“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
James 1:2-4
Stuck in the house. We all know the feeling by now. We wake up in the morning and dread another day trapped in the same place we have been banished to for the year since the Great Shutdown of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. It feels like we are trapped in an entirely non-humorous version of Groundhog Day, except everyone else is stuck in the same situation, and everyone is telling you to make the best of it and get on with your life in this “new reality.”
Fortunately, places are beginning to open up again now that more and more people are getting the vaccines, thank God. However, everyone will still experience being stuck at home for various reasons even once society has completely opened for business. This is something that I, and other people I know, dread. That is why coffee shops are so popular among students and young professionals – we hate being stuck at home. Anyway, we cannot always do something to keep ourselves from being just stuck at home, and we just have to figure out how to be inside your house and still be in “work mode”.
Here are 5 ways to make your time in your house more productive and bearable.
Table of Contents:
Put on a Clean, New Outfit Daily
When you sit around in the same clothes you’ve been wearing for a few days, you don’t feel good. However, putting on a CLEAN set of clothes can work wonders for your mental health and overall mood. You are mentally preparing yourself to be productive. Additionally, if you are able to socialize (safely), you’ll be dressed appropriately.
Pro tip: putting on some sneakers or comfortable movement shoes is also essential. If you have on shoes, you will feel less tempted to climb back into bed. I am always amazed by how motivated I am to be productive when I lace up my tennis shoes and start moving around. Additionally, choosing the right pair of shoes can make a significant difference in how you feel throughout the day. The support and comfort provided by suitable footwear can enhance your posture and energy levels, making it easier to stay active and focused on your tasks. The act of putting on shoes can be a mental trigger to transition from a relaxed state to a productive mindset.
Make a Fully-Balanced, Healthy Meal
Most of the time, when you drag yourself out of your warm bed, you do not feel like making yourself a full meal. Instead you opt to grab a bag of chips or some leftover pizza you have had sitting in your fridge for a week.This will not help you feel ready to be productive. Look up an easy Pinterest or YouTube recipe for a healthy meal and round it out with some fruit and a glass of water or milk instead of having yet another cup of coffee.
You will feel better because you ate something bright and fresh. Additionally, you’ll feel accomplished because you did something constructive and made a good choice for yourself at the same time.
Find a New Spot To Do Your Work From
I know that this seems simple and dumb, but it is conducive. If you work in an office or bedroom or bed (I’m looking at you, fellow college students), get up a move to a different place in your house. Move to your kitchen table or outside to a table in your backyard.
Soak up a bit of sunshine by sitting near a window (opened or closed, depending on how pleasant the weather is where you live and how attractive you are to the dreaded mosquitos). Maybe use one of those standing desks to keep your legs and bottom from falling asleep once again. However you want to do it, get yourself moving to a new location.
Blast Your Favorite Music and Dance!
I know this feels kind of silly. But trust me, there is something therapeutic and freeing about cranking up your latest lyrical obsession to the highest volume and dancing around your room or house. Moving your body in a loose, creative way will refresh your mind. Also, the exercise will give your body the movement it’s been craving while you have been staring at your computer.
If you feel silly, embrace it! Let yourself laugh at your cringe-inducing dance moves (maybe yours are better than mine, so this might not apply) and have a few minutes of not taking yourself so seriously. You can then get back to work with a new, upbeat and lighthearted attitude.
Go Outside and Interact With Nature
Why do adults always tell younger generations to go outside and “touch some grass”? I think they might be onto something. Whenever I am overwhelmed or drained from working on a school assignment, I give into my Mom’s loving nagging to go and take a walk or a bike ride. I often start feeling rejuvenated once I step out of my house and breathe in that unique smell of suburbia – rich mulch mixed with asphalt and grass.
Most likely, you will see a couple of birds, bugs, people, or even better, PEOPLE WITH DOGS that you can interact with. And who knows? You might run across someone you know who had a similar idea, and you can catch up and chat! Even if it is for a simple conversation, interacting with others does wonders for your mental health and general mood. God made us to be around other people in the community, so naturally, doing that will make us feel good.
Anyway, although these 5 tips could help make your time at home more bearable. They might even keep you from going crazy and talking to random household objects! But do not forget that as things open back up again, it is important to go out in the world again and visit both new and familiar places!
If you like my content and would like to read more about my journey, I have some of my older posts linked below, and I would love it if you would give these a read as well!
Some of my older posts…
How To Bring Yourself Back From a Panic Attack
If You Do This, You Might Have ADHD
A Memory of a Good Deed Can Shape Your Life Forever
Mistakes – Learning to View Them as Growing Experiences
My First Time Acting – Overcoming my Fears
Please like, comment, and subscribe if you connected with my post and if you would like to see more of my crazy, exciting journey through life with Christ while experiencing mental illness. Every interaction I receive here means the world to me. Thank you, and God bless you!
Until next time!