23 Productive Ways to Spend Your Time at Home

This week has been really heavy and has a lot of us worried about what’s going to happen with the spread of COVID-19.

If you’re stuck at home, it can feel a little upsetting and overwhelming, especially without knowing how long this will be. But, there are a lot of ways to make the best of this scary situation at home. 

So instead of spending too much time on the news, let’s take some time to be productive inside and feel good about our days – regardless of a situation that we have no control over.

The only thing we have control over, as scary as it is, is how we decide to respond to the situation.

We can worry, complain, be upset, and waste the time at home waiting for it to be over, or we can try to use this time productively instead.

Here are 23 ideas for when you’re stuck at home.

1. Watch a documentary

So, a Netflix binge is probably the first thought when it comes to some days inside right? But instead of going for your favorite TV show (though definitely do that too), start with a documentary that can challenge you to think differently. We watch so many shows that distract us or make us laugh, but there aren’t as many that really push us to make changes in our own lives. Documentaries have the power to do that. 

2. Create a vision board

Start planning and dreaming while you’re cozy inside and have nowhere to be. Get intentional on where you want your life to be. Use Pinterest or do it the old fashioned way and cut out pieces from old magazines. 

3. Watch YouTube videos from total bosses

There are so many inspiring people on YouTube who share their best productivity tips and routines. Some of my favorite boss ladies are Erin May Henry, muchelleb, Sarah’s Day and Kalyn Nicholson. This video from Erin May Henry on How To Change Your Life is a good one. 

4. Try a new organization platform

I switched from Trello to using ClickUp, because it does all the organization I need for free. I set goals, plan out my days, and keep track of every aspect of my business using ClickUp. 

 

5. Sign up for a webinar or online training to learn something new

Whether it’s related to your personal development or developing a new skill, there are a ton of coaches and leaders out there with free trainings that can help you learn something new. Whether it’s SEO, crocheting, or learning a new language, there are webinars and workshops for just about anything. Personally, I just joined The Social Bungalow Community hosted by Shannon Lutz to watch some of her past video trainings on Facebook. I’m also planning to dive into some of the courses I’ve purchased and only half-finished.

Have you purchased a course, but not gotten around to it yet? Now’s a perfect time, friend!

6. Read a fiction book

Stuck in the routine of reading for work or for your personal growth, and not purely for fun? Dive into a fiction read. Or just read in general. Go through all those books you have on your bookshelf that you haven’t gotten around to and select one!

7. Do an at-home workout

Exercise is still important. Just because you might not want to (or be able to) hit the gym, doesn’t mean you can’t stay active. Try this 10-minute flexibility full-body yoga flow from Yoga with Kassandra. Or dive into one of the many apps available for working out at home. Two of my favorites are 7-Minute Workout and Aaptiv.

8. Clean or refresh your space

Rearrange what you already have or make some online purchases to make your space feel more like home. You want your space to feel soothing and beautiful if you’re going to be staying there. Take extra time to clean and declutter to make it a space you love being in.

9. Sign up for an online learning platform

There are so many affordable online learning platforms like Skillshare or Udemy or learn from the top in their field with Masterclass. 

10. Take a social media break

There’s no better excuse than now to take a little breather from social media. Whether it’s for a few hours or for entire weeks, take this as time to take a breather from the outside world for a bit. 

11. Start that business

It’s the best excuse for hunkering down and finally working on that business. Or the podcast, blog, newsletter, YouTube channel… whatever has been on your heart to start for a while now. Start taking the steps to make it happen. Quit overthinking – just go for it.

12. Take more time for self-care 

Take some extra time for face masks, hydration, hot showers, journaling. Be gentle with yourself. And it’s always a good idea to spend an extra few minutes on your skincare routine. 

13. Try the KonMari method

Put on the Netflix show and get to work. The folding method is a gamechanger. 

14. Binge that TV show

Okay, so it doesn’t sound super productive… but sometimes we just need the freaking break. And it’s nice every *once in a while* to go full binge mode on a fun TV show. Some good ones to binge: Virgin River, Gilmore Girls, Friday Night Lights, Love Is Blind, Grace and Frankie. I mean, the list goes on.

15. Cook slow meals

We’re always rushing to and from things to get more done when you have more time to stay home, take everything slow and make meals that take a while and cook for hours. Use that slow-cooker, put love into your dishes, enjoy the process of cooking again.

16. Baking

Do you stress bake? Well, maybe try out some new recipes and have fun with experimenting. 

Try something new and experiment with a new platform like TikTok. 

18. Unfollow / mute people & topics

Take time to unsubscribe, unfollow, and unplug from what isn’t serving you. I had to pause groups on Facebook, because of how much people were talking about coronavirus. So I removed it for 30 days. Lucky for us, there are so many options on social channels to temporarily remove something from our lives. I’m giving you permission to temporarily mute whoever isn’t making you feel good. It’s not forever – just until you feel like you can handle those vibes again.

19. Craft a letter or make a phone call to your local city council members

Do some research on local and national politics. You can make a huge difference within your community, and it’s a great place to start. In a time like this, it’s important to remember that we are a collective. We are in this together. 

20. Do deep inner work

Journal, write lists about what you appreciate about yourself, meditate, really dig deep within yourself, pray. Reflect on where you’ve been and where you’re going. My favorite meditation app to use daily is Insight Timer. And one of my favorite people to listen to there is Sarah Blondin. 

21. Start tapping

In terms of self-care, there are a million ways you can practice healing. But one of the most powerful practices that I’ve found to release anxiety is EFT Tapping. Our post on tapping for emotional overwhelm is a great one to follow along with and the TappingSolution app is spectacular. 

22. Go inbox zero

Clear the digital clutter and create a system for your inbox, so that you’re not missing emails or feeling like you’re never keeping up with the endless

23. Remember to choose love

In times of fear or hardships, remember to lean into love instead of fear. It’s hard to push through the fear, but when we find the parts of ourselves. Beyond all else, the most productive thing you can do is choose to lean into love. Whether it’s hugging your dogs extra close or sending texts from afar to your friends, spend time giving extra love. One of the most powerful speakers around for LOA is Abraham Hicks (Esther Hicks). If you’re not in good-feeling place right now, I recommend starting with these Animated Abraham videos. 

Source: Life Goals Mag