In times like these, while we are facing the Coronavirus pandemic, being alive and safe at home with our families, or knowing that our loved ones are safe, is certainly something to be grateful for. Gratitude can change your attitude. Here are some fun and engaging activities, household chores tips and relaxing techniques you can implement with your family while you're staying at home.
No one plans to move their work office into their homes, work out in their garage and homeschool their kids all at once without being able to leave their homes and staying away from their family and friends. One study by Pennsylvania State University found that both men and women experience more stress at home than at work. This explains why many families are anxiously feeling "stuck at home".
There's no reason to allow boredom to take over
There are plenty of fun and engaging activities you can enjoy with your family while you're staying at home.
Gather around a book. This is a fun favorite that never gets old. There's always a new and exciting story to read. It doesn't matter if your family is in the mood for fiction or nonfiction, enjoy some family time and get lost in the story.
Have game nights. Schedule game nights with your family and invite friends to join virtually. You can do family style games to accommodate the little ones. Asking them to come up with game ideas is a great way of keeping them involved. You can also arrange virtual evening games for the adults with good conversations. Either way, you can have a great time!
Make meals together. With your family members or partner, decide on nutritious meals that everyone can participate in preparing. Perhaps you'll want to try something totally new, or maybe the family would rather go with old favorites. The goal is to get everyone involved.
Do and share family arts & crafts. While people of all ages can be affected by the Coronavirus, older people and those with pre-existing conditions are more vulnerable. Because of this, many grandparents are not able to spend as much time with their families. Kids can maintain contact with them by doing special crafts or cards. These can then me mailed out or sent through email or as shared photos to grandparents and other family members.
Catch up on your own crafts. This is the perfect time to bring out some crafts that you've been meaning to do. Sometimes bigger projects get abandoned and never looked at again. Here's your chance to finally finish that quilt, scarf, or model airplane.
Learn new hobbies or skills. Have you or your kids always wanted to play a musical instrument or learn a special skill? Thanks to online classes and video tutorials, it is easier than ever to learn or master something new. One of the best things is that many of these tutorials are totally free of charge.
Encourage conversation. Work on your communications. Listen closely to what your children have to say. Talk about deep subjects or things that interest them the most.
Sift through photographs. Take some time to reminisce over some photos. If you have a collection of photographs from old film cameras, maybe you can make a project out of it and scan them so they're in a digital format. You can also start a digital or craft scrapbook of your family.
Enjoy tea or favorite beverage. This is one of our own family favorites. Make up a pot of something you and your family enjoy most. Sit around the table and chat, or watch a good movie together.
Share interests. Find activities you and your kids enjoy doing. Sign up for online parent and child stretching classes or puzzles and projects you both enjoy.
Take it to the sidewalk. This is one of our girls favorite. They love sitting in their wagon or riding their tricycles around the neighborhood. Whether its for a few minutes or a few miles, your family will both have fun and benefit from the sunlight while enjoying a walk or riding bikes. Remember to take along your family's favorite song selections.
Plan a backyard campout. Have an official campout right in your own backyard. You can simulate a true camping experience. You can set-up a tent, equip it with sleeping bags, lanterns and mosquito repellant to get the real feel of the outdoors.
Camp indoors. If you are like my lovely husband, who doesn't enjoy outdoor camping, you don't have to miss out on the camping experience. Bring out the camping gear and camp out in the living room with your family. You might even want to include your favorite camping treats. This activity can provide a lot of fun and togetherness. You can have a night of family memories that you'll never forget.
Plan family movie nights. You may not be able to leave home for a movie night, but there's no reason to leave once you have a TV, warm blankets and lots of nutritious treats. Create the ambience you want by having everything available that the movie theater would.
Enjoy a beach trip in your backyard. If you live close to the beach as we do in Central Florida, but are not able to go due to beach closures and social distancing. Your family can enjoy some time at backyard beach. You may not have the sea, but you certainly have sun and water and even the sand (if you already have a sandbox). Take all the toys and playthings that you and your kids will enjoy using outdoors along with beach toys and beach balls. Have your outdoor beach picnic with your favorite beach snacks or meals.
Bring your favorite restaurant home. While it may be best to limit ordering or picking up take-out, it is a good idea to enjoy your family's favorite restaurant meals at home. With this comes multiple benefits; Your family gets to enjoy their favorite meal and you take a break from cooking, all while helping the economy.
Taking Care of Household Responsibilities
While adopting new family hobbies are important to avoid boredom, spending more time at home also means added messes, more dishes and additional chores. Here are some tips that may help with household tasks.
Clean as you go. Taking care of messes immediately and cleaning just 15-30 minutes a day may be enough to keep your home presentable in between deeper cleanings.
Eliminate clutter. Set aside items you rarely use to donate or sell at a later date. Housekeeping is much easier when you limit your possessions to the essentials.
Reduce consumption. Keep clutter from developing by limiting your shopping. Ask yourself if you really need something before you buy it in person or online. Due to the current stay at home orders and social distancing recommendations, many are ordering online which makes it easier to get carried away.
Coordinate activities. Be strategic about doctor appointments and grocery trips. Try to accomplish errands with fewer trips and less miles. Batch similar tasks together like doing your laundry while you dust the living room.
Cut back. Set priorities and say goodbye to old routines that add little value. You may decide to skip ironing and use the cook once, eat twice technique.
Pull together. Ask each family member to do their part to make each day easier. Split up chores with your partners and children. Rotate jobs or pick the ones that each of you like the most.
Ways to Relax in 5 Minutes or Less
It’s easy to relax when you’re on vacation as you lie on the beach or stroll through museums. However, peace can be more elusive now that your kids are home and your inbox is overflowing with work.
Fortunately, there are ways to make relaxing simple and quick. Try these foolproof methods for unwinding while you are at home.
Turn off your phone. Disconnect for a while each day. Make family meals and the final hours before bed a phone-free time.
Listen to music. Put on your local classical radio station or any music that you enjoy. Sit down and pay attention without trying to multitask.
Meditate briefly. Even a few minutes of meditation can increase your mindfulness. Pull up a cushion and observe your thoughts. You could also do walking meditation around your living room or patio.
Visualize peace. Guided imagery is another powerful technique. Picture a scene that makes you feel tranquil inside and out. Imagine yourself walking through a field of flowers or swimming in a beautiful pool.
Massage your feet. Five minutes is barely time to draw a bath, but you can soak your feet. Fill a basin with warm water. Squeeze your heels and gently pull on each toe.
Drink a hot tea. Any hot or warm beverage without caffeine can be soothing. Add vanilla or cinnamon to coconut milk or sip a cup of chamomile tea.
Sniff lavender. Sample a variety of essential oils used for relaxation. You may discover a personal favorite, or you may want to rotate among lavender, valerian, and bergamot.
Breathe deeply. When you feel tense, turn your attention to your breath. Inhale deeply from your abdomen and lengthen your exhalations.
Adjust your posture while working at home. Scan your body to release any spots where you may be holding on to stress. Squeeze your shoulder blades together and press them down. Soften your forehead and blink your eyes.
Take a walk. If possible, head outside to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. If you need to stay indoors, climb a few flights of stairs or walk from one end of the room to the other.
Stretch your muscles. Stand up and perform a few static stretches. Lower yourself into a forward bend. Clasp your elbows behind your back.
Laugh about it. Look for the humor even in this challenging situation. Share a joke with a friend or post funny quotes around your house. Laughter loosens up your muscles and boosts your immune system.
Hopefully these tips can help take the stress out of your days so you and your family can enjoy more peace and happiness while you continue to be "safe at home".
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