Stuck at home, working and staring at the wall? I feel ya. Yes, get your work done! But also take this time for yourself. It’s so easy to get bogged down and hunched over your computer. But don’t! Set up a new workspace in a different area, and make two separate to-do lists: your work to-do list and your personal to-do list. Laundry, dishes, vacuuming, etc. can all go on your personal list, while your work tasks go on your work to-do list.

But what about after work? What about those in-between breaks? Yeah, scrolling through Instagram and Twitter can be fun, but if you catch yourself doing a deep dive into what’s going on with coronavirus, don’t let yourself get sucked in. Try these activities instead.

Watch movies! Watch one Marvel movie a day. I personally am watching ALL of the Marvel movies in chronological order. So far, I’ve watched Iron Man, Iron Man 2, and Captain America: The First Avenger. (I skipped Hulk because it wasn’t on Disney+). And if you’re not a Marvel fan, then try some other movie marathon! Harry Potter, Twilight, Jason Bourne, or even a rom-com marathon! I recommend watching one movie a day, so you don’t have to be glued to your TV screen all day. 

Start a blog. Hey, I opened Wordpress in college one day and started writing. I’m no successful blogger, but writing for the blog helps me stay sane. Obviously, I’m now blogging on Squarespace and that first Wordpress blog is non-existent. But start a blog! You never know where it might end up in a few months or years. Push yourself beyond your comfort zone and get writing!

Start writing that book. Ambitious, aren’t we? But DO IT. Why not start today? If writing a novel is a dream, then just do it. There are tons of courses out there that teach you how, and then there’s Wattpad and other resources that allow you to self-publish.

Pick a show to binge-watch. And watch only two episodes that day. !! To not get sucked in because work, so limit yourself to two episodes a day. Some of my favorites are Gilmore Girls, Gossip Girl, Grey’s Anatomy, and New Girl. What’s yours??

Read that book that you’ve been meaning to finish. Yeah, seriously. For me, I’m trying to get through Clash of Kings (the second book in the GOT series). I’ve even ordered the third book in the series to get me motivated. I have a little over 200 pages left!!

Read light-hearted books, too. In addition to heavy books that intimidate you, try reading light-hearted books too. Maybe something that isn’t 800 pages—opt for something in the 250-300 range. My suggestions are: Fix Her Up, To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, American Royals, and Park Avenue Summer. These are such great recommendations. Also, look up #bookstagram on Instagram—you won’t regret it. You’ll find TONS of book suggestions and genres of all kinds.

Educate yourself on how to stay safe. When all else fails, start reading practical tips on this coronavirus pandemic. Don’t worry yourself with the death rate and how many people have it; educate yourself on what you can do to slow the spread, social distancing, and how long this may go on. The CDC and the WHO are doing everything they can in their power to get ahold of this situation and control it. So I encourage (dare I say, influence?) you to learn more about this growing pandemic. I’m no expert, but I do want to encourage anyone who may read my blog and follow me on social to educate themselves on this growing pandemic.