ROUTINE

Create a routine for your week (or month!). (Example: Make bed, put on real clothes, apply makeup, devos, breakfast, work, dance break, lunch, work, snack, work, take a walk, dinner, new book or tv)

HOME

This is a great time to Spring Clean your house! (It’s the first day of spring…see what I did there??) Emily Ley has a great new blog post on ways to declutter around your house. And Marie Kondo, you all. Go binge her on Netflix and then use her methods to clean out crap from your office, kitchen, or closets!

EXERCISE

I work from home, but try to get to my local gym 1-2 times a week. Of course, with quarantines in place, gyms aren’t allowed to be up and running. (haha! unintentional pun!) So, here’s some ideas for your home workout!

• Take a walk! or better, take a HIKE! Since we’ve got spare time and cheap gas, drive to Jester Park or Ledges State Park for a hike. Meet a friend or two there, and just make sure to keep distance between you at all times. ;)

• Find a new online workout. My gym, Planet Fitness, is hosting daily workout routine videos on their Facebook page, so tune in there! Local yogi Lindsey is hosting some yoga flows on Instagram.

• I did two Fitness Marshall videos and was SO SO SORE this week. Learn a dance or TikTok routine, or find some new stretches on Pinterest. :)

FOOD: Baking + Cooking at home

My mom would have done ANYTHING, when I was a high schooler, to get me to actively participate in the kitchen. It was such a bore for me, but now that I’m an #adult and required to feed myself often, I love cooking! And baking, which doesn’t happen as much. BUT IT CAN! Cuz what else will I do when I’m at home!? EAT MY FEELINGS AFTER MY WORKOUT LOLZ. ;)

But for serious— this is a GREAT time to practice eating healthy (as much as possible with more limited grocery options) and be creative. For example, I know a lot of folks eating vegetarian during quarantine. I’m not doing that —at least not yet— but Monday, I did make homemade black bean burgers from scratch and they were SO good. Very filling, and great for any meal (even breakfast!). Last night, I baked bread! And I’ve also done a “fancy” ramen noodle dish. So, ya know, being home all day can be good for the soul and stomach!

Try these recipes, or find something else new to create in the kitchen:

• Shakshuka (a super fun Mediterranean meal!)

• Pad Thai

• Blueberry + Brie grilled cheese sandwiches

• Homemade Cinna Rolls!

Support local businesses!

As a small business owner who has already been affected by this pandemic, I am 100% on board with helping out local shops in any way I can. Yesterday, I ordered loose leaf tea from the Tea Cellar, my roommate is grabbing us THE BEST TACOS IN DES MOINES from Tacos La Familia for lunch, and I’m hoping to grab some beer from Lua Brewing when they open that up for curbside pickup. Other ways to support local:

• Buy groceries from local stores (not Walmart)

  • Campbell’s Nutrition

  • Fairway

  • Gateway Market

• Purchase items or gift-cards online to provide cash flow for storefronts that are closed

  • Freedom Blend Coffee gift-cards available! Many coffee shops are also doing drive through or online coffee bean orders. :) When in doubt, gift cards are the best way to help them out!

  • Purchase art from artists

  • Local Restaurants to To-Go order from: (because I do care if they permanently close!!!!)

    • Gazali’s Restaurant in Drake Neighborhood

    • Cool Basil (Asian Cuisine)

    • Mi Patria (Ecuadorian food)

    • Tacos La Familia

ARTS: Make music, crafts, etc.

I love painting, even though I’m not great at it. This is the perfect time to work on your poetry, knitting, or any other crafty things! Use what you have at home. Pinterest has loads of ideas. Maybe even make homemade playdough or something to release your inner child!! Pick up your guitar or violin for the first time in months (or years) and practice again. Write a song!

Play games. Learn a new card game. Play online games (my favorite is mexican train, here). Order that family game you’ve wanted for a while but hadn’t bought yet (my go to games are Dixit and Codenames!)

READ!

-The public library may be closed, but you can re-read any old books or magazines you have at home. (Magazines may have recipes, like Magnolia, so that’s helpful in a whole new way now!!)

-You can see if any friends are doing a “neighborhood library” — lending out their books to friends!

-Most libraries have online download options.

I may come back to update this if y’all leave me some good suggestions! SO… comment below! What are you doing to keep yourself busy and entertained these quarantine days!?