How I’m making the most of this time right now
What a crazy time we are living in. People are coping in so many different ways. A lot of us have A LOT of time on our hands. This is how I have been making it through and filling my time.
1. Embracing the homebody part of my personality.
I do love being at home. I love working at home and I love not having to go outside. Like the pressure is off. I know that there are people who do not do well at home and I do feel for them but, if I’m honest, I’m doing ok. Most of the time. We all have our dips in mental health, particularly with the pressure of a global pandemic and ongoing self-isolation and social distancing, but I am pretty good at picking myself up. I have been at home for years. I’ll be good. I’ll share my tips soon.
2. Learning Italian
I know that this is a bit of a cliche at the moment, but I joined Duolingo on a whim 43 days ago and the streak is strong! I’ve been doing it daily since. I will definitely write more about it, because I’m impressed by the concept. But I’m a language graduate, so at the moment I’m trying to work out if I’m doing so well because of the programme or because I speak Spanish. I’ll report back.
3. Playing Scrabble Go
I was playing a lot of this when we first went into lockdown. I have eased off a little, but I love a good game of Scrabble. It’s a nice little way to escape the world without being on Instagram. Which, quite frankly, is always a good thing.
4. Reintroducing Reading
I am such an all or nothing kind of reader. I lost track in the lead up to Christmas and didn’t really get back into it afterwards. Now I am either reading 3 books at once or none at all. Right now, I have an audiobook on the go, a Kindle novel and an actual paperback on my bedside table. Add into that my Daily Stoic* and we’re talking at least FOUR on the go. I will share my recent reads soon, but check out my last post here.
5. Catching up on TV Series
Can you live on reruns of Queer Eye? Well, yes. Obviously. But I have also upped the stakes with a few series on Netflix, including Ozark. And I recently renewed by Hayu account. Time to get on top of the Housewives.. so to speak. I’ve started with Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
6. Working out
I have to say, I am smashing the home workouts. And I’ve found that the best thing for me is to just follow a programme, so that I don’t have to think about what to do. I am someone who will always buy from the bloggers that I follow. I like to support, even if I don’t immediately jump onboard and read the books or follow the workout regimes. In fact, I have started with Sweat It To Shred It by Sarah’s Day. It’s an 8 week lifestyle challenge and I’m on week 6 this week. I struggled at first with the HIIT workouts, because I’ve been doing a lot of yoga and Peloton but not much strength work, so it’s been good to add it in. I will also do a current workout routine post soon, because I’m doing other things too and loving it.
7. Starting to write again
I’m here writing! Losing a commute time and a getting ready time has really helped me to find more time to fit things in. AND, I think we all have more time to think, which has left me feeling not only a lot more creative, but also with a lot more thoughtful. And it’s spilling out. I can’t stop now. Sorry folks. It started with daily Instagram micro blogs and now its’s growing.
8. Decided to challenge myself to improve my health
I’ve let things slip over the past couple of years. I’ve stepped things up. I know how I want to feel on my 33rd bday in June. I just know myself at this point. My birthday always feels like a New Year and I want it to be different this year. I have decided to take control now. Part of it is workouts. The rest. I’ll share soon (this blog is just a list of coming soon blogs, I know).
9. Giving myself time and permission to do nothing.
These are unprecedented times. Every government and marketing person has told you this. Hell, I wrote it in a NUMBER of social posts. It’s ok to chill right now. We don’t have to be productive all the time. Sometimes, we just need to survive. Turn off the news and have a lie down. It’s ok.
What are you doing to fill your time during this unique period in time? And more importantly? How are you coping?
*N.B. affiliate link
