As with most the world, we’ve been spending a lot more time at home in recent days.
It’s important, in these unique times, to redeem the hours and make the most of the moments we have together. There are negative ramifications to the current state of affairs in our world—and you don’t need to see them broadcast in the media, many of you are experiencing them firsthand.
But the negative effects of the Coronavirus do not need to overwhelm us. We can also choose positive effects: spending time with family, taking longer rests, finding solitude, and escaping the busyness of our normal lives.
With that in mind, here’s my list of 25 things to do while stuck at home to redeem the time and make the most of it.
0. Wake up, get dressed. I need to include this one here because it’s important to start each day with the right attitude. Every day is an opportunity to make the most of it. Don’t miss a single opportunity—regardless of the circumstances around you.
1. Declutter. Minimize your possessions and declutter the stuff in your home. The more we spend time in our home, the more we can recognize what can and should be removed—and the more time we have to do it. Check out Clutterfree if you’re looking for steps to get started
2. Learn new card games. I grew up playing cards‚ even as a young child. And not just Go Fish and War, but strategy games like Hearts, Spades, Rook, and Pinochle. They taught me how to think ahead, play out scenarios, and learn from others. All valuable life skills.
3. Make phone calls. Safe to say the phone call is making a comeback. All those people you would usually see at work, church, or social gatherings, give them a call to say hello.
4. Teach your kids life skills. My son is a junior in high school and my wife and I have a long list of life skills we want him to know before he leaves the house. We’ve been using these weeks to make up for lost time. If you haven’t already, use the time to teach your kids cooking, laundry, cleaning, car repair, budgeting, or any other life skills that come to mind.
5. Go outside. If still allowed in your local area, go on long walks or hikes. Spend time in the park or walk along the river.
6. Workout. We need to be taking care of our physical bodies and taking care of our physical fitness during this time as well. Look up at-home workouts/yoga on YouTube or Google and do them together as a family.
7. Watch educational programs. I see a lot of people spending time on Netflix—binging movies and television shows. And there’s certainly a place for that. But you can also watch educational documentaries on Netflix and YouTube about history, science, or events in the world.
8. Learn a new skill. Been wanting to pick up a hobby? Now’s your chance. Learn a new language or how to code. Pick up an instrument or new artistic skill. Because of the Internet, finding a teacher (free or paid) has never been easier.
9. Create. I started this blog as a hobby—somehow it grew to over 2M readers/month. Start something of your own. Create a blog or a YouTube channel. Write some stories or poetry. Or use your hands in the workshop. Create something, we need you now more than ever.
10. Do a Facebook Live. Nothing to it. Just click a few buttons on your phone and suddenly all your friends can see you. It’s super fun. If you haven’t before, now’s your time.
11. Write letters. To a family member or friend you haven’t seen in awhile.
12. Invent a game. Looking around the room at the supplies you have, make up a game to play with your kids. Or better yet, invent an entire Family Olympics where each member of the family gets to pick 1-2 of the events. Keep a running total of the points.
13. Read books. You should probably be doing that anyway.
14. Late night movie with the family. Depending on your local school situation of course. But if it works, there’s nothing more fun for little kids than staying up past bedtime, eating popcorn, and watching a movie with mom or dad. Make it happen.
15. Video chat with friends. Whether it’s on FaceTime, Skype, Facebook Messenger or Zoom, connect and hang out online for a little while.
16. Home repairs or a deep clean. Make up some ground on that list of yours.
17. Sort through boxes of old photos. Keep the best and put them in photo albums or digitize for future generations.
18. Clean up your computer digital files. Here.
19. Curate and organize your recipe/cookbook stash. I use index cards to keep all my favorites in the same place.
20. Make up TikTok dances with the family. I see a lot of those short, choreographed dances being posted. Super fun for everyone.
21. Create games to share with family members. Invent a WordSearch or Crossword Puzzle using the members of your family and send them out for everyone else to complete during their downtime.
22. Take a class online. You can find plenty of courses for kids and adults available for free online. Including Yale’s most popular college course ever.
23. Order takeout and have a picnic. If your local community still allows that, you can support local business and enjoy time outside as a family (weather-permitting of course).
