I know I am not the only one struggling with the “stay at home” orders. I love my job; I enjoy the traveling and running in and out of hospitals to seeing my buyers. In my spare time, I love to travel, ride horses, attend hockey games and spend a lot of time with my friends. This sudden halt to my lifestyle has proven very difficult. For the first time in my life, I spent an entire week at home ALONE. I don’t like it, but I am making the best of it. I am lucky to have a great job that I am able to do from home and do not have to face this virus in person.
My first thought was I would make a list of all the projects around the house and work projects I had been putting off. I didn’t jump right into the projects. I found myself getting caught up in all the media attention. When I started believing the conspiracy theories, I decided it was time to tackle those lists.
I tackled some projects for a few days, then I got sidetracked by a shiny new horse. The thought of a road trip to pick up a horse wasn’t the warm blue water trip I am dreaming of, but it was better than cleaning the basement. So, with proper social distancing planning, wipes, hand sanitizer and traveling with our own restroom in the trailer, we jumped in the truck and headed to Pennsylvania. Uno is a three year old grey off-the-track thoroughbred. Without getting to try him due to the virus, we lucked out with a really great horse.
After that distraction, I had to get creative to keep busy. I got the kids (two teenagers) involved in the list process and trying to make it fun. Everyone has to have a project at all times. We play chore bingo each week to assign chores, workout daily (we take turns choosing the workout). I am learning TikTok dances and they are learning to play chess. While I prefer my normal life, and the weeks the kids are gone are harder, we are making the best of it. It is all about attitude. We can talk about the things we miss, but cannot spend a lot of time complaining.
I’ll share a small portion of our list.
- Learn a language
- Organize your pictures in albums
- Get a new pet (horse) – Make sure it fits into your post pandemic life!
- Cook a new recipe – everyone cooks once a week!
- Learn TikTok dances
- Learn Photography
- Puppet Show
- Start a new book
- Write a poem, short story or start that novel
- FaceTime family members
- Write a letter to someone you appreciate
- Organize your closet
- Play hide and seek – Disclaimer: This can destroy your house with teenagers
- Start a new skin care routine
- Re-arrange your furniture
- Take an online dance class
- Virtual tours of museums
- Learn to make floral arrangements
- Set up an indoor picnic
- Work on your yard and flower beds
- Start a couch to 5K
- Zoom Battleship – I haven’t tried this once, but I want to!
- Take a the dog for a walk
- Scavenger hunt through the neighborhood (red door, etc.)
- Bake
- Have a Karaoke night
- Make jewelry
- Yoga
- Clean out your car
- Have a Sundae night
- Play board games
- Create a vision board
- Set up a new budget
- Start a gratitude journal
- Play cards
- Start a vlog
- Learn to juggle
- Write a letter to your future self
- Plan a vacation for when you can travel
- Make a music video
- Make a cardboard fort
- Train your dog new tricks
- Make Elephant toothpaste
- Make Play dough
- Put together a puzzle
- Learn Chess
- Host a Zoom Paint night
- Edit and print your pictures
- Start a book club
- Chores Bingo – monetary reward evens out the tougher chores
We will all have a story of how we got through the virus. I’m doing my best to be sure mine is a good story.
