Are you currently wondering how you will survive the next—I don’t know—weeks or even months of social distancing?
If so, you’re not alone.
Over here, we joked that we are living like farmers—getting up when the sun comes up and going to bed as soon as it goes down.
These days are L-O-N-G.
Questions you might be asking are:
How can I make the most of my time without wasting time?
Is it possible to make real memories when my calendar looks like a tic-tac-toe board?
How do I keep everyday feeling fresh and new when inside I feel like I’m a cast member in the movie Groundhog Day?
It can be done!
In an instant, the world turned topsy-turvy. All our plans for the future were either deferred indefinitely or canceled entirely.
But humans thrive in periods of change. The way we adapt to what is happening around us proves we have what it takes to make the most of this unprecedented time in history.
Like me, you’ve been shuttered inside your house for the last two weeks. Lost your balance? Still feeling a little shaky? After a brief period of shock, hopefully you, too, have found your footing.
it’s true: the days are long.
But they don’t have to be boring.
The antidote for boredom is curiosity.
These small and simple daily steps will help you make sense of the world and help you find meaning and purpose in the monotony of the everyday.
Today I’m going to challenge a popular philosophy. It’s the one that says,
“You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read.”
You are a different person than you were even a month ago. The world changed, and so did you.
Let’s make a pact right now that we’re not going to feel sorry for ourselves,
I’ve got you covered with a whole bunch of fun things to do, make, learn, and read:
Do:
Take a hike. I recently took my daughters to this one in Pine Mountain. It’s only thirty minutes from my house, but even when we can’t get away, I enjoy walking my own neighborhood. It’s hilly enough, and I love to watch families playing in their yards.
At the summit of Pine Mountain. We’re breathing that fresh mountain air!
Re-watch the movies that shaped your life: My top five (Fried Green Tomatoes, Some Like it Hot, The Princess Bride, Coal Miner’s Daughter, and Juno)
Print a photo book. I’ve been meaning to do this for…well…forever. Photos—and the memories contained in them—function like an anchor for our lives. We document the things we want to remember. Instead of scrolling through social media this week, scroll through your camera roll. Begin categorizing your favorites. My daughter has been participating in an adventure club with six other girls since they were all in the fourth grade. We won’t be able to meet again before school lets out for the summer. The book we’re making will be a happy reminder of all the fun times they spent together.
Some photographers in our neighborhood are even doing front porch photos in exchange for donations to local crisis intervention services. What an incredible way to honor and remember this unusual time in our history. Even if you don’t know a photographer, a neighbor standing a safe distance away can photograph your family waving from your porch.
Enjoy something you love and send it to someone you think will love it. (Last week, I sent my dad a few pints of my favorite Jeni’s ice cream. Order online here.)
Write a letter. I love these from Punk Post. You compose the message, and an artist will hand-letter your card, add artwork, and even do the mailing!
Wear RED lipstick. I found this article that reviews them all—The #2 pick is less that $5, so even if you don’t like it, you won’t feel like you wasted a bunch of money. And it’s always smart to have a good, red lipstick in your makeup survival kit. Who’s going to see you anyway? Your friends on Zoom? Perfect!
Give a free fitness class a shot. With everyone stuck inside and gyms shuttered for the foreseeable future, these fitness brands are offering FREE online classes.
Breathe deeply. I love Demeter fragrance because the company makes almost any scent you can imagine. If you’re ready for a fresh start, try the sunshine set or if you’re into zombies, try the Elvira gift set. Want to smell like pizza or a swimming pool? Believe it or not, you can!
Make:
Make bread. Have you noticed everybody is making bread these days? Check out this recipe for an easy quick bread and this one for an easy yeast bread. Feeling motivated? Try these amazing copycat Cinnabon cinnamon rolls!
Craft your own DIY House. My daughters and I are building this miniature library from Robotime Miniatures. I’ll warn you, though; it’s intense. Quarantine may be over before we finish.
We’re getting crafty!
Press flowers: I love the look of pressed flowers. In Georgia, spring has sprung, and I’m beginning to see some of my favorites. (I’m looking at you, Dogwood and Cherry blossom.) Check out this blog for three different—easy—methods for pressing flowers.
Grow a countertop herb garden: An outside garden is too much for me. I forget to water it, or sometimes I’m just too lazy to drag the hose over to the plants. But what’s on my kitchen counter is hard to ignore. You can choose from a lot of different fun options at Uncommon Goods. Bonus: I’m cooking more these days, and it’ll be nice to have fresh herbs on hand.
Learn:
Learn how to arrange a charcuterie board. Last summer, a friend sent us an amazing board to enjoy at the beach, which inspired me to do a hands-on workshop with some friends. Charcuterie boards are so much fun because you get to fill up on all kinds of yummy foods without feeling like you’re pigging out—perfect for those of us who prefer to “graze” rather than sit down for a full meal. You can learn how here. Some of the best ingredients can be found at Costco, including specialty cheeses, marinated artichokes, and marcona almonds—and all at a great price.
Practice a new language. My son and I are in an ongoing contest over who can finish first all the levels in our favorite app, Duolingo.
Perfect your cursive. You can download worksheets directly from the Internet if you need them or just practice sentences that include all the letters of the alphabet:
My favorites are:
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs.
“Watch Jeopardy!, Alex Trebek’s fun TV quiz game.”
Want more? Get the comprehensive guide here.
Learn a new dance. Check out these popular Tik Tok dance tutorials on YouTube.
Learn how to do a split. My friend, Claire, taught me how to do a split when I was in the third grade. “Just stretch a little farther everyday,” she said. And guess what? It worked! Today, I do at least one split every single day…just to make sure I stay flexible—and to prove I can. :)
Learn something new. Check out The School of Life, for resources to help you win at relationships, work, and leisure among other things. I also ordered Homework for Grownups. Homeschooling my kids is no joke!
Read:
How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success. In addition to the helpful timelines about what kids are capable of doing on their own at various ages, I loved the author’s position on allowing kids to forge their own paths and discover the world on their terms.
This Could be our Future: A Manifesto for a More Generous World. The premise of this book is that society suffers when we shift from a culture of values to one of value. Value is about money; values are about ideals. Author Yancey Strickland dreams of a world not focused just of capturing value, but on creating it.
The Artist’s way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity. This workbook/spiritual guide has helped me understand my own limitations and rediscover my creative self. One of the best pieces of advice: “In order to do something well, you must first be willing to do something badly.”
Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don’t Know. Get this one on audible! Malcolm Gladwell wrote the book and also narrates the audio version, which features audio recordings of actual life events, so you’ll feel like you’re listening to a podcast rather than a book. You can download Audible for free for 30 days, but trust me—the paid subscription is worth the investment!
Indistractible: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life. This book has mixed reviews, but for me, it came at exactly the right time. Even now, with all this extra time on my hands, I am having a hard time staying focused and being productive. (Case in point: it took me two days to write this post!) My biggest takeaway: Get rid of the external triggers that divert your attention. Once I became aware of my triggers, I was better able to combat the behavior that invited the distraction in the first place.
Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People. Author Vanessa Van Edwards also has an amazing online website filled with resources about how to become more charismatic. Check it out here.
Bonus: Find a book about something you know nothing about.
Spring Break is next week. Like everyone else we know, we’ll be spending this one at home. I’m thinking of taking a virtual trip around the world: We’ll be going to France (Hello, charcuterie!) , Italy (Affogatos!), England (High tea!) and Antarctica (Ice cream..duh!). I have an idea for an at-home museum tour, we’ll do some hiking, set up a slip and slide in our front yard (if it’s warm enough) and hey, maybe even order a few more of those Demeter fragrance packs. Believe it or not, the company even has one called—you guessed it— SPRING BREAK!