Projects during quarantine
We are home-bound, and for those with curtailed career-related work, some people are complaining of boredom. Instead of being bored, be productive! My guess is that, if you look around your home and property, you’ll find plenty of opportunities for improvement, like repairs that have been neglected and exterior lawn and garden work to be done. You know what I’m talking about–all those “We should…..” maintenance or improvement projects that have been neglected. If you are more likely to tackle a closet clean-out project, you may also be providing much-needed donations of clothes and household goods. There will be more people than ever needing those things you are no longer using. Click here for more.
I made the bold decision (read: bit off a little more than I wanted to chew) to repaint my interior space. With my daughter’s help, we actually did a decent job. The taping, spackling, sanding, tarping, removal of pictures from the walls were all time consuming and not what I’d call fun, but it looks so much better. I also feel a sense of having been productive and improved my home. It’s nicer for me to spend time in (which I’m doing a lot of these days) as well as improving its value were I to sell it.
Home improvement projects not your thing?
Not every home owner is a DIY enthusiast and some people keep their homes in pristine condition, so house projects might not make sense. Additionally, in this uncertain economy, many are uncomfortable with unnecessary cash outlays. Fear not! You can still be productive during quarantine. Are there things you’ve always wanted to learn how to do? Play the ukulele? knit? learn Korean? I’ve been teaching myself how to make sourdough bread. I’ve read a bunch on line and discovered an added benefit: there are blogs and facebook groups out there for just about any hobby or interest. Interacting virtually with people who are involved in something you’re learning about are usually happy to talk and provide another source of connection/community.
Organizing during quarantine is a worthy endeavor!
If your desk looks anything like mine, well….enough said on that subject. Maybe it’s time to digitize all of those old family photographs so they aren’t lost to damage. One of my daughters (strongly) suggested to me that I ought to type out all of my recipes so “they are readable and they don’t get lost”. Of course, if you are in sales or a business that relies on using your contact management system (CRM) for generating income, that’s a great thing to organize during this time at home. You might also look at your personal contact list and connect with people whom you haven’t talked to recently. A quick call or text or email saying, “I’m thinking of you and wanted to let you know that!” can be incredibly welcome and appreciated.
Planning for post-quarantine
This one is a little tricky. Thinking beyond today, since none of us can predict what the immediate future looks like, is a challenge. However, there will be life after quarantine and while we don’t know exactly what shape it will take, it’s best to be ready for it! So you might want to consider some longer term planning. (If nothing else, it will allow you to focus on something other than corona virus news.). You don’t have to spend any money, either! For exampe, I looked through all the websites I use to order my bulbs and perennials and made lists of what I’d like to plant this fall. I made a garden sketch to figure out how many of which plant I needed and noted where everything would go to make planting much easier.
Are you considering a vacation with your family? You can do the research now and scope out the best hotels, attractions, time to go….true, it might not come to fruition, but if it does, you’ll be prepared! If you are NOT interested in doing home improvements as mentioned in the beginning of this post, you can make a master list of all those projects for future planning. If you are a calendar keeper, make sure all your important dates (events, birthdays, appointments) are recorded and reminders are created.
Make the most out of quarantine
Very few of us would choose to be in quarantine. However, we are. So try to make the best of it and find things you can do that are productive. They can be personal betterment projects, like learning a new skill, community-focused projects, like donating items you are finished with, or tangible projects like painting your house. Soon enough, I promise you, we will be complaining of being too busy to do these kinds of things. My advice is to follow the adage “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade”. Stay healthy and safe.
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