24. Research your family tree. You can use online tools or do it the old-fashioned way—calling family members to begin piecing it together.
25. Learn online tools for business. One’s thing is for sure—business is going to change going forward. Learn as quick as you can how remote work is accomplished: Zoom, Slack, Skype, Dropbox, and numerous others. Now’s your time to learn them.
There are so many options to make the most of the time now—and probably ahead of us for a little bit longer.
What have you been doing that could be added to the list?
These are great tips! I’ve been quarantined for 15 days. (I’m Spanish, and we’re only allowed to leave the house to buy food or medicine. This has been extended for another 15 days at least) I’ve been doing lots of reading, signed up for a few online courses, watched some movies and TV shows,and my apartment’s never been so clean and tidy! I live on my own so I keep in touch with my family and friends through whatsapp, skype and phone calls. We’re having a great time doing movie night via Skype and playing silly games online! I’m so grateful because everyone I know is okay! The virus is taking such a big toll on Spain ? and we’re genuinely scared.
Here are some tips that can help through this difficult time:
– Set your objectives for the day (They can be as simple as getting a shower, cooking a healthy meal, keeping your home tidy or maybe take some time to read, learn, etc. Rigid schedules don’t work for me so I give myself all day to do those things and it’s definitely helping)
– Make an effort to get out of bed and get dressed (Comfy loungewear is a good option if you’re staying in). If you can try to do some exercise. My house is tiny so not an option for me, though.
-Be patient with yourself and your family. We’re all somewhat anxious so let’s be kind to each other and ourselves.
-Remember humor can relieve our distress. There are lots of memes out there that are really funny.
-Take time to do those things you never have time for, whatever that is for you. If you never have time to enjoy around family this is a great moment to reconnect with them.
– Don’t watch too much news. 10 minutes a day is enough to keep you informed. Watching or reading too much about this will only increase your anxiety.
-Reach out if you need to talk or let your feelings out. I’ve always been an anxious person so over time I’ve developed my own coping strategies. Now some of my friends who never knew what anxiety was are reaching out to me and I’m happy to help them feel a little better.
Being stressed is normal, but if you’re healthy, there’s food in your pantry, running water, you’re in a safe home and have an internet connection you have way more than many other people in the planet. This is but a small sacrifice.
Stay safe everyone and may you find the silver lining to the situation.
G’day from downunder.
Just a little note to show appreciation.
Your posts have been an absolute pleasure and inspiration to follow, simply a delight to look forward to.
Thank you and every best wish to you and your family, take care ?
Nadja Salter
I had decluttered really good until the recent run on canned goods, household cleaning items and then others saying to hoard these items incl paper items. Now I have lots of clutter as these items now accumulate for I don’t know how long. Many Iknow are depressed about all this we are told to distance 6 ft, no gatherings of any kind in groups, churches closed and run on grocery items. Will bank runs be next? Rickrolled: This country is trashing down hill and it’s a power grab indeed. halturnerradioshow.com
This too, shall pass.
Thanks Joshua, we are in full country lockdown here in NZ. Lots of community sharing, so I will share this as well : )
Sewing face masks is a great family endeavor for all those who need it, take up time in a useful and meaningful way, and might make a unique and interesting contribution to this list. There’s a pattern available here: https://readingmytealeaves.com/2020/03/make-your-own-face-mask-coronavirus.html
Thanks for the link for a pattern to make face masks, Amy. This helps the rest of us have something constructive to do with our time and excess fabric that can help ourselves as well as others. Very nice of you to share this with us. :-D
adopt or foster a dog or cat from a shelter or reputable rescue organization – my foster dog is my at-home therapist and snuggle buddy
Perfect idea!!! ❤️
I’m a 64 yr. old woman with a 3 yr. old organizing business. I’m going to jump into the arena and do FB live posts- 30 minutes, 30 days- 30 ways to organize your house. Hopefully, it’ll help families not only survive, but thrive through this time. Thanks, Joshua, for your amazing contribution to our lives!
That’s a great idea. You’ll love it.
