How To Stay Busy And Pass The Time

As many of us are now working from home or temporarily laid off, we find ourselves with more time on our hands than ever.  Schools have been closed indefinitely and our students are also home.  So what’s everyone doing to stay busy and pass the time?

As it turns out, there are many things to do at home to stay busy.  It’s a great time to spring clean the house, start that painting project you’ve been putting off, or clean out closets, cabinets, and drawers.  But aside from household chores, maybe it’s time to reconnect with those you love the most.

As difficult as it may be to have everyone under one roof 24/7, it’s a welcome opportunity to spend time with family.  I know not everyone is in this boat, but for those of us who are, what can we do to maximize the time we are essentially being forced to spend with each other?  How do we keep everyone’s spirits up?   Maybe you are having a family game night or watching movies together.    Perhaps you have younger children and are doing crafts at home.

Whatever the case, this is a fantastic time to teach your kids and take advantage of this gift of time.  No matter the age, kids love to stay busy and learn new things.  They may not admit it, but they do.  Teaching life skills while they are at home will assist them in becoming independent adults.

Our oldest is learning about household electrical systems, installing interior doors, carpentry, framing walls, and other home improvement projects.  Our youngest is learning to drive.  Both have taken an interest in the food we eat.  We try to explain as best we can what is happening with the economy and how we can do our part to help struggling local businesses.  

Even if you are living alone, there are ways to pass the time.  For example, reaching out to friends you haven’t had time to contact, binge-watching your favorite show (or one you have been meaning to watch), organizing your emails, photos, or files are all things we can do now since we have time. 

The main thing I have struggled with over the last two months is a feeling of defeat and a bit of the blues, which honestly made it difficult to stay motivated.  Does anyone else feel this way at times?  How do you overcome it?  For one thing, I cannot watch the news all day, nor can I scroll through social media.  It makes me crazy, depressed, and interferes with my inner peace. We are supposed to get outside.  Even if you are in “quarantine,” you are free to move about your property.  It’s a great way to lift your spirits!

Get some fresh air.  Personally, walking helps improve my mood and makes me feel better, as does gardening.  The vitamin D you get from being outside can actually help your body fight viruses.  Another positive.  So on warm days, I find myself outside playing in the dirt and getting ready for our growing season.  It’s therapeutic in many ways.

Mostly, I try to stay positive, which I admit can be difficult! For a while, I definitely lost my sunny outlook on life.  As the weather gets better and things begin to return to normal, which I have faith will happen soon, people will begin to reconnect with each other. We are social beings, and spending time with friends and family is good for the soul.

I pray for everyone who is struggling with COVID, whether directly or indirectly.  For those of you who have been forced to close your businesses and have gone months without a paycheck, I sincerely hope you can get back to work soon. We appreciate you all!

Keeping my faith during this time has been critical for my sanity.  I do believe everything happens for a reason.  I trust that this too shall pass.  We will unite and overcome.  Maybe forcing us to slow down and spend time together is a good thing.  It’s certainly been eye-opening! We can turn this negative experience into a positive one.

God Bless,

April

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