Many of us find ourselves suddenly stuck at home due to non-essential jobs, stay at home orders, and shelter in place orders. I’ve seen many things saying that we’ve been given the “gift of time” and to some extent, I agree. I’m not so sure that I agree with the term “gift” since it also comes with a lot of stress for many, but I do agree that many of us suddenly have more time at home than we did before.
As a result, we are faced with many new decisions – including how to use this “gift of time.” In our house, we’re trying to use the time wisely to accomplish a few things we’ve been putting off. I thought I’d compile a few ideas for others that are looking to accomplish something while they’re stuck at home.
Declutter and Organize
I try to go through our house once or a twice a year and do a good declutter. I find that things accumulate quickly, especially with kids underfoot. I’m using this time to go even deeper and really examine what we use and don’t use on a regular basis. This may be my biggest organizing spree ever. We’ve been making our sell, donate, and trash piles to keep the outgoing clutter organized.
Related: Three Ways to Downsize Your Stuff.
Spring Clean
The weather is improving and I’m opening the windows to air out the house. As a result, I’m finding all the little spots where dirt accumulated during the winter months. These are those little spots that you don’t think to clean as often because they aren’t always obvious. As I’m decluttering and organizing, I’m also doing a deeper clean than normal so that the house is nice and fresh for spring and summer.
Workout
One of the most common excuses people give for not working out is that they don’t have enough time. Therefore, it seemed like an obvious choice to include on this list. Personally, I’m enjoying our long family walks now that the weather is nicer and calling that my exercise. I do hope to incorporate a little more but for now, I’m keeping it simple.
Try Something New
This is the perfect time to try something new – especially something you’ve always wanted to try. I haven’t picked up any new hobbies since I’m focused on cleaning and enjoying time with my family, but I wanted to include this one because it may help someone else use this time wisely.
Get Crafty
How many times do you pin on Pinterest and then never go back to the pin? This is the perfect time to go through your old boards and see what you could do. It’s a great time to start a new craft or go back and finish one that you abandoned.
Work Outside
I’ve been working on making the inside of our house pretty while my husband has been working on the outside. He’s going through stuff outside and making things spring ready. He’s also tackling odd projects that have been on our list for a while but we never had time to accomplish.
Spend Time Together
This one is probably the most important to me right now. It’s rare that we have this much uninterrupted time as a family. We’ve struggled to adjust a little (Mama misses her alone time) but we’re also doing our best to remember that this time is limited. We’re doing daily walks as a family and spending time together in little ways here and there.
Try New Recipes
We love cooking and try new recipes often but I know that’s not the case for everyone. With the current shortage of typical foods and the extended hours at home, it’s the perfect time to get creative in the kitchen. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find a new favorite!
Start a New Habit
This is a great time to look at your habits and figure out if there are any you’d like to change. It can take a while to change a habit which is why I’ve included it on this list. You may have more time than normal to focus on changing the little habits that make a big difference.
Relax
This one is last on purpose. With stress levels high, it’s important to remember to relax and do something for yourself. Sleep in, take a bath, or simply sit in the quiet for a few minutes. Life is a mess for many of us right now but the beautiful thing about messes is that we can clean them up later.
I’m hoping that you’ve read this list and been inspired to use this time in a new way. However, I’m also very realistic and realize that some people are simply in survival mode. THAT’S OKAY. Don’t add any more stress to your plate. You do you and know that we’re all in this together.
