If you’re still in a state of lockdown, being stuck inside can make life a lot more stressful. But with the right mindset and some fun activities, being stuck at home doesn’t have to be a dreadful event. In fact, there are plenty of things you can do to help you stay positive and motivated so that you’re making the most of your time at home, also if you’re looking for ways on how to cheer someone up, here are some tips to help you keep the right state of mind and a list of some activities at home that will keep you and your loved ones occupied until it’s time to head back out into the world.
Tips to Stay Positive During Lockdown
Keeping a positive frame of mind will make lockdown a lot easier on your physical and mental wellbeing. Here are a few tips and suggestions that will promote a positive mindset, increase your dopamine levels, and help you foster good mental health.
Practice Self-Care
Relax and enjoy some “Me Time.” Since you’re already at home, it’s a perfect time to enjoy a bit of self-care and pampering. Whether there’s a novel you’ve been excited to read or you really want to spend more time soaking in a warm bubble bath, feel free to enjoy an abundance of quality “me time.” Doing so can help reduce feelings of fear, anxiety, and restlessness.
Write in a journal. Using a journal to write down your thoughts and feelings is a very cathartic experience. Take some time every day to write down a list of the things you’re grateful for, or just a journal of what you’re feeling that day. When you write what’s on your mind, you’ll feel a strong sense of release that can be an incredible stress reliever.
Move your body. Being stuck at home doesn’t mean that you can’t take the opportunity to exercise. Try something new while you’re on lockdown, you can register for a virtual Pilates, or Zumba class, or practice yoga at home, try some beginner’s vinyasa poses to start, and then go deeper as you feel comfortable. Find a spot at home that you can turn and style into a gym or yoga studio. Not only will you be able to keep your body moving, but you might also learn something new and meet a few virtual friends along the way. Exercise is good for your physical and mental health, and it’s a great way to start the day by getting your blood circulating.
Eat healthy food. If you’re a junk food fan, staying at home offers a great opportunity to try some healthy recipes. Look for new ideas for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, like a healthy berry breakfast bowl, fresh-pressed juices, and fruit smoothies; create a “healthy meal plan” and make a grocery list. You can find scores of healthy food ideas online, or buy a few cookbooks that are packed with nourishing meal ideas. Staying at home provides you with the time and space you need to really think about the foods you eat and what you put in your body so you can look at food in a new, healthier way.
Meditate. Start a meditation practice, quiet time at home offers a chance for some meditation and stress relief. Achieve a state of Zen by dedicating yourself to a meditation session every day. You can set up a space at home for meditation to begin your mornings, or end your days with a meditation session in the evening before bedtime. Whatever time you choose, meditation can help you discover the practice of mindfulness, relieve stress and depression, develop emotional intelligence and make you feel happier and calmer throughout the day.
Pamper yourself. Make lockdown a chance to really pamper yourself with regular spa days. Light a few scented candles, put on your favorite playlist, and relax in the tub. Treat yourself to a soft bathrobe, and when you’re done soaking, luxuriate in its softness while you do a face mask, manicure, or pedicure.
Get enough sleep. It’s crucial to get proper sleep every night, even while you’re stuck at home. Not having to stick to a schedule outside of the house can make it tempting to stay up late and get little to no sleep. Even if your schedule is flexible now, maintain a daily bedtime and wake-up time. Adults should get at least seven hours of sleep per night for a healthy, productive day.
Set Boundaries
Stick to a schedule. One way to stay sane while you’re stuck at home is to create, and then stick to, a schedule. Devising a set schedule for your daily tasks or creating a schedule with a daily free schedule planner will help you stay on track and prevent you from missing important deadlines or falling behind if you work or attend school from home.
Have a designated work/study area. You’ll be much more productive and happier if you have a separate, designated work or study area while you’re at home. Choose a quiet part of your home to dedicate solely to work and school-related tasks, and set it up so that it’s functional — create a comfortable environment, provide plenty of storage, and add task lighting.
Take it easy on the news. Staying on top of what’s happening locally, nationally, and worldwide is important, of course, but too much news can have a detrimental effect on your psyche and wellbeing and make life unnecessarily anxious and stressful. Try not to turn on the news first thing when you wake up, and don’t watch it right before you go to bed. Turn off your news site notifications on your phone so you’re not seeing headlines all day. Make a choice to read the news just once a day.
Do Fun Activities
Get a new hobby. Try something new, like painting, drawing, or embroidery while you’re stuck at home. Picking up a new hobby can give you a tremendous feeling of fulfillment and achievement, and it relieves stress and anxiety.
Connect with nature. Studies show that people who spend just a few minutes in nature each day have lower stress levels. Take an evening stroll, create a butterfly garden in your backyard, or do some birdwatching on a nature trail, and watch your stress melt away.
Learn a new skill. From woodworking to fixing cars, now is a great time to pick up a new skill. You can start by taking a few classes online, and see where it takes you.
Read an interesting book. Having extra downtime is a great opportunity to read a good book. Read the biography of someone you admire, or dig into a popular mystery novel. If you prefer, subscribe to an audio book service, and listen as you do your hobbies.
Watch something new. If you feel left out when your friends talk about the hottest new TV show or movie, now is a wonderful time to catch up. Pick a new series or movie to watch in your free time so you can enjoy a temporary escape and discover something fun you may have missed out on in the past.
