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Some of us have done pretty well doing things that normally keep us busy but need just a little something new to discover. Some of us need more help in finding activities to pursue that will expand our mind while our bodies are still confined by our boundaries. We have some ideas.
Take this time to catch up on your reading or start that thriller that you’ve been anxious to read. If you have an e-reader, you know how easy it is to download books; it does most of the work for you. I tend to get carried away when I’m adding new books to my Kindle. Sometimes, I get stuck on a particular genre or an author. Right now, I am re-reading the mysteries of Mary Higgins Clark, who just recently died.
If you have small children, there is nothing more cozy than curling up with them as you read a story together. Reading helps children to do better in school and that time you spend together is so precious. And your children will remember this time long afterwards.
If work has limited how much time you spend in the kitchen, then now is the perfect time to try that recipe that has had you drooling but you did not have time to try. If you’ve been wanting to go vegan or have just recently made the change this is a good time to explore the depth and breadth of vegan cooking. Start with online recipes. You can check out Pinterest or Food Network. There is no end to inspiration there. I have a bazillion recipes that I would like to try, but for health reasons, I have been pursuing simpler ways to make my meals. Usually I simply raid the pantry, the frig and the freezer to see what I have on hand and simply throw something together. I have surprised myself with some of the meals I’ve made and you can too. One of the things I’ve been doing regularly is experimenting with dry mixes, like for soups, adding additional ingredients to make it more filling and my own, and most importantly, vegan. It is easy enough that you can try when you are pressed for time.
If there was ever a time to play with your look, this is it. Picking a new shade or brand of lipstick, trying a new facial scrub, or a new line of hair care products can fill time and give you something to look forward to. When you venture out into the world beyond your door you can take pride in the new look you’ve put together. I get some of my favorite products from the Detox Market where I just placed an order for my favorite face wash, and a new moisturizer. I am short of hair care products right now so I also placed an order with R and Co which I recently discovered and which is a vegan line. Just shortly before Christmas I got a haircut which was a disaster. I had an inexperienced stylist and, well, you can imagine the rest. It’s a fairy tale, but I’m hoping these new products will magically make my hair, bad cut and all better. Hairwise, it is probably a good thing to be in quarantine. I have found that this is also a great time to purge those products that you no longer use or that you dislike.
Binge watching TV now is so the thing to do. Is history, thrillers or romances your thing? How about comedy? With all the gadgets and apps out there you have a wealth of material to choose from. Don’t forget the popcorn!
For those of you with an artistic bent, pull out those things that took you to your happy place in the past. Or try something new. Sketching seems to be the thing right now. Bonus, it takes no more than a pencil and paper. You can expand to watercolors in pencil form, which are not too expensive. I’ve recently been seeing tons of watercolors on Pinterest and I have to admit, it has renewed my interest and I have always had a partiality to watercolors. I recently bought a book from Costco about sketching. I am really rusty, it’s been years since I’ve used a pencil for anything more than a grocery list. You will find that practice makes perfect. And even if you never get to the degree of skill you would like, it is a relaxing thing to do and you can do it almost anywhere.
If you want a simpler version of this, there are adult coloring books out there, which simply means that they are more detailed than those for children. All you need is a book and pencils or markers.This is a relaxing activity and is a form of mindfulness. Bonus, you can do this with your child, each of you with your own books. Your child will like this special time he or she spends with you enjoying your common activity. Where were these when my girls were small? Here is a link for the beautiful one listed below, made by our friend Kelsey at Positively Delighted.
Also, this is a great time to begin that fitness routine you’ve been wanting to start. Or perhaps you’ve been packing on the calories since you’ve been in time out. You probably feel like you have to do something! Even if all you do is go for a walk to get your steps in, it is so much better than doing nothing. You probably have a pair of walking shoes, so the cost is in the time you spend taking those steps to better wellness. Again, this is an activity you can do with your child. There are workouts apps available on line, most will have a cost. Nike Training Club is free and is highly rated. You can choose the type of workout you want and they also provide nutrition and wellness advice from a variety of experts. Planet Fitness will be offering “Home Work-Ins” streaming on their Facebook page every day. Each 20 minute class will begin at 7:00pm and will be lead by Planet Fitness-certified trainers. You will also be able to find these classes on their YouTube channel after the broadcast is concluded. You can also try The Body Coach TV, Fitness Blender, and Popsugar Fitness for no cost. If none of these suit you, there are others but read completely, because most of them will only be free for a trial period.
And finally, for now, if you have the space, now is the time to start or work in a garden. Time to plant, mulch, fertilize, and weed. This is work I enjoy doing but which I have been unable to do for the last few years. I am dreaming of new beds, new plants, a bee barn, and colorful results to soothe the soul. How about you?
There is more out there you can do to keep your mind and body occupied, some that you can do with your children. Doing some of these as a family will build long-lasting memories that you will all cherish.
So what do you think? Did you think of some other activity you could return to or take up? In the humdrum of quarantine, what is it that sparks your imagination, that gets you excited? That thing that triggers your enthusiasm, that is the thing you should pursue. If you are a parent, that something does not necessarily need to include your children, experience teaches us that separation for short periods is the trigger for renewed joy in each other’s company. But think, maybe this is how your child finds that spark for that activity that you shared or how he learns the independence you wish for him. What is it that your child enjoys most? How do you see them growing through this time together?
‘Til next time, rest, relax, learn, grow, and get stronger.
If you like this, and are looking for ideas to occupy your children, check out this post!
