Hey there! 

It’s been a minute since the last time I posted here on the blog. So much has changed these past weeks that I honestly don’t even know where to begin. If you would’ve told me a month ago that my first post back would be a list of ways to keep yourself busy while social distancing, I wouldn’t have believed you. I mean, can you blame me? 

I wanted to share what I’ve been doing to keep myself busy at home because I, as I imagine most people, have been insanely bored. It’s strange to go from having a busy schedule to staying in one place for weeks on end. But finding activities to do at home has made the situation slightly easier.  

Before I get into it, I want to say that none of these activities are useful in any way other than to give you something to do. I can’t stress this enough. I actually toyed with the idea of calling this post “Pointless things to do during quarantine.” But I think that’s a good thing. This experience is difficult and strange. It’s important to not only stay safe and isolated, but to go easy on yourself as you do so. 

I’ve seen a lot on social media about how you can use this time to maximize your productivity, but that shouldn’t be anyone’s priority right now. This isn’t a work retreat—it’s a pandemic. You’ve got to do what’s best for your physical and mental health. If that means watching a ton of Netflix or walking your dog or cutting your own bangs, so be it (though I’d hold off on the bangs thing unless you’re feeling 100% certain).  

The point is, you shouldn’t feel guilty about being less productive than normal. After all, these aren’t normal circumstances. Hopefully some of these activities can keep you occupied for a little while as we continue to deal with isolation.

P A I N T 

One way I’ve been keeping myself busy is painting. I’m a terrible artist. Like, the actual worst. But I recently realized painting can be a lot of fun, especially if you have a couple hours to kill. I picked up a few canvases before the stay-at-home orders went into effect, but even if you don’t have one, I’m sure you can find something to paint at home. It’s a good way to get creative. 

B L E A C H  Y O U R  C L O T H E S 

One of the things I miss most about pre-quarantine is thrifting. I buy most of my clothes at thrift stores, so not being able to go and look for anything has been frustrating. However, after seeing about a million TikToks of people bleaching their clothes, so I finally decided to jump on the trend and try it for myself. I’ve had fun bleaching old clothes I have at home and getting new use out of them.  

E X P E R I M E N T  W I T H  M A K E U P 

While it’s probably a smart idea to give your skin a reprieve from makeup during isolation, it could also be fun to take this time to test out new looks. From my perspective, not leaving the house means doing bold makeup. I’ve been dipping into the brighter shades of my eyeshadow palettes lately. Sometimes the looks turn out good. Other times, not so much. But it’s an easy way to waste time when you’re cooped up inside. 

K N I T 

Given my love for knitting, it’s no surprise I’ve spent a significant amount of time these past few weeks working on scarves and hats. If you’ve never knitted before, it’s not too difficult to pick up. All you need is a ball of yarn and knitting needles (two sharpened pencils can work as a substitute). An added bonus is you can use your knitting to give back. There are a lot of incredible non-profit organizations you can send your finished projects to that will give them to people in need. 

R E D E C O R A T E

Redecorating doesn’t have to mean buying new things. In fact, sometimes the best way to redecorate is to make use of your old belongings. Go through your closets and storage bins and look for items you can repurpose. You might be surprised by what cool decorative pieces you’ve been neglecting. 

B E  L A Z Y 

Sleep, watch TV, sit around in your backyard. Do whatever helps you relax and minimize your stress, even if it’s not productive. 

I hope you’re staying safe + healthy!

How have you been passing the time? 

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