Socialize and Stay Positive
Call a friend or family member once a day. Make a point to call and catch up with at least one friend or family member each day. Not only will you make them smile, but it’ll make you smile and feel less alone, too.
Talk about your feelings. Don’t be afraid to talk about how you feel with the people you know and love. Holding your worries inside can lead to higher stress levels. Spend some time talking to others about your feelings, and you’ll probably find that they relate. This can make you feel less alone, and you can trade strategies for meeting the challenges of lockdown.
Plan for the future. Being stuck at home isn’t forever, so take this time to start making plans for your future. Whether it’s starting a new business, going back to school, or planning the best places to visit on your next vacation, making future plans is a great way to stay positive while you’re stuck at home.
Be grateful. Take time to be grateful for the things you have, and make note of them every day. Whether it’s your good health, your job, your family, or your home, expressing gratitude reduces anxiety and stress, and it improves your outlook and mindset.
Repeat positive mantras. If you’re having trouble staying positive, try to repeat a few positive mantras every day. Think of some phrases or sayings that you can relate to, and say them out loud daily. You can also hang a print or piece of artwork on the wall that features a positive mantra to keep your spirits high.
Maintain a Healthy Environment
Keep your home clean. A clean, decluttered home will make you feel good about your environment. It’s also a great way to have some positive reinforcement while you’re stuck at home. Make a list of daily or weekly cleaning duties, and stick to it. You can also do a spring cleaning since it’s the best time of the year to fix any disrepairs. You’ll enjoy a feeling of accomplishment in addition to a clean home. Listen to music or an audiobook to make cleaning enjoyable.
Let the sun and air in. Enjoy a healthy environment by letting some fresh air and natural sunlight in whenever you can. Open your windows, feel the breeze, and pull back the curtains so you can get a little bit of extra vitamin D from the sunshine.
Improve your home. This is a great time to do a little bit of home improvement. Whether you want to tile the fireplace, install a new light fixture, or remodel your entire kitchen, staying at home can give you lots of inspiration and good ideas to make the changes you’ve always wanted to make.
Activities to Do at Home
Remember, just because you’re stuck at home, it doesn’t mean you have to be bored. Try some of these activities at home to keep you entertained, happy, and occupied.
Activities for Kids
There are numerous ways to keep kids entertained, and some of these activities at home can even be educational and help kids develop their artistic skills and abilities, you can do some STEM projects that are perfect for kids, and this will keep your kids occupied and learning new stuff while at home.
Play hide-and-seek. Have some fun playing hide-and-seek with the kids while you’re at home. This classic game is a great way to keep kids’ bodies and minds active, and it also encourages them to use their imaginations.
Make a bird feeder. Gather some supplies, and have a crafting day where the kids can make their own handmade bird feeder. This is a great opportunity to teach your kids about the birds in their own backyard while fostering their artistic, creative side.
Collect and paint rocks. Head outside, and have the kids collect a few rocks from the back yard. Bring them in, wash them off, and let the kids have a blast as they paint them in all kinds of fun colors and designs. Older kids might have fun writing inspirational messages on rocks and going for walks to drop them on the sidewalk for someone else to find.
Bake and decorate fun desserts. Since you’re at home, there’s no better time to teach your children the art of baking. Come up with some delicious, fun desserts that you can make together, and let them have a ball decorating cakes, cupcakes, and cookies with colorful icing and sprinkles.
Practice Yoga with Kids. This practice isn’t just for adults, it can be for kids as well, and in some cases, Yoga can help with depression, no matter what stage of life you are in. Look for a few online classes for kids so that everyone in the family stays active and flexible through the lockdown.
Activities for Seniors
Finding new hobbies and activities for seniors is not hard, depending on the person’s preferences and abilities, there is a wide range of different possibilities for them, check out some of these great ideas:
Start a Project. Seniors can keep their minds and hands active with a new project like knitting, or start growing veggies indoors. Take up something new, like origami, or look for ways you can upcycle and reuse old items around and turn them into beautiful and useful crafts for the home, or turn into art and start oil painting or watercolor painting since it is known that Art Therapy can help prevent Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Adopt a pet. Being stuck at home is a great time to consider adopting a pet in need. Check with your local animal shelter or humane society to find out what pets are available for adoption. Pets are a wonderful, constant companion that can make being stuck at home a lot less lonely.
Cook new recipes. Try your hand at some new, creative recipes. From a new crockpot meal to a creative dessert, this is the time to get bold and brave in the kitchen.
Play board and card games. If you can have family or friends over, play a fun board game or a hand of cards together. Using board games for bonding with your loved ones at home is a great way to spend time and create great memories with your partner, friends, and family. You can also play a game together remotely online if they can’t come over, or if you like to play chess, you can get a travel chess set and meet with a friend in a safe outdoor area.
Complete a puzzle. Puzzles can be a wonderful activity for seniors, it is a great way to keep your mind active and strong. Complete a puzzle or try your hand at crossword puzzles, word searches, or Sudoku so that your mind is constantly working to stay strong. Jigsaw puzzles are fun and challenging and can help you while away the long hours at home.
Just because you’re stuck at home, it doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy the moment. Consider these tips and activities to keep your mental health positive and your days occupied. Whether it’s trying your hand at a new hobby, playing games with kids, or doing a little pampering, you can enjoy staying at home with the right tools and mindset.
