Many of us think of our homes as our investments, but truly they are our shelters and sanctuaries. Today they provide more value to us than they ever have with all that is going on in the world. We can appreciate our homes for the safe havens they are and for protecting our families while we wait this out.
Here are some ideas to help you fill your time.
- Take a Hike — We live in one of the most beautiful states in the country. Get out there and take in the natural beauty that is all around us.
- Clean out your Closets and Organize your Drawers — Get rid of all those winter clothes you never wore last winter and organize that junk drawer everything is just piled in.
- Organize your Photos — If you are anything like me, you have literally hundreds of photos stored in many different files. Now’s a great time to go through them and get them all in one place, delete and organize them.
- Spring Cleaning — What a great time to get a head start on your spring cleaning. Wipe down your fans, windowsills and baseboards. Clean your oven. Change your smoke detector batteries so they don’t go off at 3 a.m.!
- Read a Book — Read that book you never have time to pick up (or nowadays download).
- Binge Watch TV — Thank goodness for Netflix. Now you can binge watch all those TV shows you have been meaning to catch up on.
- Call Someone — Take the time to connect with someone you haven’t spoken to in a while.
- Start a Journal — I love to journal and if I am worried or stressed about something, just writing it down and getting it out can be all it takes to put things back in perspective.
- Meditate — This is something new for me, but everyone says how good it is, so I think I’m going to give it a go.
- Exercise — Like so many, that was my New Year’s resolution, and how many times have I worked out so far this year? A big fat zero. So now that I have the time, there is no excuse not to start exercising at home. Who needs a gym or equipment? You can fill a couple of gallon water or milk jugs with water to a weight you want to start at and use them as dumbbells. Do squats, pushups and sit ups, and find some rope or string to use as a skip rope to get your cardio.
- Relax — Relax and take time for yourself. Take a hot bubble bath, light some candles and unwind.
FUN THINGS TO DO WITH YOUNG CHILDREN
- Board Games — Remember those old ones that didn’t require a phone or computer screen to play? Play some Scrabble, Connect 4, Monopoly or any old board games you have laying around.
- Play Cards — When I was young, I used to love the fast-paced game Snap. Look online to find new and old card games to play with all ages.
- Play Pictionary — If you don’t have the game, make up your own cards.
- Remember When — Have everyone write something they remember about each other, a funny moment, a first, a moment you will never forget.
- Build a Fort — Give your children a bunch of sheets and let them rearrange the furniture to make forts. They will have fun for hours.
- Have a Camp Out — Have an adventure by camping out in your own backyard.
- Go Crazy and Do a Mural — Using paint you have in your garage and the kid’s playroom, paint a mural. Pick a wall and let everyone’s artistic talents come out. Once this is over you can keep it or take a picture of it, then paint the wall.
Most important for children is to keep them on a schedule; children often fear the unknown. All families need some type of routine to establish normalcy, a way to get things done and a sense of security.
If you need anything, if I can help in any way, please do not hesitate to call or email me.