I know that some of us are about to be or are already home more than we’d like or more than expected, as well as our families. Events are being cancelled all over the place, bars and restaurants have closed, museums and salons are closed, and even your local adorable toy store (probably).

You may notice some people are coping with isolation at home much better than others. Some of us are practiced, professional hermits. Some of us haven’t left our house in months already. Some of us have a wealth of information to share. I don’t want anyone to get cabin fever, and I’m a self-proclaimed expert at being a homebody.

Now, staying at home on an average day is very different from the isolation and social distancing we are practicing now. This can still help but none of us are familiar with having children at home, pandemic or not, so take these suggestions with a rationed grain of salt.

Your Home

One thing that helps me a lot is separating where I do things. Whether it was my tiny 1-bedroom apartment in Newark, NJ, or this house I’m in now, it helped a lot to define the areas of my home.

Workspace is of course super important! If you’re used to an office or coworking spot, you’ll want to set this up, no matter how short a time you think you’ll be working from home. Clear off your desk or desk-like structure, add things that keep you productive and happy. Make sure you’re comfortable. If you live with other people, let them know what signals you’ll use that you’re working. For example, “I know I’m at home and you want to hang out, but if my headphones are on I’m pretty busy! I’ll be free at XXX o’clock.”

Sit in some places you wouldn’t normally! It could be as simple as moving a chair to a different corner or as significant as setting up a guest bedroom you happen to have. Read a book in the stairwell, nap in the closet. Okay they’re not all great ideas but I do them!

The Events You Miss

Bring that beer tasting to your kitchen! Go all out, write notes, discuss why you love it or don’t. You can find guides online or probably even an app, but the important part is that you’re having some fun, so stick to the parts you like. You can also have a wine, whiskey, rum, etc. tasting, or cook and have the tiniest competition ever.

Art nights are particularly easy. For less cleanup try some drawing, with absolutely any method on regular paper or a notebook. You can draw on a junk mail envelope if you have no supplies. This is art! Get creative.

You can make even the most mundane things fun by making it an “event”. Every month Amandoll and I have a Tea Meeting. Before we set these up, we’d get together and plan out our days or weeks and hang out with calendars and planners. But now? We put on big hats and make tea.

Take It Easy

Odds are you have a lot of things you’d like to do but don’t have time. A pandemic-induced stint at home doesnt necessarily mean you have all that extra time, though.

Consider if you’re working from home or not, if you are taking care of anyone but yourself, and how stressed you are. It’s possible that you don’t have that extra time at all. That’s okay! Just don’t make a list of 30 things you want to accomplish.

Here are some low-key, sort of quick things you can do:

• Write postcards. You don’t even have to send them just yet, but capture your thoughts to a few friends.
• Organize bills and/or home maintenance stuff. It’s not glamorous but it will be great to have it behind you.
• Call someone. Yeah, calling kinda sucks, but you may know someone who could use that check-in. It’ll be good for both of you.