Oops, I Did It a First Time

That was me setting it up to title another one "Oops, I Did It Again,” if you're wondering.

I'm so sorry I have been slacking on my new blog! The reason is a good one though: I went back to work! Thank goodness. While I was very much enjoying my time at home, sometimes a depressing feeling sets in from not having accomplished as much as I feel like I should (although I started a blog and opened an Etsy store, I think that counts for something!).

But if you're still at home I wanted to share what I did to help counteract feelings of depression and isolation in these times where we must stand together, 6 feet apart.

Spend time with pets

Do you have furry friends at home? Now is a great time to pamper them with love! Play lots of fetch (or catch the laser pointer), go on walks, build them new structures (my husband and I are building a catio soon!), and just spend time with your good boy or girl while you have it. If you don't have a pet but have been wanting one, now is a good time since you have plenty of time to train them and introduce them safely to your other pets; that’s not to mention that shelters may be becoming overloaded, so it's a great time to rescue if you can afford it!

Stop watching so much TV

Being a couch potato isn't going to help you feel less depressed! I love mindless television as much as the next girl,but this usually makes me feel worse rather than better. Even if you're watching a really good show (we just startedThe Walking Dead),try to limit to a few hours a day. You can clean house or go for a walk and use that as a reward for the less fun things you should do during quarantine.

Image via Facebook.

Try cooking new dishes

Who needs an excuse to go on Pinterest??

Now is a great time to try new things. My husband and I just started cooking with gnocchi and we LOVE it. I plan to make my own garlic butter next. Trying new food may give you something to look forward to, and you might find a new favorite dish.

Image via Dinnerly

Go for walks - without congesting the parks

Okay, look, EVERYONE wants to get out of the house. But this doesn't mean you HAVE to go to the park. My husband and I usually walk a few laps around our neighborhood. No sidewalks, just roads,and we just watch out for cars. Yes, the park is awesome,but where we live there has been a bad problem with them getting congested. You can still catch the virus outside! If you see the park you plan to visit is packed,just find another one or walk in the downtown district of your city.

Start an outdoor activity

I recently started a vegetable garden,and I love it. Taking care of other things always helps give me a boost of sweet, sweet serotonin; and I get to eat it later! I planted my favorite vegetables: broccoli, zucchini,and green peppers. I didn't know how to till,so I just Googled it! It was both easy and a workout. If gardening isn't your thing,you could try sunbathing; or,if it is your thing, landscaping. Anything to keep you from feeling trapped in your house while also giving you a little vitamin D!

Online group games

I miss my friends so much. We used to go out to eat every week,and it's hard not seeing them. But,thanks to the internet,we can still hang out. We have been playing board games on a program called Tabletop Simulator. It's exactly that: a simulated table. You can play just about any board game or card game with other people who have the game. We've played tons of Uno, mini golf,and even The Game of Life. Another similar option is JackBox Party Pack. You have to have something to screen share (like Discord or Zoom),but the results are pretty hilarious. There's drawing, trivia, and joke games, so a little for everyone.

Image via Steam

Texting your friends and catching up

If calling someone just takes too much out of you (and it definitely can!), try texting some friends you haven't heard from in a while. I'm not talking about your old high school classmate, rather your friend you haven't talked to since quarantine started. Check on them, catch up, ask what they’ve been doing to pass the time. It might give you more ideas on what to do yourself, but it's also just nice to check on people once in a while, and maybe they will do the same for you.

It doesn't all have to be about a hustle or learning a new skill. I started my blog for fun, and I started my Etsy store because I finally had time, BUT I had been generating content for it 2 months prior to quarantine. Don't think you have to "rise and grind" to be productive. Just getting out of bed and changing clothes can be productive enough some days!

I hope everyone is staying sane, and if not, I hope this helped give you some ideas on how to be!

Thanks for reading!