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How many times have we told ourselves, “If only I had more time I could…” 

Well, wouldn’t you know it, here we are. Certainly, the circumstances that have given many of us this time are not ideal, and with all the fear and uncertainty around COVID-19 it can be easy to spend a lot of time worrying. But, if we’re going to be stuck at home anyway, why not make the most of it? Here are some productive ways to spend your time while social distancing.

1. Exercise! We know, we know…..it’s about as basic of a recommendation as it gets. But that is for good reason: staying active is always important, particularly while we’re cooped up at home. Start small: a (solo) walk around the block is better than nothing. For more ideas on staying healthy during quarantine click here.
2. Learn a new language! It is never too late to learn a new language, and the mental and social benefits are endless. Can learning a new language be daunting? Absolutely, but the key is not to go into it with the goal of proficiency. A little goes a long way, and before you know it you’ll be ordering in the native language during your next vacation (whenever that is….). Duolingo is a great free resource, and if one-on-one tutoring is more your style, italki provides online tutors from native speakers all around the world.
3. Learn how to cook a new dish! With market shelves empty it can seem impossible to gather all the ingredients you would need for a complete recipe, but you’d be surprised. Many recipes are fresh ood-focused and it is the dry non-perishables that you may have a hard time finding. And even if you do run into an ingredient you can’t seem to find in the store, take it as a creative challenge to find a suitable replacement.
4. Clean! Maybe you’ve got a house full of kids and you feel like cleaning is pointless, or maybe you’re alone and cleaning is the absolute last thing you feel like doing. Regardless, we all have that closet, drawer, attic, or car trunk that we’ve been putting off clearing out for ages. It’s not about going completely Marie Kondo, it’s about cleaning what you otherwise wouldn’t usually have the designated time to get into. You’ll never have a better time and you’ll feel like you just dropped 50 pounds of pent-up stress.
5. Read! Maybe you have a laundry list of books you’ve been meaning to get to, maybe you’ve always dreamed of reading the complete works of Shakespeare, or maybe you just haven’t read a book in years. Reading is a beautiful thing, but it is time-consuming. Consider using some of your extra time at home to crack into a book. You don’t have to leave your house either: you can find digital copies on ebooks or even consider getting an Audible subscription if listening to a book is more your speed. Local libraries may be closed, but most have e-resources you can access (for free!) with your library card.

These are just a few of the many ways you can productively spend your time while we all work together to stop the spread of COVID-19 through social distancing. Try origami for stress, put those photos in an album, reconnect (digitally) with old friends, start writing that book. At the end of the day, no one knows you or your family better than you. These are trying times for all of us, but by accepting things as they are and choosing to make the most of our time, we just might come out better on the other side.