As many of us are staying at home to flatten the curve during the Coronavirus pandemic, we’re feeling stress, anxiety, fear, and a loss of control during this time. We are in the middle of a crisis, and it is normal to be afraid, worried and overwhelmed. Even though you may feel stuck, or even bored, there are a lot of activities that you can do to help lower stress and help with self-care and self-improvement.
Here are some ways to feel productive, accomplished, and lower your stress:
Improve your Home and Yard:
Declutter.
Organize.
Spring clean.
Catch up on all house work.
Do yard work.
Garden.
Do small home projects, such as repainting a room.
Wash your car.
Create Routines and Plans:
Keep a routine sleeping schedule, exercising schedule, and eat meals at the same time each day.
Plan for your essential shopping trips by planning meals in advance, and making an inventory of food supplies, toiletries and medications.
Practice Self-improvement and Self-care:
Meditate.
Make a vision board.
Take online classes.
Journal.
Relax outdoors in your yard, deck, porch, or in a park (if allowed).
Hobbies:
Cook.
Write.
Sew.
Knit.
Quilt.
Paint.
Draw.
Read.
Play an instrument.
Sing.
Listen to music.
Listen to podcasts.
Play video games.
Play board games or card games.
Watch TV.
Watch Movies.
Exercise:
Walk.
Run.
Bike Ride.
Hike.
Exercise at home with online workouts, or in a home gym.
Practice Yoga.
Dance.
Socialize at a Distance:
Spend time conversing with your the people in your household.
Have phone calls or videoconferences with family and friends.
Talk to neighbors, while maintaining a safe distance.
Participate in social media.
Talk to friends and family about your worries and fears, or reach out to mental health professionals offering telemedicine appointments.
Reminisce by looking through old photos and keepsake boxes with those who live with you.
Volunteer to help others, anything that you can do safely at a distance, such as calling seniors, or donating money or food to a worthy cause.
There are so many ways to stay productive and lower your stress during this trying time. I suggest you try some of the activities listed above. As a Certified Professional Organizer®, I usually help my clients to reduce stress and improve productivity through in-person, hands-on home organizing sessions and time management sessions. During this pandemic, I am exclusively offering virtual appointments. If improving your home environment or your routine is something you’d like to do, and you want the guidance and assistance of an organizing expert, feel free to reach out to me to schedule a free consultation call to discuss your needs. Please stay safe and take good care of yourself!
My husband and I decided to go back and watch the “Planet Earth” DVDs which we purchased more than a decade ago. They were made by the BBC, and are apolitical and having nothing to do with Coronavirus or even fictitious stress of a mystery or drama series. We are finding that is a good thing to watch each night before we go to bed. Not really a routine, but I guess a way to end our day! Very helpful tips, Nancy!
That’s great, Seana! The “Planet Earth” series sounds like a great way to end your day!
One of the things that I’m hearing from people is that they are now feeling overwhelmed and pressured to DO more because of the extra “free” time. But I’m also seeing that stress and anxiety is causing more exhaustion. So the doing is more difficult. I love all of the suggestions you gave. Maybe for those that are having a rough time, focusing on just one thing could be enough.
You’re right, Linda. The pressure to spend this extra time doing something can be overwhelming. We are going through a crisis, and things are not normal, so for those having a rough time, they should focus on self-care. They could attempt one thing ONLY if they felt up to it.
Great suggestions! I agree that having a project to focus on will take our minds off the current situation and reduce stress.
Thank you, Janet! Focusing on a project may be a helpful distraction for some people.
I’ve jumped around since being at home. Some days I’m motivated and get a lot done and other days I sit around all day. I was stressed out at the beginning and have mellowed since. I spend the extra time reading, taking classes, organizing areas of my house and napping. It does seem like procrastination to me, but I’m trying to look at it as self care.
Thanks for commenting, Janet. Personally, I’ve jumped around as well, sometimes being extremely productive and other times focusing on self care activities.