This week I found out that I'm being put on furlough, meaning I officially have no work to do until at least June. Wowcher. When I was writing my five goals for 2020 post I was blissfully unaware (like everyone else) of what was to come.
As I always say, spending a day doing nothing is always the most fun when you're procrastinating from something else. Take final exams at uni, if you read any of my Sick Tings posts during exam season, 99% of the time it was me talking about how much tidying I've been doing or all of the series I've been watching. Now that I have all of this free time and literally nowhere to go - what with everywhere being shut and all that - it's a little less fun...
So, for today's post, I thought I'd ramble on about how I'm keeping myself sane during this coronavirus lockdown in the hope it might help at least one of you navigate these weird times a little easier! Let's get into it, shall we?
How I'm Staying Sane During Coronavirus Lockdown
Getting up at the same time
This may sound really simple, but still getting up at around 7 and heading downstairs for breakfast is really helping to keep some sort of structure to my day. Yes, laying in bed until lunchtime is great, but three weeks in and all sorts of normality would be out of the window. Plus, this will come to an end (hopefully sooner rather than later) and things will all return back to normal. Sticking to a general routine will definitely help with that transition!
Setting daily tasks
Every day at work I set myself a list of things I need to do that day based on urgency, time it will take and so on, and so I've decided to start doing such at home too. Whilst nothing on the list is particularly pressing and often feels like I'm adding things for the sake of it, having a list of things to do really does help to pass the time. For example, yesterday's list included washing and tidying my car, replying to all of my blog comments and teaching myself something new on Photoshop. Yes, I know that these are all very trivial in the grand scheme of things but 12 weeks is a long time to be sat just aimlessly watching Netflix!
Learning something new
As previously alluded to, I'm trying to make sure I use at least *some* of this time productively. Yes, a bit of R&R is important but it would be great to come away from this nightmare with a brand new skillset! My colleagues always laugh at my graphic design attempts - which is more than fair enough, they are pretty awful - so I'd love to head back into the office and actually be able to produce something semi-decent. Watch this space, gang.
Utilising my one walk a day
Who would have thought I'd ever get so excited about taking a quick stroll around the block?! I'm very fortunate to have a garden where I live, so, whilst I'm able to go and sit outside whenever I fancy, it's nice to just go and have a walk and stop staring at my phone/laptop/TV screen.
Making nice meals
With little else exciting going on throughout the day, mealtimes have become even better than usual. I'm sure you're all very much aware that this girl loves her food, so having nice lunches and dinners to look forward to really is making this whole thing a little better. Rather than the chicken and rice meal-prep I was having for lunch at work every day, I can now cook myself anything that I fancy. It's the small things, eh?
Doing all the things I say I never have time for
I've started to realise that maybe my 'I don't have the time for that right now' excuse really means 'I don't want to do that'. Now that I've got all the time in the world, all of those things I said I'd get round to eventually are all staring me in the face, waiting to be done and I don't fancy doing them. But, I am gradually ticking them off and it feels gooood. This lockdown has even seen me wash and hoover my car, something I haven't ever done, bearing in mind I bought it in July! So, I'm really trying to make the most of this time and do all of these really-not-interesting-but-needs-doing tasks.
Keeping in touch with friends
Again, probably an obvious one, but I'm really making a conscious effort to check in with my friends and see how they're doing. Considering we all graduated only last summer with all of these grand plans ahead of us, it's weird to think how many of us are just sat around at home for the foreseeable...
What are you doing to stay sane during this coronavirus lockdown?
22 comments
Some great tips here, and I am already doing the majority! Sending you love during this tough tough time xx
ReplyDeletewww.styleandsplurging.net
Thank you girl! Same to you, I hope you're keeping well!! x
DeleteI'm trying to do the same with utilising my one walk a day, making sure it is at least an hour! I would love to learn something new, graphic design sounds amazing. I think I'd love to learn another language, although might be a challenge but we've got time! xx
ReplyDeletewww.iridescentplaces.com
Yes, who'd have thought we'd all be valuing a walk so much in 2020, hey?! Wow, now that would be cool - good luck with that! Let me know how you get on! x
DeleteThank you so much for sharing your ideas and thoughts! I also try to do all the things I usually never have time for xx
ReplyDeletewww.anacelinelabod.de
It really is the perfect time, isn't it! x
DeleteJust the post I needed to read at this crazy, weird time! Thanks for sharing! Luckily I’m still working so that keeps me busy Monday-Friday but you’ve shared some good points for the weekend and evenings for me!
ReplyDeleteHolly x
www.adailydoseofholly.com
It's my pleasure! Ahhh, that's a very good way to keep at least some normality! x
DeleteThis is such a lovely post. I have to say I think keeping in touch with friends is the main thing keeping me
ReplyDeleteSane ATM haha. B x
www.babblesnbooks.wordpress.com
Thank you so much! Haha you're not the only one, me too! x
DeleteSome amazing tips here Becca! I've been learning Spanish so I'm learning something new everyday! I usually get up the same time everyday, I seem to have gotten into the routine of getting up at 10am! I try and clean something everyday too x
ReplyDeleteLucy | www.lucymary.co.uk
Thank you so much! Wow, I'd love to do that - what are you using to do that? Sounds like you've got a great little routine set out! x
DeleteI've work from home for the last 3 years, so it's more or less business as usual for me. I did lose a client, so I have some extra time. Love your tip about getting up at the same time. :]
ReplyDelete// stay safe,
Carmen
Oh, I'm sorry to hear that! It's definitely nice to have some extra time though, isn't it! x
DeleteI am trying to stick to my normal routine too, getting up early otherwise I find that I'm just not productive enough xo
ReplyDeleteMakeup Muddle
Yessssss, me too! x
DeleteI think it's a good idea to stick to your routine. My friend came up with a good idea to have a game night where we all download the confernce call app, Zoom, and then we can play a questionaire game together. Lol, whatever works!
ReplyDeleteKaitlyn @ Oh, the Places We’ll Go!
Ahhhhh this sounds like a great plan, I'm going to ask my friends if they'd like to do something similar! x
DeleteLove this post! Last week when we were just easing into self isolation was SO uninspiring! With no structure to my day it just felt like a weekend all the time, which meant my mental health was not at its best. Completely agree that having small tasks and a routine helps so much. I've been getting up at the same time each day, starting work at the same time and going running at the same time which has helped a lot. Running has helped me because I can feel like I've achieved something, which is hard at the moment being inside all the time. But, I've tried to use this time to do more writing, which has been good fun!
ReplyDeleteHope you're okay at the moment! xx
https://www.flolavita.com/2020/04/broken-home_1.html
Thank you so much! Sounds like you've got a good routine sorted out now, I must start going for runs, they really do wonders for your mood don't they! x
DeleteI think setting daily tasks is such an important thing to do or else you can really lose your sense of purpose. Also I'm making the most of my daily walk because wow, I need that fresh air haha!
ReplyDeleteLucy | Forever September
Love this Becca! I'm trying to wake up at the same time (some days are harder than others) but I really find the daily walk is great for clearing my head and having a good start to the day x
ReplyDeleteMegan | https://meganelizabethlifestyle.com/