Spending more time at home can be a tough transition for people that are used to their everyday hustle and bustle. Most people are used to constantly moving around whether it’s running errands, heading to the gym, or going to several nail, hair, or skin appointments. We don’t realize how much we take leaving the house for granted, until we’re asked not to. So, what do you do with all this free time? Separated from friends and loved ones can be hard if you spend your days laying around thinking about them. The best idea during this period of social distancing is to keep busy! You can keep much busier in your house than you’ve ever thought, and here’s how.
We spend a lot of time in our bedrooms, so it better be a place we love. If your space is feeling way too cluttered and out of control, it’s time to get it together. Try moving around the furniture in a way you’ve never pictured. Maybe you’ll like your bed closer to the window so you can get some fresh air flowing in. I always feel so refreshed after decluttering and rearranging my room, so why not see how you can change your favorite space?
This will take up a large portion of your day and you’ll be so happy you did it. If you’re anything like me, it’s so hard for you to give up your clothes. “But, I might wear that one day,” you think to yourself when in reality it’s been hanging in your closet with the tags still on it for 3 years now. Get a handful of garbage bags and start tossing clothes you haven’t worn in at least six months in! Your local charities will be so thankful for all the old clothes, and you’ll finally be able to see inside your closet.
Are you working from home now, or have your classes switched over to remote learning? It can be hard to adjust to such an unknown and uncertain schedule, so taking steps to better your work environment is extremely important. Throw away all those old papers, broken pens and unnecessary junk you have sitting on your desk. Clean out each drawer, and organize them with baskets, jars or files. Having a clean, spacey work area will benefit your mind and your work. Nobody can be that productive from their bed!
Get a sweat in without leaving home! At-home gyms can be fun and extremely productive. Get some weights, a yoga ball, resistance bands, and even a foam roller to help you with your workout. Lay a yoga mat in front of a full-length mirror and keep a water bottle nearby! Shelves and hooks make great storage for your workout accessories while keeping the area organized. Thank me later.
Do you have some delicious recipes saved on your Pinterest but never had the time to make them? Well, now’s that time. Print out your favorites. These could range from rare meals you want to try or new spins on the food you eat every day. Create a binder and organize each recipe based on breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert or snacks, that way you can easily flip right to what you’re craving! You’ll be the best-eating house on the block with your personalized recipe book.
Photo walls are great eye-candy for your bedroom, and now’s the perfect time to start yours. Print out your favorite photos of you and your friends, your family, your dog, places you’ve been, or even your favorite celebrities. You can even print out your favorite quotes, as well as pop-art you love. Find the perfect wall to begin on, and start laying them out in the order you’d like. This is best to do on the ground first, and then taping them up as you go.
What are you thankful for? Write it down. Where do you see yourself in five years? Write it down. What goals do you have for the year? Yes, write it down, too. Keeping a journal is a great way to reflect and track your progress as well as your goals. Journal keeping is such a beneficial way to spend your time at home because you can write about anything you want, and who knows what that will lead to next. You sure to be obsessed with writing, and will probably make time to do it every day (which you should!)
Sick of the listening to the same music over and over and over again? Now’s the perfect time to change that! Take time to listen to new genres and musicians you never have, you never know what you’ll fall in love with. Create playlists for every occasion, driving, studying, partying, walking to class, anything you can think of, there’s a song for that. Share them with friends for even more song additions!
Even if you’re not the best artist, why not try? Painting and drawing are so therapeutic, and who knows, maybe you’ll discover a hidden talent. Painting can be so fun when done on larger canvases, make it as detailed or splattered as you’d like. The more art you create, the better you’ll get at it. Grab some art supplies and get designing!
DIY face masks are so easy and great for your face. Since you make them yourself, you know exactly what you’re putting in your pores. These masks are made from just two simple ingredients and can do so much for your face. Some benefits of these masks include brightening your skin, clearing up acne, or shrinking your pores. For how to make these masks, click here!
We understand such uncertain times can be so stressful. Completely transforming your everyday schedule can cause so much chaos and confusion. Luckily, yoga decreases stress and helps relieve anxiety. Thanks to the Down Dog App, they’re providing free virtual yoga classes until April 1. Click here for more information on how to get your dose of Down Dog Yoga.
Ok, how cozy does this look? Grab your fuzziest blankets and most plush pillows to create this movie-fort. Drape sheets around your TV or projector, and pin them into the wall using thumbtacks. For a little light, string lights throughout the fort. Load up on popcorn, candy, and drinks and flip on your favorite films! What will you be watching?
Lighting candles around your room, kitchen or really any living space creates such a relaxing atmosphere. Light some while you do homework, yoga, or when you’re just laying in bed watching a movie. Candles are great, so why not try making your own? DIY candles are super easy to make and there are so many different ideas to create. For a variety of DIY candle ideas, click here.
Do you have a passion for fitness? What about beauty, makeup, health or even crafts? Nows the perfect time to show off your skills. With your free time, start up a social media account for something you love! Fitness Instagrams are so popular and helpful to those who need workout inspiration. Share what you love with the world through an Instagram account made by you!
Yum. Charcuterie boards have become such a trend lately, and it’s obvious why. These boards full of crackers, cheese, cold cuts, fruits, and veggies are absolutely irresistible. Take whatever you have in your fridge and see what type of board you can throw together. Try picking a theme, whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner and see how you can put together a board based around one of those ideas.
Want to finally do something about that old wooden bedside table that is just a complete eye sore? Paint it! Refurbishing old furniture is so fun and will keep you busy all day long. Once you start, you won’t want to stop. Soon enough, your whole house will be painted white! For steps on how to paint your furniture, click here.
WARNING, STORAGE FULL. We’re all so sick and tired of seeing that warning on our phones and laptops. It’s time to take charge! Sit down and take a few hours sorting through old documents, photos, and random files on your laptop. No, you don’t need all 372 selfie attempts. Delete them. Chances are you won’t need those English essays you wrote in high school. Time to do a little spring cleaning for your devices.
I’ve always wanted to be able to braid hair, yet I never took the time to learn. Try sitting down and following along to hair braiding videos. Start with a French braid, and once you master that move on to waterfall braids, fishtails or Dutch braids. To start with learning a French braid, click here!.
Makeup is so fun to play around with. Take time to learn all new makeup routines and styles. Instead of your everyday look, try bold and bright looks that you never imagined you’d wear. Makeup can be tough, but like they say, practice makes perfect. For a variety of makeup tutorials to chose from, click here!
If you’re someone who can’t live without their coffee, try recreating your favorite orders at home. Your go-to order of caramel iced coffee with cream and sugar is one of the easiest drinks to make. It’s the caramel snickerdoodle macchiato lovers who are going to face a challenge. For tips on making at-home coffees, click here!
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