While working or staying at home (aka “extended nesting”) during the coronavirus situation, be sure to get the most out of your day. Here are nine tips to help you feel good about #NestingAtHome:
- Embrace Routine
Let’s admit it – spending a day at home in jammies, binge-watching Netflix or the Hallmark channel, and eating a pint of ice cream can be amazing, but after 24 hours it’s a prescription for depression. Getting up every morning at the same time, doing the same routines you normally would do and dressing for the day helps you develop a mindset of positivity and keeps you feeling emotionally strong. - Plan Your Day
Grabbing your morning coffee and creating a daily to-do list brings structure to your life and get worries off your mind. Schedule work projects, home schooling, phone calls, a workout and tasks to complete before evening. If you have family members to manage, include them in the process so everyone is on board. Remember though, difficult times require us to adapt and be flexible. Don’t get so stuck on your daily list that you forget to listen, hug and communicate with the one’s you love – even if they are driving you crazy! - Move Your Body
It’s way too easy to get complacent in times of crisis. Moving your body helps with stress, mental clarity, high blood pressure and even your mood. Go outside and get some fresh air or take a break every hour and dance-it-out to your favorite song. My song today was Niall Horan’s Nice to Meet You. Don’t judge. And, drink some water when you’re done. - Self Care
No time for self care? Think again. I’ve got two thoughts on this. (1) You can’t care for everyone else if you don’t first take care of yourself. (2) You can’t expect others to respect and care about you if you don’t first care about yourself. Yes, self care can be a manicure, scheduling a massage or taking a “girls trip”, but it also can be as simple as getting 7 hours of sleep or having a quiet space to read, meditate or just be. Take a few minutes to regroup each day and make sure you are doing what you need to stay healthy and strong. - Reach Out
Yes, it feels like you are alone, but the truth is we are all in this together. Chances are a friend needs to hear your voice as much as you do. Touch base with neighbors, co-workers, friends and family via Facebook or Zoom (great for groups of people). The best part of all is reaching out is easy, free and provides a dose of happy for you and them! - Choose Gratitude
It’s said that you can’t be grateful and unhappy at the same time. Take a few minutes each day to write down five things for which you are grateful. It could be something kind that someone said or did, an event, a feeling, you survived the day or whatever comes to mind. Take it to another level and encourage kids to write down three things they are grateful for about each other. (It’s a great exercise when they’re fighting.) Or, have a family-gratitude-go-around at the dinner table before you eat. It’s a simple practice, but absolutely life changing. - Have Fun!
Be creative and find fun things to do for yourself and as a family. Pull out the games, visit Pinterest for some fun crafts to try, bake something new or take an online course. They say laughter is the best medicine – do something that makes you smile! - Practice the 5-Second Rule
It’s frustrating to have a messy house when nesting for an extended time. Mel Robbins, author of The 5 Second Rule, says you have five seconds to do something you think about before your brain talks you out of it. Use the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 countdown to make your bed when you wake up, empty the dishwasher when you walk by it, clean up the counter or empty the kitchen sink before bed. An organized home makes everything better. - Get Organized
Speaking of organization, pick something big or small to organize each day – a drawer, cabinet, closet or room and get to it. Separate items into categories to keep, pitch or give away. Search the Internet for creative ideas. The key is to create a “home” for whatever you keep. “Home” is a place that an item always goes back to after using. Then, adopt The five-second rule to keep things clean in the future.
