I’m sure most of us have lost count of the days we’ve been stuck at home. This is such a weird and unique time that no one ever thought would happen, much less did we prepare for it. I don’t know about you, but there is only so much Netflix and Hulu I can watch before I start feeling like a complete loser! I’ve been trying to stay productive and use this time to my advantage. I am going to come out of this stronger, happier and healthier, as we all are!
Here are 50 productive activities we can do while stuck at home to help keep our brain from turning to mush!
1. Organize your kitchen cabinets
-I recently did this and it made me feel so good afterwards. Doing one cabinet at a time, I removed everything, cleaned the inside and placed my pots and tools back inside in a more organized way! Something about a freshly organized kitchen just makes cooking so much better!
2. Try out new workout guides!
-Most workout influencers, gyms and fitness apps are offering FREE or discounted home workout guides during this time! Some do online classes via Instagram live or zoom, and some do the guides through their youtube channel or fitness apps. None-the-less, now is the time to take advantage! Here are a few of my favorites to follow for home workouts!
- Whitney Simmons: She posts amazing workouts via Instagram guides , her own fitness app called ALIVE by whitney, as well as her youtube channel.
- Hannah Oeberg: She also posts bomb home workouts on her Instagram channel as well as youtube! She also just had the CUTEST BABY EVER!!
- Emily Sopo: Check out her home workouts on her Instagram , they are seriously incredible! She also offers one on one personal coaching as well as plans you can follow on your own! Click here to see her full site!
3. Purge your closet!
-I don’t know about you but this is my LEAST favorite thing to do, therefore it’s always gets put on the bottom the list. Well now, I feel I have no choice! I recently went through my side of the closet as well as my husbands, and what a difference it made! I can now hang everything without pushing the clothes over with all my might to find room on the rack. If your like me and hate this task, there are people who can help us! My friend Brandi owns a boutique called Treschic and she offers a service called “Closet Therapy”. During this time she is offering VIRTUAL appointments! Not to mention, she has some really cute items for sale on her website! So if purging your closet is on your list, or you need to add things to your collection, make sure you check her out HERE!
4. Try out a new recipe
-There are 3 types of cooks: 1.Ones who LOVE it ,2.ones who HATE it and 3.ones who don’t love or hate it but only do it for survival. Whichever category you fit into, now is the perfect time to try out those recipes you have pinned on your Pinterest board!
5. Call a family member or friend you havn’t spoken to in a while
-I’m sure most everyone immediately thought of ‘that family member’ that this applies to. Someone you havn’t spoken to in a long time, maybe a distant relative or maybe someone who lives down the street and you just lost touch. Either way, this is a great way to stay connected and to make yourself and others feel loved!
6. Re-decorate your rooms using decor you already have
-So is it just me that does this? I find myself “redecorating” using things from other rooms or things that I didn’t like last month and put in the garage. I’ve moved things from my room to the living room, from the guest room to my bedroom, from the kitchen to the closet etc. Its a great way to scratch that decorating itch without spending that hard earned money!
7. Start a new hobby
-Or maybe pick one back up? We all have things we love or have loved to do in the past, or maybe something you’ve always wanted to do? Painting, writing, drawing, cooking, etc. Practicing hobbies are a great way to feel accomplished and productive.
8. Go for a run or walk
-Being inside this long can literally make us crazy! Getting some vitamin D is a great way to balance out our sanity. I normally hate to run, but at this point I’m craving it! Try going for a twenty to thirty minute walk a day and see how great you feel!
9. Play 21 Questions game with your spouse
-This is a really fun and interesting game! With questions like “what do most people think about you that is absolutely not true” , it can give you insight to things you thought you knew about your significant other. Try it out HERE!
10. Download a new Social app with your friends
-I know we are talking about being productive, but we still have to stay connected right? Here are two apps that I love during these times!
1. Uplift is a social platform that is all about POSITIVITY! Um, who else does that?? In this new world of negative facts and sadness, we need a little uplifting! Download it here!
2. Marco Polo is a social engagement app that allows you to send videos to your friends , you can even create a group and all share together! It’s like Facetime and Snapchat had a baby. The teens say it’s “for old people”, well call me old because I love it!
11. Start that side project you’ve been putting off
-For me, this was my blog! I started it a few months ago but never finished due to lack of time. Well, I’ve had nothing but time so here we are! I know there is something we’ve all been putting off due to fear or lack of time, so lets get to it!
