I think we can all admit by now that we’re feeling a little stir crazy staying at home trying to be healthy. But what can you do once you’ve caught up on the work you can do from home and finished your Netflix watchlist?

I’ve been trying to come up with some solutions this week…

 

1. Deep Clean

Sure, you’ve done the necessary dishes and laundry, you’ve even vacuumed and dusted everything, but now is the time to get to those more infrequent and in-depth cleaning & maintenance tasks. Shampoo your carpets, air out & flip your mattress, change the batteries in your smoke detector, wash your windows, clean out your closets & cabinets; you’ll feel fresher and more organized, and it will definitely pass a few days.

 

2. Meal Prep

A lot of people already do this weekly, but I know plenty (myself included) who would like to do it, but just haven’t figured out how to make time for it. Now’s our chance! Find some recipes on Pinterest & get some meals prepped & in your freezer for those days you don’t want to cook, and maybe by the time this is over you’ll have a productive new habit to carry with you.

 

3. Spa Day

This has all been very stressful, so why not follow the excellent advice of Parks and Rec.‘s Donna Meagle?

If you don’t have a sugar scrub already on hand, you can easily make one (Pinterest has a ton of DIY recipes), then you’re ready to exfoliate in a nice warm shower or bath. Afterward, you can put on your fluffiest robe or p.j.s, light some candles or diffuse some essential oils, and give yourself a mani/pedi to keep the relaxation going. Finish up with a soothing cup of tea while you veg out on the couch.

 

4. Brain Games

Keep your mind challenged, or at the very least distracted, while you’re off your routine. Apps like Duolingo or Babbel can get you started learning a new language, websites like Sporcle can provide trivia challenges, and you can also find multiple websites that provide crossword, sudoku, or jigsaw puzzles you can complete online if you don’t have any on hand. To make it more social you could share the puzzles or trivia challenges on social media and see which of your friends gets the highest score or fastest time.

 

5. Gym Time

This is one of those things where you can squeeze in a little bit every day, even by simply doing a few crunches during commercial breaks. When the weather’s nice, though, you can kill more than just a few minutes by going outside and getting some serious exercise in. Go for a long bike ride or a run/walk, and/or take your gear into the backyard and do some yoga, aerobics, or even light weightlifting out in the sunshine. You’ll have plenty of room to move without worrying about knocking over your stuff, plus the added Vitamin D will boost your health and mood.

 

6. Juice Cleanse/Diet Jumpstart

Sometimes the hardest part about starting a new food regimen is the adjustment period your body goes through. Whether it’s headaches from caffeine withdrawal, the keto flu, or just plain irritability because you’re missing your favorite snacks, you can take advantage of this time at home to power through those issues without having to function normally while feeling less than your best, dealing with temptation from the outside world, or taking it out on your coworkers.

 

7. Read

Are there any books on your shelf you haven’t had time to finish? Now’s your chance! Maybe you’ve read all your books though, and you don’t feel like you can spend money right now to order or download more. If you’re interested in classic literature, check out Project Gutenberg, where you can find books whose U.S. copyrights have expired and read them online for free. You can also check if your local library has digital options as well.

 

What all have you come up with to keep yourself busy while you’re staying at home? Share your ideas in the comments!