So last night I read that one in four Americans are currently under a “shelter in place” advisory or mandate. Across the world, schools are closing or doing virtual instruction. Many businesses are closed, running with limited staff, or having their employees work from home. Add store and restaurant closures, restrictions on public gatherings, and social distancing, and we’re in a situation where home is where the everything is.
My employer closed the doors at the end of business on Tuesday, and instructed us to work from home until at least April 6, with more information, and a possible extension, to come later. Yesterday, St. Louis, where I live, issued a 30 day order to shelter in place, starting tomorrow. So I won’t be going back to work for a while. At the moment, I have enough to keep me busy, as my overall workload had reached epic proportions and I had been working evenings and weekends to try and catch up. However, as the day to day stuff has already slowed considerably, and I don’t have the commute, meetings, or distractions, I’ve already made a huge dent in the pile in just a few eight hour days.
It’s a scary time, and there is the risk of cabin fever, but I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and have come to the conclusion that there are ways to take advantage of this time and avoid going stir crazy. So here are my thoughts on the subject:
Get Ahead of the Game
There are often things in our personal and professional lives that we can anticipate and do in advance, so they’re off our plates when things get busy again. I’ve made a list of things that are due in a few weeks or months, and have started working on those a little bit every day. I’ve also been researching for future blog posts and ordering gifts for upcoming birthdays and other events. Since I’ve been spending a lot of time in survival mode these past few months (see my survival mode part one and part two posts), this is an opportunity to try and plan ahead and avoid getting back in that situation in the future.
Tackle Things You’ve Been Putting Off
Over the past year, my guest room has turned into a junk room. It started with casually putting one or two things in there to “find a place for later”, and then snowballed. Since I haven’t had any overnight guests lately, I let it get way out of hand. I’ve been planning to deal with it when I had time…and now I do. Once I started working on organizing the guest room, I began to think of other areas in the house that could use cleaning out, and have made a list. I’ve also made a list of personal goals and pursuits that have fallen by the wayside. For example, I’ve been trying to do more writing, but keep getting distracted by other things. I have a thousand piece jigsaw puzzle in the basement that has been 85% completed for months. I’m starting to feel like my piano is glaring at me every time I walk by it without even brushing the keys. So I recommend stopping to think about the things you’d like to spend time on, both productive and recreational, and devoting some time to them.
Catch Up on Entertainment
I’m not suggesting that we all turn into couch potatoes, but doing some controlled binge watching isn’t the worst idea right now. In the past few months I’ve missed a lot of movies I wanted to see, and many of them are now available to stream, so I’ve updated my watch list and have allotted myself a few hours of TV time every day. I’m spending even more time reading. Regular visitors to the blog know that I’m a voracious reader, and an advocate for increased reading for everyone (see part one and part two of my posts on the subject), so I definitely want to take this opportunity to advocate upping your page count. Reading has also been proven to reduce stress, and we could all use some anxiety relief right now.
Are you, like me, staying at home? How are you spending your time?
Great minds think alike! I also recently posted about what I’ve been doing at home
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This temporary lifestyle change leaves a lot of room for reflection, doesn’t it?
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The new reality for sure, Amanda. I could think of worse places to be stuck, than my home. Still playing catch up after our recent travel. Sanitizing everything we brought back into our house. Chaecking in with friends and family (remotely) and getting plenty of exercise. We are still allowed to go out for solitary walks, at this time and this is good as the weather is finally improving. Stay well. Allan
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I enjoyed reading your post about your trip. Glad you made it back safely and that you’re doing well.
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I’m working on eliminating clutter too. The thrift store is still accepting donations. We’re excavating, bag be bag. 🙂
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I have three bags of donations I’m taking to a drop off site today. I’m amazed at how much stuff I had hiding in the backs of my closets…
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My home office needs the most excavation. Hope to dig in when hubby and child are on their afternoon walk. Funniest item to take care of right off the bat is my winter writing sleeping bag, which can be cleaned for the season! Ha!
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By bag
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This happens to my guest room too periodically.
Thanks for all the ideas !
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Next up…the basement. Lol
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Yes yes YES!!!!!! I am loving my down time and self reflection. Time seems to be my own personal nemesis and now I have loads of it🥰
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It’s strange how quickly everything changed.
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Absolutely! Our day to day has forced us to stay in the moment. It was certainly fast moving my friend.
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Cleaning
Creating Art
My job sadly doesn’t allow me to work from home
But we are currently on a M-W-F/T-Th-Sa work schedule per two sets of employees working
I live in Pa, wouldn’t call our archival company life sustaining, only a matter of time before we are asked to shutter like everyone else
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What kind of art?
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I take it you don’t follow me..Right now these days I am doing cat drawings & paintings at aprolificpotpourri
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Following now. ☺
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Thanks Amanda 🙂
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It is looking likely we’ll be in isolation for the next 3 months or more! I am actually enjoying being at home! I am reading a lot, and watching a lot of netflix. xoxo
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I’m glad things are going well for you!
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I haven’t even made a list to do anything, Amanda. One day at a time is our motto.
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As long as you’re taking care of yourself.
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Yes, we are under quarantine and have plenty of food, for now. XO
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Perfect time to tackle all those projects we’ve been putting off. Great post Amanda!
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At the rate I’m going, by the end of the week my house will be cleaner and more organized than it’s ever been. Lol
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For me, I’m getting a head start on blogging, watching more movies, eating what’s at home for a change, and overall spending more time with family.
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I live alone, so I’m not going to have in person interaction, but I’m staying in touch. The strangest thing for me is going to be not seeing my family in person. We get together frequently, so it’s odd to be mostly communicating via phone and computer.
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Mostly trying to entertain my niece who lives with me. Still able to walk and keep our distance from others thank goodness. Write / play guitar / watch movies… And clean a lot. We make A LOT of mess in my family being home now.
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With multiple people in the house, I imagine it’s hard to keep up with the cleaning. As a solo resident, I’ve been getting ahead. I hope you and your family stay well.
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haha pros and cons! Thank you.
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https://monthlycritic.wordpress.com/2020/03/06/parasite/
monthlycritic.wordpress.com/2020/03/20/the-invisible-man/ Good to write, read and share in these odd times. Some recent reviews of mine if you fancy reading. Welcome to follow.
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Thank you for sharing.
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I’m catching up with my latest book and learning Espanol!
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That sounds like a great use of your time!
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TACKLE THINGS YOU’VE BEEN PUTTING OFF – especially this
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I am self-employed and work from home, so I don’t find that I have more time on my hands. I like the way you’re presenting this though – it’s tough, it’s restrictive in some ways, but it’s also a great opportunity to do things, experience things, learn things, or cross things off the list of things that otherwise never get done. We can’t change the situation, but we can change how we respond to it.
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I think it’s also a chance to appreciate things, and remember not to take them for granted when this is over.
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I already loved cleaning and sorting my house and specially my workplace right now has been very wonderful.
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Sounds like you’re doing well, given the situation.
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