We are over a month in to being at home. An introvert by nature, I’m even getting a bit antsy with the lack of freedom to go anywhere. However, I don’t want to waste this time. Jesus willing, there will never be another time in my lifetime when everything is put on hold because of a virus. If that’s true, I want to be sure I use this time at home for as much good as I possibly can and hold tight to what I hold dear: my people.
Not only is it a good time to invest in the relationships in our home, but it could also be a good time to complete some tasks that double as stress relievers or sanity savers. If you’re at home and find yourself with a bit extra headspace and time and are craving some inspiration, these 10 tasks for quarantine could encourage you, motivate you, cut some stress, and maybe even bring you some joy.
10 Tasks for Quarantine
Spend time just being together.
This is something I’m working on. There might never be a time again when all six of us are home for this long, all together. I want to embrace this time, not let it go to waste.
The true way to live is to enjoy every moment as it passes, and surely it is in the everyday things around us that the beauty of life lies. -Laura Ingalls Wilder
More walks, more books, more laying on the floor playing with my littles. More lingering at dinner, more movie nights, more stopping to smell the flowers.
Personally, I am working on being still and present with the people I love the most.
Keep a journal.
I don’t mean write pages upon pages everyday while a candle is lit and a cup of coffee is in your hand, although that sounds nice. I mean jot a note down everyday about what the day was like, what is happening around you. I have been writing one line a day in my planner and I hope it will help me remember this time a year or ten years from now.
Plant something.
Now is a great time to plant something. Try herbs like basil, cilantro, or rosemary inside from seed and then move outside mid-May. Plant carrots in the ground now. Start microgreens inside and you will have something to put on your sandwich in a week. Enlist your kids to help and your work can be both science lesson and stress reliever. Living green things have been saving my sanity during this season at home.
Carve out quiet time.
If you have kids at home, there probably isn’t much quiet in your day. Although it’s hard to carve out, I whole heartedly believe quiet is nourishment for my soul. Find a time during the day when the kids are sleeping, when they are playing outside or in their bedrooms. Be still, breathe deep, pray, read an inspiriting quote or Bible verse or favorite book. There can be noise everywhere, but it doesn’t have to be noisy within us.
Clear a closet.
Or a drawer or a surface or a room. It’s the perfect time to clear some of the clutter while at home. Choose one place: a drawer, a closet, a surface, or a room to clear. Put it on your calendar or to-do list, set a timer for 30 minutes and make it happen. If there is still work to do after the 30 minute timer, keep going or come back to it tomorrow.
It always feels good to clear a space. Since we are home now more than ever, decluttering highly trafficked areas is even more important.
Research has shown physical clutter leads to stress and I think we can all agree we don’t need any more stress right now. Take 30 minutes to clear a space and get ready to feel lighter.
Read a book.
Did you know reading can lower stress? Reading has been shown to lower blood pressure, heart rate, and feelings of psychological distress. Choose a novel you have been wanting to read for awhile and set aside some time each day to dive in.
If you have kids at home, designate 10-20 minutes each day when everyone reads, you included. Check out The most important thing. Even toddlers can wander through a stack of books. What’s on your To Be Read list during quarantine?
Take a nap.
I’m writing this at 3:30 on a gray afternoon, so a nap sounds pretty tempting right now. Find time in the day to put your feet up and close your eyes. Meditate, pray, or act like a two year old and take a snooze. Naps can improve alertness, reduce stress, boost creativity, among other things. I am not a great napper, but closing my eyes for a few minutes recharges me and gives me the boost I need for the evening hours.
Set up a toy closet.
If you’re feeling like you’re constantly picking up toys or your kids are constantly saying ‘I’m bored’, a toy closet could be a tool to keep your kids engaged in play at home. Simply choose a space for your toy closet and place 50% of the toys inside. You can sort these by category in bins or simply place in tubs to store them. Every week or so, exchange some toys that are available with some toys in the toy closet. Your kids will have ‘new’ toys to play with and your family will have less toys to pick up.
Move your body.
Exercise is another way to lower stress. Moving our bodies increases endorphins, which are the body’s natural painkillers and mood elevators. If you feel like you’re in a funk, do some jumping jacks, squats, push ups, or get after it with some burpees. Or simply go on a walk around the neighborhood and enjoy some fresh air while moving your body.
My workout happens in the morning, before my babes are awake. If I miss it, I feel it all day long. Moving my body sets the tone for my day and makes me feel good about myself and the day in front of me.
Take an Internet Sabbath.
Technology is more important than ever. It’s the one way we are staying connected during this pandemic. But, if you’re like me, it’s been a bit noisy. The news, social media, trying to stay connected with friends and family. It sometimes has me overwhelmed.
If you’re feeling the same way, try an internet Sabbath. I’ve never done this, but am going to try it Sunday. My usual Sunday Sabbath is I stay off social media, but this week I am going to put my phone on airplane mode and go about the day. I will still use our laptop for Bible study and we will watch church as a family, but my phone will be unavailable, except for the occasional picture. Technology is such a gift during this time, but I think it can also be overwhelming and detrimental to our mental health. If you’re feeling the same way, an Internet Sabbath might be for you.
There is a good chance we will never again have this extended period of time at home. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to waste it. Are you completing any tasks during quarantine?