The One When We Were In Quarantine
By Kendall Sanner
A little letter from us,
We hope you’re not going too stir crazy. It’s been over a month officially in quarantine and we don’t know about you but we’re going through a plethora of emotions. Some days we’re really productive while other days our success is that we put on some clean pants. Since I (Kendall) have had more time on my hands I’ve been interested in trying some new things, some I’ve really enjoyed and I’ll continue after quarantine and others I haven’t loved. Either way, we’ve put together a list of some fun things, some of you may have tried and others you may not have thought about! Through all of this craziness, we hope you are resting and rejuvenating however that may look.
With Joy,
Kendall
30+ Things to do during Quarantine
(or as we ease out of it…)
Journaling — Need some prompts?
What are 3 things that are bringing you joy currently? Why?
What are some places you’ve visited (in your life time) that you’re grateful for? Why?
What does rest mean? Are you incorporating rest into this season of your life? If not, list some ways you can include it.
Yoga — Yoga is something everyone can benefit from. Yoga is not about being flexible, it’s about breathing and aligning your body. If you’re a beginner like me or you’re someone who’s been practicing for years Yoga with Adriene is a great resource. I’ve been doing the 30 day yoga challenge on Youtube and it’s been fantastic! Try it with me!
Meditation — There are a ton of great meditation practices on youtube (ex. Goodful or Adriene) or apps (ex. Calm). One simple way to implement this practice is to start with 5 minutes and focus on one positive word (peace, love, breath, etc.) while sitting or laying quietly and comfortably.
Gardening indoor or outdoors — Depending on where you live you can stretch this one. You could build an entire DIY garden in your backyard OR read up on some indoor plants that can be fun to grow while also providing other health benefits (win-win)!
Write a letter to someone you love and miss — Whether they are just down the street or they live in a different state. Grab some stationary and write, write, write! Maybe even shoot for a letter a day.
Write letters to a Nursing home — This doesn’t need to be anything fancy. This website will guide you on how to send a short and sweet message to someone who might be feeling a bit lonely in a nursing home.
Spa day — Break out the bubble bath, epsom salts, lavender candles, DIY or store-bought face masks, teeth whiteners, sugar scrubs, leave in conditioners, and all the chocolate of course! Make a night of it! Pop on some music or a good podcast and remember all you have to do is soak. Btw, we’re big fans of Sam Wish for all things spa day or any day!
Flower Pressing — Flower pressing is so easy and the result is beautiful! Whether you pick some wild flowers or you find florals at your local grocer, this is a fool proof craft! Once you have the flowers and/or greenery you desire all you need is some heavy books! Leave them to press for as long as you want to reach the desired result (overnight to 3 weeks), then use them however you please. Our favorite way is in candles or in an empty frame! Here are some great tips for flower pressing!
All Good Deeds 2020 Challenge — Check out All Good Deeds on IG and find a way to bring joy to someone in your community.
Cook a new meal — This may be a prime time for some extra home cooking! Maybe scroll through IG or Pinterest until you find something that interests you or here’s an easy and a more challenging meal! Need some more inspo? Here’s a link to Minimalist Baker’s website, which has loads of options.
Bake, Bake, Bake — Whether you want something a little more springy or chocolatey. There are endless options. There’s a skilled baker inside of you just waiting to break out!
Games + Puzzles — There are so many games you could play from Solitaire to Uno to Catan to Scattergories to Code Names to The Game of Life. As for puzzles, we typically think of puzzles as a rainy day activity but there’s nothing quite like the feeling of finishing a puzzle.
Try out a new hobby — Knitting, crocheting, cross-stitching, calligraphy, painting, watercoloring, jewelry making, wall hangings, macrame, candle pouring, face mask sewing, wood carving, blogging, etc.
Nap — Yes this is most definitely an activity. It’s okay to take a nap in the middle of the day. That’s all.
Try out The Nudge — What’s The Nudge? Check it out here. It’s basically a little friend who’s got loads of fun ideas to do throughout the week.
Zoom Trivia — Try out a Trivia night over zoom. I’m sure you’ve had plenty of zoom happy hours. It’s time for you to step up and make this happen.
Quiplash — Speaking of social distancing games with friends. Try out quiplash! This is Trivia Night with a slight twist. It’s easy to set up and play with a maximum of 8 participants.
