With the rise in urgency of the COVID-19 here in the US, it is highly recommended to practice social distancing — aka maintaining at least six feet from others. Yesterday, the CDC recommended against social gatherings of 50+ people throughout the next 8 weeks. It’s a bummer, for sure. Social distancing might not be your cup of tea, if you’re not a homebody. However, it’s incredibly important in order to slow the spread of the virus to vulnerable populations. I like the below graphic from Instagram over the weekend as well as these graphics from The Washington Post on flattening the curve.
While you are stuck at home for the foreseeable future, it’s understandable that you might be a little stir-crazy. Even for those of us who enjoy staying home, you might be worried about cabin fever. It makes sense. Think of it kind of like diet culture. Consider when you’ve started diets. Let’s say you start eliminating a bunch of food groups. You might find yourself with intense cravings for foods that you otherwise don’t typically desire. It’s kind of like social distancing. You normally might be fine staying in, but now that you are forced to it can feel unbearable. Which is why I have decided to compile a list of activities to keep you occupied.
Entertainment
- catch up on your favorite television series
- have a movie marathon
- binge a mindless show (hello, Vanderpump Rules!)
- watch lighthearted YouTube videos
- take a trip down memory lane by watching an old favorite on Disney+
- read a book
- listen to a podcast (hint: did you know I have one?)
- watch a crime documentary
- complete crossword and sudoku puzzles
Cleaning & Organizing
- organize your phone home screen
- clean up your computer files
- deep clean your house (I know you’ve been putting it off!)
- organize all of your cabinets
- make a pile of clothes to donate
- use the KonMari method to organize your dresser and closet
- tackle your taxes (sorry, not fun—but hey, maybe you’ve been putting them off)
- clean out pictures on your phone
- rearrange a room
- disinfect your electronics (ever think of how disgusting your phone and keyboards are?!)
- clean up your email inbox (finally)
- go through your finances and create an updated budget
- give your dog a bath
Movement
- practice yoga (you can get a free 10-day trial with YogaGirl or watch free videos on YouTube — I like Yoga with Adriene)
- complete an online workout (FitnessBlender has a ton of free stuff BUT beware that calories burned are included which may be triggering to some people; this blog post also has more ideas for movement)
- learn a TikTok dance
- go for a run or walk (as long as you are not close to others)
- take a bike ride
- dance around your home—no dancing skills required (I love dancing around to the 2020 Superbowl Halftime show)
Ease Anxiety
- meditate (Calm and Headspace apps are great)
- take a nap
- listen to music
- journal (check out my latest podcast episode on journaling)
- take a bath
- pray
- see your therapist and dietitian virtually (did you know I offer virtual nutrition coaching services?)
- watch a religious service online
Learn
- take an online course (check out my Intuitive Eating course or free open access university courses of a variety of topics)
- start learning a language (I love the Duolingo app for learning Spanish)
- watch YouTube videos on subjects you know little about (I love these ones where a dialect coach educates on accents)
- learn about Health at Every Size® and Intuitive Eating with Christy Harrison’s podcast
- take online lessons for an instrument
- watch a TED Talk
- learn more about where you stand on politics
Creative
- do a Youtube makeup tutorial
- plan your dream getaway
- paint your nails
- pick up creative writing
- make a dream board collage
- sketch
- make a photo book of your last vacation
- challenge yourself to make a dish with only the ingredients in your pantry
- cook from the dusty cookbooks lining your shelves
- paint a picture
- use an adult coloring book
- write a letter to a friend or family member
- complete a Pinterest craft
Entrepreneurs
- plan your social media for the next month
- complete an online course (remember that one you bought and never completed?!)
- nutrition entrepreneur? Sign up for the RD Symposium by 3/17/2020 and you’ll get $200 plus bonuses with my affiliate link
- go through old website posts and optimize SEO
- create pins and schedule to Tailwind to increase website traffic
- listen to the Goal Digger podcast with Jenna Kutcher
- update your resume or CV (you never know when you’ll need a fresh one!)
Together
While it’s recommended to keep your distance from others, you might be at home with your family or a roommate. Here are some things you can do together.
- play a board game
- put together a puzzle
- make an obstacle course
- have a picnic in your living room
- build a fort (bring out your inner child!)
- watch home videos
- call or FaceTime family or a friend (don’t have to be together for this!)
While I know being stuck at home in isolation is not ideal, try to shift your perspective. Think of this time as a staycation or an opportunity to cross off all those pesky tasks that never get crossed off your to-do list. Be kind to yourself and those around you — we’re going to make it through this!
