I know that many of you are staying in and/or working from home this week in an effort to practice social distancing and so I wanted to expand on yesterday’s Instagram post with lots more ideas on how to keep yourself busy without leaving the house. Staying home right now is both a privilege and a responsibility and I trust that you’re all doing your part! I know after nearly nine years of self-employment that being home all day can make you a little stir crazy, so I hope some of these ideas help you make the most of this time. And to the medical professionals and teachers and others who are unable to be at home this week, thank you for the work you do to make this world a safer place for the rest of us. I would love to know what you’d add to this list in the comments! Sending you all so much love as we navigate these uncertain times. ?
GET ORGANIZED
1. Sort through your closet and put together a box of items you can donate.
2. Pack up your winter coats and pull out your spring items.
3. Hang that piece of art that’s been propped against your wall for months.
4. Do a software update on your phone and computer.
5. Organize and back up your digital photos.
6. Get yourself organized for tax season — your future self will thank you.
7. Order a photo album on Chatbooks. Bonus points if you send one to a parent or grandparent!
8. Make your old sofa look new with this quick and easy project.
9. Write any thank you notes you’ve been meaning to get to.
10. Order gifts for upcoming weddings, bridal showers, baby showers, etc.
11. Delete apps and photos off your phone.
12. Use unroll.me to unsubscribe from unwanted email newsletters.
CLEAN
13. Catch up on laundry.
14. Change your sheets.
15. Clear off your desktop.
16. Do a deep clean of your bathroom.
17. Wash your makeup brushes.
18. Clean out your fridge.
19. Vacuum everything. I’m obsessed with this handheld one for doing our stairs!
20. Make your bed every day this week.
21. Go to town on your sweater collection with this fabric shaver.
22. Wipe down and vacuum your car.
23. Clean out your handbag.
SUPPORT OTHERS
24. Drop off supplies for elderly neighbors — frozen meals, pasta and sauce, toilet paper.
25. Order a gift card to your favorite restaurant to use at a later date.
26. Do the same for your hair salon or nail salon.
27. Leave a big tip if you order delivery.
28. Ask the checkout person at the grocery store or pharmacy how he or she is holding up.
29. FaceTime friends and family members to let them know you’re thinking of them.
30. Reach out to anyone you know in the medical profession and thank them for the work they’re doing.
31. Touch base with a girlfriend who’s pregnant or has a newborn.
32. Order from a small business. A few of my favorites here and here!
33. Leave out snacks and a nice note for your delivery people.
SELF-CARE
34. Do an at-home workout. Obé Fitness is a great way to fit in 10-30 minutes.
35. Take a nap. Ample sleep is such an important way to keep your immunity up!
36. Do a face mask. Two of my favorites here and here!
37. Go for a walk outside (but keep a healthy distance from others). A little fresh air (whether in a park or your own backyard) can work magic!
38. Go for a bike ride.
39. Challenge yourself to drink eight glasses of water every day this week.
40. Take a bath.
41. Try these rescue shots to deep condition your hair.
42. Stretch! I have a goal to be able to do all three splits again and it’s amazing how a few minutes a day make a big difference.
43. Give meditation a go with an app like Headspace or Simple Habit.
JUST FOR FUN
44. Pick up that book you’ve been meaning to read.
45. Download a new listen on Audible — this book is particularly fantastic in audio form.
46. Revisit a favorite series (hello, Harry Potter!).
47. Start a 101 in 1001 list! So many ideas to get you started here, here, and here.
48. Or add to your bucket list!
49. Download the Been app on your phone and tick off all the states and countries you’ve visited.
50. Microwave popcorn and have a movie night.
51. Try a new cocktail recipe. One of my favorites here!
52. Pick up a needlepoint project or order a new one online. A few of my favorite resources at the end of this post!
53. Find a new blog to get lost in. A few of my recent favorites here, here, here, and here!
54. Spend some time on Pinterest.
55. Watch the Taylor Swift documentary and then blast all your old favorite songs.
56. Peruse your explore page and find some new faces for your Instagram feed. A few of my recent follows here, here, here, and here!
57. Break out a board game.
58. Watch Cheer if you haven’t already. We need Jerry’s mat talk more than ever!
59. If you’re single, get swiping! Give yourself something to look forward to in a few weeks.
60. Go through a cookbook and bookmark all the recipes you want to try.
61. Print out and complete a crossword puzzle.
62. Peruse my newly updated shop page for a little retail therapy.
63. Get into The Goop Lab on Netflix. I was skeptical and enjoyed it way more than I thought I would.
64. Start a new podcast. I’ve enjoyed Bad on Paper, Be There in Five, How I Built This, Second Life, and The Skinny Confidential.
65. Listen to my sister Reilly’s story on NPR’s The Moth podcast! Her episode linked here.
66. Check out Brené Brown’s Netflix special and share it with someone who could use a little encouragement.
67. Brainstorm a future decorating project.
68. Play a game of cards. Steal Rummy is a fun way to kill a couple hours.
69. Pull out a puzzle and work on it little by little throughout the day.
70. Turn on a Netflix comedy special. Any recommendations?!
