. Both are made by Buffalo Games, which I like for their vibrant colors. Plus they’re pretty challenging.
- Read, read, read. That stack of magazines that’s been sitting on your coffee table? Now’s a great time to go through them. Or read that book you said you’ve always wanted to read. I have a few reading lists if you need suggestions. Just go to this page and scroll.
- Take your meals to the backyard or patio for an at-home picnic. I recently purchased some colorful melamine outdoor plates and bowls, and they have made dining al fresco just a bit more festive. This mediterranean set is perfect!
- Binge your favorite shows and movies! We’ve been enjoying some throwbacks from the 80’s but also just watched the newest Halloween movie over the weekend because it happened to be on and we got sucked in. I love scary movies. We’re also watching Peaky Blinders and Jack Ryan. What are you bingeing right now? Leave me a comment!
- Take up coloring. Along the lines of what puzzles can do for your emotional health, coloring books are a great way to pass time and relieve stress and anxiety. I like this one because of its spiral binding, although this irreverent coloring book seems really appropriate right now. LOL
- Start a gratitude journal. Seems like a good time to be reflecting on what we have to be grateful for, and giving ourselves some perspective on our situation. I think any kind of journal works for this. Amazon has a ton of different gratitude journals for all kinds of personal reflection.
- Listen to music. When was the last time you sat down and listened to an entire album? Music is great for setting the mood or getting us out of a funk.
What are some things you’re doing at home during this time of social distancing? Leave a comment and let’s get a list together!
xo – Erin
When you shop through my links, I earn a small commission at no cost to you. This helps me to continue to bring you the fun content you love. I really appreciate your support!
Life Update + 14 Things To Do at Home in the Age of Social Distancing appeared first on CathedralsandCafes.com. If you see this content published anywhere else, please email cathedralsandcafes@gmail.com.
You might also like:
