7 Things to Do at Home During the COVID-19 Quarantine.

Stuck at Home Due to COVID-19? No Problem! Simply Grace has 7 Things to Do at Home to Keep You Busy!

At a time like this, no matter where you’re at in the world, it’s obvious COVID-19 is the topic of discussion. I live in the United States and currently it’s starting to spread fast and cause hysteria. We have people buying out grocery stores’ toilet paper, bottled water, canned goods, and more. I joke, but honestly it looks like an episode of the Walking Dead over here. Fear is a rational emotion, but when it becomes panic, people start to act irrationally. While I’m witnessing panic, I’m also seeing something much greater, love and unity. People are pulling together to help others. Whether it’s by making grocery store runs, picking up prescriptions, or just staying inside at home to help prevent further spread of the virus. Even businesses are making an effort – grocery stores are having special hours for senior citizens, restaurants are doing curb side pick up, and many places are closing to help decrease the spread of the virus. At a time like this, instead of looking at how, “inconvenient,” this virus is making your life, think about all the people that are genuinely scared for their well-being. Offer your services if you have any to give, pray for family members that have lost someone to this virus, stay home to help decrease the spread of the virus, and call upon the Lord to seek his peace. I recently saw a quote from one of my favorite fictional characters, Gandalf. He couldn’t have said it any better…. “I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” – J.R.R. Tolkien

Some of you may already know that I work at an elementary school. We’ve been asked to do at home schooling for the time being. At first, I was like, “Oh, yeah! A couple weeks off work.” Don’t act like this wasn’t some of your first instincts as well. It didn’t take me long though to realize I can’t go anywhere, visit anyone, and I wasn’t going to get paid to sit at home either. I certainty didn’t plan on giving up this much for Lent, that’s for sure. I had to come up with a game plan for these two weeks I have off work. I’m going to share with you some things you can do while quarantined at home to keep you sane!

7 Things to Do at Home to Keep You Busy!

1.) Stay Active (Give Away!)

I’ve got to move throughout my day. I know many gyms are closing, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do an at home workout. Don’t think you need anything fancy for this, all I have is a yoga mat and 10 lb weights. I do a mixture of yoga, weight lifting, body weight exercises, and HIIT workouts. My friend Taylor just introduced me to this amazing online yoga program done by Core Power Yoga. Follow the link to get to their online workouts. These workouts are not for the faint of heart, you will be dripping sweat. Another place I go to search for at home workouts is Pinterest. Check out my Pinterest page for great at home workouts. Being a personal trainer, I usually come up with my own workouts or use the ones I use for group classes. If you sign up for my email team within the next two weeks, I will send you one of my very own at home workouts!

2.) Take a Walk

I know this falls into the stay active category, but I feel it needs a category all its own. I have been going on three walks a day with my dog, Wrigley. We usually only go for a mile walk at a time and I usually pop in my ear buds and listen to a podcast. It is the most relaxing and therapeutic activity, especially at a time like this. When stuck at home, sometimes you just need to get out of the house. This could include playing outside with your kids, doing yard work, or anything else outside. Just get yourself outside and enjoy the fresh air.

3.) Read

I don’t need a quarantine to get me to read, but I have to admit, it’s a great time to do it. Currently, I’m reading Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince… again. I’m a Harry Potter fanatic for anyone that doesn’t know. Some other books I recommend are; You Are a Bad Ass or Are We Happy Yet?. If you like a good mystery then check out the author James Patterson. If you like a good light hearted tale, check out author Dorothea Benton Frank. If you like horror/ thriller books, check out one of my personal favorites, Stephen King. I especially enjoyed The Shining. I gotta say, I never thought I could get jump scared while reading a book. Stephen King proved me wrong.

4.) Put on Your Apron!

Cooking and baking is one of my favorite things to do in this whole world! I know this activity may not be for everyone, but enlighten me and give it a try. If you’re a person who regularly burns bagels in the toaster oven, then maybe start with something simple. Work with what you know and what you’ve done before. Make some chocolate chip cookies or some lemon bars. For my more experienced chefs out there, it’s time to push yourself! I’ve been using this time to bake and cook things I’ve never done in the kitchen before. For instance, I just baked meringue for the first time yesterday. I was on a binge of The Great British Baking Show (the best!) and they had a whole week designated to meringue. I was intrigued, gave it a go, and it turned out perfect! Beginners luck I suppose. Anyway, after you cook or bake something you have this sense of accomplishment, that’s to say if you don’t burn anything.

Check out recipes from Pinterest, Food Network and Natasha’s Kitchen if you need a little more inspiration!

I have to give my Kitchen Aid mixer a shout out again, because it is my favorite cooking utensil in my whole kitchen. If you don’t have one of these yet, it is a must! It makes the baking process so much easier. No more kneading dough, because this bad boy can do it for you. With all it’s different attachments there is nothing it can’t do.

5.) Get Ahead on Organizing or Cleaning

Does organizing and cleaning the house only appeal to me? It makes me so happy when I get a little extra time to clean or organize something in my apartment. Listen, whether you like it or not, we are all stuck in our places for the next couple of weeks. So, make it an environment that you WANT to be stuck in for the next couple weeks. No one wants to be cooped up in a dirty and unorganized space. Everyone has that space in their house that is a complete disaster, take time to organize it and give it a quick clean. Your environment is so important and it is completely interrelated to our moods. Make sure you have a space that is suitable for you in this quarantine.

Check out my Organizing/ Cleaning board on Pinterest for more ideas on how to take your cleaning to the next level!

6.) Catch up on Some Hobbies

Everyone has hobbies they never have time for because their lives are overcome with work, kids, or whatever else they prioritize. Well, now is your time to get those hobbies out of the closet and dust them off. This could be reading, cooking, painting, scrap booking, stamp collecting, or whatever floats your boat. I’m using this time to slow down, read, cook, and paint. If you don’t have a hobby, use this time to catch up with yourself and get some TLC. This could be a face mask, painting your nails, steaming your face, or whatever you like to do to take care of your body.

7.) Pray

Now more than ever we need a little Jesus in our lives. Times like these are confusing and praying to the Lord can give us clarity. Praying to Jesus gives us the peace we need to deal with high stress situations like these. Not only that, but praying is a form of meditation, only better! So, take out your journal and write to him, read your Bible, or just talk to him. One of my favorite ways is to read my book, Jesus is Calling, and then journal about it. I love this book because it takes what the Bible is trying to communicate and puts it into words anyone can understand. Another way I like to communicate with the Lord is through my patron saint, Joan of Arc. I pray to her quite often. Find your own way to communicate with the Lord and have fun with it!

Simply Grace hopes that everyone is staying healthy out there! xoxo

If you want to know the best ways to keep those flu symptoms away, check out my blog, See Ya Cold Symptoms!