How to make the most of your time at home

COVID-19 has touched every corner of our lives and has posed new challenges that we never thought we would have to face. For our heroic frontline workers, this means putting their own health at risk to help quell the pandemic as it slowly reaches fever-pitch. But for most of us – it simply means staying at home in self-quarantine.

And while the thought of being cooped up at home for two weeks might sound tedious and impossible, there are plenty of ways you can use this time to better yourself, learn something, have some fun, and come out the other end of this pandemic with a whole new set of healthy habits.

So, here’s a list of things you can do from home to fend off boredom and improve yourself while doing it. Remember, this is a small price to pay for the welfare of your family, friends, and the world at large.

Write your book

We don’t mean that literally, but think about it, if you’ve always wanted to start writing something, be it a short story or a blog post – what better time than now to explore your creative side?

Spend an hour every day writing about something, whether it’s a daily diary, blog post, or a chapter of a novel. Aim to write between 500 and 1000 words a day and in two weeks you could have a novella (14k words) written.

Exercise

Can we really stress enough how important this is to your mental and physical health? While the COVID-19 measures mean we can only walk about 2km a day, that doesn’t mean you can’t transform your home into a gym for free!

Do bodyweight exercises such as push-ups, lunges, crunches, jumping jacks, and much more. Need weights? Fill up a large water bottle. It’s really that simple. You might be in the shape of your life by the time the pandemic passes.

Read – a lot

The easiest way to see the world without moving an inch is by reading a book. You’re going to have a lot more time on your hands to make a huge dent in your reading list – so now is the perfect time to start.

Not only will this keep you mentally stimulated, but if you’re a parent - it will set a very good example for your little ones.

Start a good habit every few days

The best way to develop good habits is by practicing one, and only one, over a number of days. Choose one good habit – such as eating a good breakfast, learning yoga, or even simply spending more time brushing your teeth – and practice this daily for 3-4 days.

When you’ve set aside the time and mentally acclimatised to your new good habit, move onto the next one.

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Spending more time at home is an opportunity to centre yourself, make time for things that really matter, and create the good habits you’ve never had time to before. Use this time to re-focus your efforts, and you never know, the weeks might just slide on by.