12. Download a good book
-There are so many good books out there! Amazon Kindle Unlimited is offering one month of free downloads!
13. Create a ‘donate’ zone in the garage
-I’m sure we all have items that we don’t use, don’t wear, or just don’t fit our life styles anymore. They may not be in bad shape, but not something you would want to sell. This is the perfect opportunity to donate! Blake and I just went through some household items that we don’t need and are planning to donate them ASAP!
14. Learn to knit
-This is something I have not done yet, but it’s on my list! My mother-in-law knits and when I see her doing it, it looks so fun! Here is a knitting package for beginners, all you need is a good teacher!
15. Teach your pup new tricks
-If you have a pup like us, then I’m sure they are feeling the effects of this quarantine too! A great way to get them some mental stimulation and activity is to teach them something new! Right now, I’m working on teaching Tank (thats my dog) how to go to his bed when I say “go to sleep”. I got a lot of great tips from Zak George on youtube, check out his lessons here!
16. Wash the car
-Another dreaded task I’m sure. My husband actually really enjoys washing cars, so much so that he has all the cool tools to make his life a little easier. Since I’ve been home I helped him wash my car for the FIRST TIME EVER since we’ve been together and I could tell he really appreciated it. Here is a list of a few car washing items he loves:
- Adams Iron remover: Great for removing rust or buildup from rims or breaks
- Air force blaster dryer: Perfect for speeding up drying time and preventing streaks.
- Adams car wash: Perfect amount of suds and eliminates streaks.
17. Create a meal plan for the week
-For anyone like me who is not a planner but should be, meal planning is a huge help to my mental sanity. Cooking and I have a love/hate relationship, I love it when I don’t HAVE to do it, and I hate it when there is pressure. I started writing out my meals for the week and it gave me a sense of stability and simplicity when it came to the time to get in the kitchen. It even helps with grocery shopping which, these days is a major task! To have everything you need for the week (or even longer) written out, makes shopping easier and helps you not have to keep going back to the store!
18. Purchase a coloring book
-Coloring is such a calming activity for adults! If you have any lying around give it a try! If you don’t, here are a couple of fun books to try!
-Stress relieving Animal design coloring book-
-Stress relieving animal, paisley, flowers, design coloring book-
19. Do yoga
-Yoga is an activity that accomplishes many things! Its perfect for calming your mind, but also great for stretching those limbs that have been glued to the couch and it also burns a ton of calories! There are many yogis that are offering free yoga classes during this time! Here is an amazing page that is offering one month of free yoga! www.yogagirl.com
20. Organize the Pantry
-I know you have a ton of snacks in there! We all are triple stocked with snacks right now, so lets get them organized! I used a few old (unused) clear shoe containers that I’ve had for SO long and had’nt used to separate my different genres of snacks. It created a much cleaner look and easier access!
21. Build a pyramid out of playing cards
-If you think this is easy, just try to do it, thats all I’m going to say. It is a very mentally stimulating task, perfect for the family to do together!
22. Watch a documentary on Netflix
-How many of us have watched all the “good stuff” already on Netflix? I have! Documentaries are a great way to get some real info and fulfill the TV addiction!
23. Write out your goals for the year
-Even though we are all frozen in time and all of our plans are on hold, we can still write down where we would like to be by the end of the year and what steps we need to take to get there.
24. Start a Blog
-Hey, I’m telling you from experience, starting a blog is not a fast or easy venture! If you’ve been wanting something of your own and are willing to put in the consistent work then I say DO IT! Here are a few platforms I recommend!
- WordPress.com : A simple platform with everything you need to start a blog or any website! It is very easy to use and whatever you need is right at your fingertips!
- Bluehost.com : Perfect site for web building! They are having a sale right now on their yearly memberships!
- Wix.com : A very simple platform and very user friendly!
25. Start a youtube channel
-Like a blog, Youtube is a great idea for those who want to start something of their own and be able to earn income through their site. Unlike a blog, having a Youtube channel means you must be in front of a camera often. However, if you are willing to put in the time to record, edit and upload your videos consistently then I say DO IT! Here is a video telling you all about how to start a youtube channel: Youtube.com
26. Begin gardening
-I have never ever enjoyed dealing with plants or anything where bugs could potentially be. However, recently my mother in law came by and helped me plant succulents around our front yard and it was actually really fun! This is definitely something I recommend to start during this time because it gives you something to take care of and a consistent task to do!
