There’s no doubt this is a challenging time and self-quarantining shouldn’t add to the stress. Whether you’re staying inside with your significant other, multiple family members, or you’re solo—here are 45 things you can do to make the most out of it.
Taking A Moment For Yourself
Keep a quarantine diary. Jotting down your thoughts can help relieve stress, and years from now it will make an excellent read. You can also use the time to reflect on your favorite childhood memories and write about those.
Set aside time for yourself. If you’re home with multiple family members, find an hour a day to escape. Go into another room, close the door and practice these stress-relieving tips.
Create a list of things you’re grateful for. Focusing on the simple pleasures (no matter how small), can help you get through this complex time.
Make something you’ll be able to wear, like a couple of tie-dye t-shirts or sweats.
Take this moment to learn more about yourself. Here’s what I discovered from taking the Myers-Briggs Personality test.
Get outside. If you have a private backyard, balcony, or patio, spend some time sprucing it up. If not, make it a routine to sit by an open window and breathe in the fresh air while you enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine.
Beauty and Self-Care Rituals
Learn about energy healing and invest in a crystal kit. Then sage the sh*t out of your home. #GoodVibesOnly
Step up your beauty regimen. Try a chemical peel, derma-roller, or LED light therapy.
For more self-care ideas… do an at-home manicure, apply self-tanner (my go-to is Tan-Luxe) or try a DIY hair mask.
Meditate. Whether it’s In the morning, the middle of the day or before bed meditation will help you to center yourself, which can help you deal with anxiety. The Headspace app is a favorite of mine.
Take a relaxing bath with soothing sounds. Add candles, warm towels, luxurious bubble bath, and body oil.
Keeping Yourself Entertained
Watch the TV trailers (and get excited) for the shows premiering this spring and summer, like Home Before Dark, Outer Banks, and The Undoing. PS: Here’s a list of shows you can stream right now.
Same with movies coming out in 2020: Irresistible, Beastie Boys Story, and Murder to Mercy: The Cyntoia Brown Story.
…plus all these albums will be dropping.
Create a quarantine playlist. Fill it with upbeat and happy songs that will lift your mood.
Learn a new skill. A few years ago I purchased DJ Pro but never got around to using it. The last few nights Billy has shown me how to use it and next he’s going to teach me how to DJ on his turntables.
Tune into a live music event. Here’s a comprehensive list of quarantine livestreams taking place.
Watch live theater from the comfort of your home. @24hourplays is live streaming performances of actors and actresses reading monologues by their favorite writers.
Turn off the news and read an intriguing book. I’m reading The Grim Sleeper: The Lost Women of South Central, and while it’s the opposite of uplifting, it still feels good to disconnect from what’s going on.
Cooking and Eating Well
Make gourmet popcorn to enjoy while watching a movie.
Try a meal delivery service. Two of my favorites are Thistle and Territory. Both offer freshly prepared and ready to eat meals delivered to your door. Then there are companies like Hello Fresh and Blue Apron that give you all the goods to create your own home-cooked dinner.
Taste candy from around the world. Receiving this subscription box couldn’t have come at a better time.
Order comfort food from your favorite neighborhood restaurant. Small businesses are struggling right now and any bit of business helps.
Make s’mores (I’m obsessed with Squish Marshmallow DIY kit). If you have a private backyard, set up a bonfire. If not, make them in your kitchen and enjoy while watching a movie.
Purchase a cookbook and prepare something delicious. You don’t even have to leave your home for groceries. Companies like Thrive Market and Postmates will deliver straight to your door. (Place your order in advance because there will be a wait time.) PS: here are a few of my favorite (and easy to master) recipes.
Health and Fitness Goals
Stay healthy with vitamins and supplements. My go-to brand is Hum Nutrition and right now I’m taking Big Chill (for coping with stress), Here Comes The Sun (for supporting my immune system), and Air Patrol (for healthy lungs).
Purchase new workout attire and exercise equipment. This can motivate you to want to take your workouts from the gym or studio to your home or apartment.
Find an at-home fitness routine to stream. Tons of gyms are providing free trial classes that you can join. Here are a few favorites: ClassPass Go, AKT, Physique57, and DanceBody.
Make a (no-sew) DIY face mask to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Here’s a simple tutorial.
Social Distancing While Still Connecting
Find solace in other’s voices by calling a friend or family member. We’re so used to texting and communicating on social media because it’s quick and convenient, but at a time like this, a phone call may be just the pick me up you need.
Start a virtual book club—here’s a how-to guide.
Hold weekly Zoom brunch, dinner, or cocktail parties with your friends and family.
Keeping Kids Entertained
Play vintage games. As a child, my favorites were Connect 4, Monopoly, and Scattergories.
Go camping. In your backyard or living room, set up a tent with sleeping bags and camping food. Add fairy lights for a finishing touch.
Have a karaoke party. Get the people you live with to sing their favorite songs.
Try something new like designing earrings, embroidery, or making cookies.
Getting Organized
Spring Clean. Declutter your place, room by room and drawer by drawer.
Tidy up your Instagram account. Archive the multiple selfies you took years ago, or the photos with bad filters. Then go to your followers and check “least interacted with.” Scroll through those accounts and determine who to keep following and who to unfollow.
Make a savings plan or modify your current one. Apps like Mint and Chime can help.
Sell your old stuff online. Upload what you no longer wear to sites like eBay and Poshmark and get ready to make some extra cash.
Free up space on your computer by transferring your photos to an external hard drive.
Brighter Days Ahead
Make a list of appointments that you need to schedule. Once you see that life is about to get back to normal, try to set them up because there will be a rush once the quarantine ends.
Update your resume. If you’re thinking about starting a new job once this ends, you won’t be alone. Get ahead by making sure your resume is up-to-date. While you’re at it, construct a few cover letter templates to send.
Design new business cards. They’ll take a few weeks to print so they’ll be ready once the stay at home order is lifted.
Plan your next vacation. It may seem like a strange time to do so, but there are amazing travel deals going on right now. Plus, looking forward to a future trip can put a positive spin on things.
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