Susan, you might want to hold off on telling people to get rid of old cotton sheets, washcloths & rags until after this Covid-19 situation. It’s already hard to find kleenex (facial tissue), paper towels and toilet paper. The sheets could be cut up to use as washable hankies (if you have a sewing machine to hem the edges better yet), the old wash cloths used in place of paper towels and rags for “toilet rags”. Just having a plan B & having those things on hand may help some people feel a little less panic.
Thank you for the inspiration. At first the list was overwhelming but then I stopped and reminded myself to pick what applies to me at the moment.
How about watching some old silent films—- old black and white movies—- and some classic early horror films? Not for everyone —- but I love these type of movies!
Hey Joshua! I’m not sure if you will see this, but I have a question. I’m on the hunt for minimalism for kids books. I love the book you wrote for parents, but a book for my son to understand minimalism and decluttering would be amazing!! Any chance you’d write a book like that, especially with a Christian outlook?? ??
If not, do you have any suggestions? I keep seeing books on Amazon about having “too many toys”, but they don’t really teach why we shouldn’t be greedy, or how we can bless others.
Thank you!!
Amber
If you are under a stay at home order and/or in a community where it is dangerous for the elderly to leave their homes, consider delivering meals to the elderly and to low income people. I realize this is not an option for many people who are working from home or are working in essential services (all of you, from grocery stockists to health care workers have my gratitude and prayers right now) or for people whose situation puts them at high risk but, at least in NOLA, the requests for senior and low income meal delivery have exploded. My normal volunteer obligations have been cancelled while we are on the stay at home order and I have been delivering meals every afternoon. I cannot say it is particularly fun – you ring the doorbell and immediately leave to avoid infecting recipients and I am not a big fan of driving to unfamiliar places with a car full of meals – but the normal volunteers are completely overwhelmed right now. Seniors and others, including families living on the edge who just lost their paychecks, are requesting meals in record numbers.
Everyone of you that corrected Joshua, please stop and think about how unnecessary it was. We should all be more gentle to each other. If something on this list doesn’t sit with you, that’s ok. But don’t criticize another human who is trying to provide something useful and meaningful to others. Grateful for this blog.
This is all wonderful, but where do people find the time for this? I usually work from home, so nothing has changed for me in that respect (except I now have less time so earn less!). I now have four people at home all the time who needs feeding three times a day, the house gets messed up faster (and no-one seems to notice), I have to home school a nine year old and keep her from going crazy… I don’t think I’ll get through that list of 25 things!
Thanks for the feedback Annelize. I wouldn’t expect anyone to get through the entire list. Pick a few that work for you. I know many people who are continuing to work (including me, obviously). But with most every social and community gathering cancelled, it’s pretty safe to say people are spending more time at homes these days than before.
0.0 Before you get dressed…develop a morning ritual. If you have one already, richen it. I read an inspirational passage, either from secular writing or scripture…sometimes both. Journal my reflections from the previous day and my intentions for today. Close with a prayer: expressing Gratitude for blessings, asking for Grace for my transgressions and Guidance for the day ahead. Bookend the day with reflection and quiet time before slumber.
STUCK at home?? How about the word is changed to SAFE at home.
Please change the messaging you are sending out to the world, many of us (health care workers) are not so privileged to be able to stay and be safe in our homes.
Be grateful you have an income during this utter SHAM and tyrannical power grab being foisted upon us; the illusion of “safety” at the expense of liberty.
Thank you for everything you do!! It truly is appreciated. ? Please be safe. I’m praying for all healthcare workers and first responders.
Thank you Amber! I am a caregiver and I make sure that elderly shut-ins have their needs met. I am running errands for them… I would not be out and about if I didn’t have to be :(
So many of us are still out there —- and God bless the store clerks too!
Thanks for your help in this way.
Hmmm maybe he chose that word because of SEO?
Thank you for putting yourself out there for everyone. Keep yourself safe too.
” Make up TikTok dances with the family. I see a lot of those short, choreographed dances being posted. Super fun for everyone.”
Please dont.
I think they’re clever when I see them.
Write your memoir. Once you start remembering childhood events they can come back faster than you can write them down. Kids love reading what their parents were like way back then. Even young kids can draw pictures of things they remember then tell you about it.