How to make the most of increased downtime
We sincerely hope that you are all safe and well during this time. It's important for us to be taking care of ourselves both mentally & physically as we self isolate to protect those most vulnerable in our communities.
With that being said, if you are not usually someone to spend a lot of time away from social activities and the outside world it can be difficult to know how to keep yourself busy & occupied. Whether you're working from home, not working at all, or simply taking a step back from social commitments, this is a time to renew, refresh & be present.
Think of it not as a step back from enjoyment, fun & excitement, but a chance to focus on activities & rituals that would usually be pushed into the background. Keep reading for some inspiration for how to productively spend your now (or soon to be) increased down time.
Exercise
Keep your body moving! Gyms may be off limits, but the wonderful world of the internet is full of free exercise routines, classes and more. Whether you're more into yoga, pilates, or cardio, there is something out there for everyone. Keeping your body healthy is important for reducing stress, and for immunity.
Here's a wonderful 14 day exercise routine by Blogilates to give you a good starting point!
Be Creative
Paint, draw, sculpt, write, sing, bake, the list goes on! Indulge in the activities that you normally push aside and feel yourself becoming more relaxed & inspired!
Practise self care
We have a whole dedicated post for this, so we'll keep it sharp, but take care of yourself! You deserve it, plus it's a great way to pass the time. Find our blog post here, there are lots of things in the post that can be enjoyed at home, but any outdoor activities can for sure be adapted so that you're staying safe.
Sleep
As we are all well aware, sleep is important for rejuvenation of our minds & bodies. If you're someone who normally feels that there just doesn't seem to be enough time in the day to get a full 8 hours sleep, take the chance to create a relaxing bedtime ritual & get some good quality shut eye.
Be productive
Deep clean your whole house, catch up on some laundry, do a digital cleanse. Practise/learn a new instrument, or language. Once again, the internet is a wonderful place full of talented individuals sharing their knowledge, so that we can learn from them! How neat!
Read, watch, listen
That list of movies and TV shows your friends have recommended to you but you have never got around to actually watching? (ahem, this blog post) Well, now is the time to watch the films you've always wanted to, be up to date on your current go-to TV series (or rewatch an old favourite), read through that pile of books & magazines you've been neglecting and sift through some new music on Spotify. We've made a playlist for you to listen to whilst you practise some self care or do some cleaning, (listen to it here) but making your own is a great way to pass the time too!
Stay Connected
Although it may not be the best idea to spend time with our loved ones in the physical sense, the internet once again is our saving grace, allowing us to stay connected, informed and up to date. Self-isolation doesn't need to feel lonely, Facetime, Skype, Messenger, are all amazing ways to stay connected. Check up on people, send your friends some Tik Toks, or the odd meme, I'm sure they will very much appreciate it.
We hope this post has helped to provide you with some inspiration and hope during this stressful time. Enjoy this down time, take care of each other, stay safe.