27. Use old paint to create an accent wall
-We had some old paint in the garage from when our house was painted and instead of buying wallpaper or a huge painting for our bathroom wall, I used the old paint and a sponge to create a speckled wall. It’s actually really cute!
28. Pull out large furniture and clean behind it
-This seems daunting huh? It kind of is. So my tip: make your husband or kids do it! hahahahaha
29. Do one load of laundry a day
-I.HATE.LAUNDRY, especially when it just piles up higher and higher every hour. While I was working, I would use my two days off to do ALL of the laundry. Now, I’ve been doing a load each day and it helps me not hate it as much!
30. Try out new makeup looks
-Use your makeup you never wear or breakout the fancy stuff to practice new looks! Afterwards take a few selfies so that all of your work wasn’t for nothing!
31. Practice new hairstyles
-Now is the perfect time to get a few more hairstyles under your belt! If you have white hair that your trying to conceal, practice ways of styling your hair that conceal those suckers! One great idea is to try doing a Halo braid! See my halo braid turorial here!
32. Do some home decor DIY
-Paint your old vases or picture frames! I’ve done quite a few home DIY projects and they all add so much character to my home!
33. Rearrange your bedroom or living room
-This sounds crazy but its actually quite rewarding. I’ve rearranged quite a few rooms by myself and it makes you feel so good like a breath of fresh air!
34. Clean out the junk drawer
-We all have one! There comes a time when it gets TOO junky, and it must be cleaned.
35. Study a new language
-Hey, its something to do! If your a person who craves knowledge, I’m sure you can pick up on a new language during this time at home!
36. Learn an instrument
-There are so many Youtube videos out there teaching how to play every instrument ever! So if this is something you’ve been wanting to do, now is your chance!
37. Watch free education videos online
-I know in the beauty industry there are a plethora of free education videos happening right now. Do your research and see if your field is offering the same!
38. Start a journal
-Write one thing your thankful for each day. Journaling is a sense of release and can help us keep our mental stability.
39. Commit to your weight loss journey
-All the times we put off our fitness goals due to lack of time, well….
40. Master something you’ve always wanted to master
-Whether its a dish you’ve wanted to learn and master, or being able to do ten “man” push ups in perfect form, now is the time to practice! Personally, I’m working on my planks. The goal; two minute plank in perfect form. Lets do it!
41. Groom the pup
-Welp, since the groomers are closed someone has to do it right? It is a huge task, at least for us, but it must be done!
42. Give yourself a mani-pedi
-This is such a sore subject for me. If you could see my nails right now, you would totally disown me! Even in beauty school I hated doing nails, and I was not good at it at all! So, if your like me, we must buckle down and teach ourselves how to make our phalanges look somewhat decent.
43. Try and go the whole day without saying anything negative
-This is my favorite idea! My husband always says I complain a lot, so I’m working on being more conscious of that and keeping things positive! Try it with me!
44. Call someone and tell them you love them
-It could be someone you just spoke to yesterday or last week!
45. Wash everyones bedding in the house
–This is a really big task so if you need something productive to do, this is it!
46. Wipe the baseboards
-This is my least favorite idea however it must be done!
47. Try and convert your favorite “unhealthy recipe” to a healthy recipe
-This is so fun! I do this often with cookies and sweets, by using almond flour vs.regular flour or coconut sugar vs. regular cane sugar. I’ve also done it with enchiladas by using almond flour tortillas vs flour or corn and plain greek yogurt vs.sour cream! Try it! It takes so much guilt out of our fave dishes.
48. Do a home project with your spouse
-Put together a dresser or get the garage ready for your home gym!
49. Dust the blinds
-Do you hate this too or is it just me? Once again, it must be done!
50. Go on a bike ride
-A lot of us have old bikes in the garage that we never ride, and now we can! I wish I had a bike in the garage to ride!
There we have it! I hope these give you inspiration and help you find sanity amongst these crazy times!
~Molly K. Carter
6 Comments
I loved this post! I feel seen!!! this is the kick I didn’t know I needed to get out of the COVID slump…keep em coming!
Wow thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed and were inspired!!
Really positive spin on spring cleaning and wellness..I’m feeling motivated…thanks for the reference links.
Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed the post!
Great article with some creative tips!!! Thank you!
wow thank you so much!