Fly a kite — Kite flying is something everyone can enjoy. With some beautiful weather and this grand rainbow kite, you’ll be flying in no time!
Ride a Bike — Break out the good old bicycle! Take it for a spin around the block or few blocks. The fresh air will revive you after all this time spent indoors.
Learn a new language — So maybe you won’t be able to learn an entire language before this is over BUT you might be able to learn some fun phrases and be able to have simple conversations! Try out Duolingo and see what you know after a week!
Foster an animal — This one is a bit bigger of a challenge but really rewarding. There are plenty of animals who need a home and could use some TLC right now. Check your local shelter for more info.
Chalk Encouragement — Grab some chalk and head to the sidewalk! This isn’t just for kids. Everyone could use and give some encouragement. Doesn’t it just brighten your day when you see “You’re doing great! Keep it up!” Written on the ground as you walk? We know it brighten’s ours.
Dinner + Movie-in — Everyone has a favorite movie or maybe you have a growing movie list. Now’s the time to break it out and pop it in after you’ve dished out a nice dinner for 1, or 2, or the whole family! If you need some Netflix recommendations:
Comedy: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off or Hot Rod
Rom-Com: Hitch or The Ugly Truth
Tear Jerker: About Time or Dear John
Action: Spenser Confidential or 6 Underground
Documentary: Miss Americana or The Dawn Wall
Thriller: Prestige or Limitless
Family: Despicable Me or Hook
Classic: The Shawshank Redemption or Rosemary’s Baby
Picnic — Pack up some snacks, a blanket, some cold drinks, and go outside! Maybe it’s in your front yard, a park nearby, or even in your living room!
Go on a walk — I’m sure you’ve been on lots of walks lately but maybe change it up a little by finding a different neighborhood to stroll around or a small hiking path that’s not so packed. You could also change it up by not bringing your phone or doing no music. It’ll force you to enjoy the peaceful sound of nature and trust me, it’s refreshing.
Read a new book! — We’ve got some suggestions, of course. The Narnia Series, Hinds Feet on High Places, The Harry Potter Series, To All the Boy’s I’ve Loved series, Where the Crawdads Sing, To Hell with the Hustle… There are so many more! The App Goodreads is a great place to start, if you’re looking for more reading recs.
Clean — I’m sure you’ve thought about cleaning and maybe you’ve even done some. But now’s the time. The real time. Let’s get to it. Try out Marie Kondo’s tools, she’s quite the expert in the organization realm. She even has her own series on Netflix called Tidying Up!
Art — This has been a huge area that people are exploring during this season. We think it’s fantastic. Art is such a beautiful way to express yourself. Brit + Co has a ton of easy to follow virtual art classes for only $10 a month!
Support a small or local business — Do you have a favorite local business? Whether it’s food, decor, or furniture find something you like or want to gift someone with (within your budget of course) and do it! Check our feed for a ton of local and small businesses to support.
Drive-by Birthday or Celebration — We’re not sure if you’ve seen the trend of drive-by birthday’s but we are on board! Maybe it’s a family member or a neighbor but gather some friends and family, make some signs and drive on by! You won’t be able to stop smiling.
Drive-thru Zoo — The Exotic Resort Zoo in Johnson City (1 hour east of Austin) is open for drive thru visits! Check out their site for hours and possible wait times.
Drive-In Movie — When is a better time for a drive-in movie? Talk about social distancing at its finest. There are a number of drive in movie theaters across Texas. Check to see if one close by is open! For Austinite’s Doc’s Drive In and Blue Starlite Round Rock are still open! As for Abi peeps, sign this petition to reopen Town&Country Drive-In and save it from having to close permanently!
Pitch + Putt — If you’re in the Austin area, Butler Pitch and Putt is still open (with proper safety regulations in place of course) but if you’ve got an old iron and ball, bring them on down slightly south of the river for some mid-day golfing!
Refurbish Furniture — Don’t have the desire to sit down and paint a masterpiece? Well refurbishing furniture is super easy and has a fantastic payoff! If you’ve got an old piece of furniture laying around that could use a pick me up, all you need is some sandpaper, paint and some shellac or a finishing coat!