The outbreak of COVID-19 has brought on some very strange and uncertain times for all of us. None of us have ever experienced something like this before. There was a stay-at-home order in place for about two months but now Denver is phasing into a safer-at-home order. Unfortunately, many places are still closed such as restaurants, gyms, malls, etc. This means that many of us are still staying at home even after the stay-at-home order has been lifted, I have come up with some things that you can do during quarantine that I wanted to share with you all. Let’s be real, we have a lot more free time on our hands now whether we are still working or not. 

 

Binge Watching TV

 

I’m starting with the most obvious - binge watching TV! We all have our shows that we like to watch. Now is the time to get caught up on your TV shows and to even start some new ones. There are a ton of new shows, movies, and documentaries out on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Disney+ etc. The most recent one I’ve watched is Tiger King on Netflix. It is a true crime documentary about an eccentric zookeeper named Joe Exotic. Honestly, it’s one of the weirdest and most interesting things I’ve ever seen in my life and I recommend you add it to your list! Also, if you are a hockey fan like myself and really missing the sport, NBC Sports is playing reruns of epic Stanley Cup games. I have never re-watched hockey before and it’s actually been pretty fun seeing these games again.

 

Exercising

 

For those of us who frequent the gym, it’s been tough not being able to go and it’s really easy to fall out of your workout routine. Regular exercise is not only good for the body, but for the mind as well. It’s important to keep it going, especially during a time like this. There have been many fitness instructors who have started offering classes online and so many of them are FREE! For example, one of our members owns an online based yoga company and has offered free access to the platform for all of our members. It’s so wonderful seeing people do their part and supporting the community. 

 

Cleaning/Organizing

 

There is always something to clean or organize, especially if we are home more often these days! Now is a great time to organize that junk drawer you constantly throw things into. Maybe your pantry has gotten a little out of hand and needs a good reorganization. What about the cabinet underneath your sink? Or maybe tackle an even a bigger project like getting your garage or basement cleaned out. Something that has really helped me nail cleaning/organizing tasks is setting a timer. It helps me focus more on the task at hand and accomplish it quicker. I also recently discovered a blogger named Becky Rapinchuk who goes by “Clean Mama” and it’s been a game changer. She believes in splitting tasks up by day so that your home remains clean throughout the week, and so that you are not stuck doing all of the cleaning on the weekend. She even offers free printables so that you can post them up on your fridge and check off the tasks each day. I recommend checking her out! 

 

Get Outside

 

It is recommended that we stay home during this time, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go outside! We are so lucky to live in a place that is sunny 300 days out of the year. Our brains release a hormone called serotonin, which is also known as the mood boosting hormone, when we are exposed to sunlight. Basically, sun=happiness! Going for a walk around your neighborhood is totally acceptable during this time too (as long as you are practicing social distancing). There is something about breathing in some fresh air that always makes me feel good. 

 

FaceTime

 

Schedule time to FaceTime (or video chat on whatever platform you use) with your loved ones, friends, coworkers, etc. Staying at home can tend to get lonely, especially if you live alone. It’s truly amazing that technology today still allows us to connect with one another without physically being near each other. Research has shown that when we feel connected to others, we experience lower levels of anxiety and depression. So grab your phone or laptop and schedule a virtual happy hour with your coworkers or a virtual dinner with your bestie!

 

 

What are you all doing during quarantine? Let us know? We hope you all stay safe and healthy!