Last week was rough, there’s no denying it. I came down with a pretty nasty flu that knocked me right out of existence for a few days. In fact, I was in bed from 4 PM on Tuesday all the way until Sunday around 11 AM. Even when I got up, intermittently, I felt like I was moving in slow motion and not terribly steady on my feet.
You can bet that sometime mid-week I started thinking that I had something far more serious than the flu. In my fever mind, I was bound for the hospital and I had to hurry up and find suitable care for the dog… I can handle just about anything but the dog’s well being far outweighs my comfort, call me crazy. Anyway, I luckily didn’t have to be hospitalized and I was MUCH better Sunday night and into the following week.
All of this got me thinking about this long haul of “social-distancing” and what that means in terms of the “new normal” we’ll be facing for the foreseeable future. This is truly an unprecedented time in our collective health and wellness history. Many of us are not going in to work, school or traveling too far from home. As we heed the advice of world leaders and health care experts, you may be finding you have a bit more time to fill than activities slated to fill it. And if you’re like me, watching movies like “Contagion” is a little too on the nose these days. I mean reality is weirder than any Sci-Fi movie, you know?
Sure, there might be time to get caught up on re-reading an old classic or starting through “Breaking Bad” and “Madmen” again but, there will come a time when you’ll want to get some other stuff done. I anticipate that that time will be about 5 episodes into any show you’ll binge or 5 chapters into something you’re not all that smitten with.
If we’re going to be cooped up for another 6 to 8 weeks, now is a great time to roll your sleeves up and get started on a project or two. So, if you’re stuck at home during this unfortunate time, here’s 13 Ways to Avoid Boredom at Home During COVID-19.
This post is going to be a bit like a “greatest hits” of blog compilations. I have a nice mix of blogs posts and secret pages from my website archives. I’ve got you covered for some simple do-it-yourself projects to a few fun projects you can do with the kids. There’s nothing worse than a chorus of “I’m bored….” Sung 10 times a day, right?
Enough build up, let’s get right into it:
If you’re trying to figure out what color to paint the living room or bedroom and you need a bit of inspiration, this secret page on my website will help you figure out some inspiration in a flash. I put it together as part of a free guide to picking pant colors many years ago and it still holds true. I’ll show you where I find color inspiration and you might be surprised. Or, maybe not... You know, if you’ve been reading for a while, that I think a bit differently and that’s a good thing! This secret page even has a link to paint sheen, a color theory crash course and more to help you.
If you’re about to plan a new layout for any room in your house, boy are you in the right place! Being cooped up doesn’t have to make you go stir crazy. Now is a great time to reconsider how the family room or master suite is arranged. Perhaps there’s just something not quite right and you’re tired of “living with it” and you want better functionality. If this is where you find yourself, then I suggest checking out:
If you’re starting from scratch, I will recommend getting a copy of my Small Space Big Style: How to Measure Your Space in 8 Simple Steps. It will save you a tremendous amount of headaches even if you are only re-arranging your current furniture. If you are starting fresh, this guide will help you to plan for every piece you’ll bring in.
If you’re looking to maximize the storage in your small bedroom, I have just the post here to get your creative thinking cap pulled on tight! 9 Genius Hacks to Maximize Space in a Small Bedroom will have you organized in a jiffy! I’ll show you my absolute favorite ways to organize the closet, dresser drawers and a few nooks and crannies you probably didn’t even know you had! Give it a read and tell me what you think?
If the kitchen is where you need the help, I cannot recommend giving my The Kitchen Storage Zone a read. You will be amazed by how easy and fun it can be to get the kitchen in tip top shape. I’ll show you my favorite ways to organize each zone: cooking, sink, frig and storage so that you don’t ever have to hunt for that elusive bottle opener or slotted spoon ever again! You’ll be so thrilled that everything is neat and tidy, and you’ll have plenty of time to plan another long put off task on your list!
Let’s say that you are pretty happy with your wall colors and the arrangement of your furniture, how about exploring the general “health” of your home? I have two related articles exploring ways to make a couple of simple changes that will have huge impacts on the overall health and vitality of your home. First, I will direct you to my 8 Ways to Make your Home happier this weekend. These 8 tips are very easy to implement and won’t have you breaking a sweat or lugging out heavy tools.
The second article I’ll recommend is 5 Quick Fixes to Improve the Feng Shui Energy in Your Home. This is another super simple way to bring in some positive energy and a freshness that won’t break the bank and will give you instant results. These techniques are a great way to mitigate the stress of feeing cooped up so you can continue to care for yourself and your family. Nothing in article requires tools, so it could be great for getting your spouse or kids in on the fun!
Speaking of the kids, before they can hit you with a chorus of I’m bored, why not head them off at the pass with a fun project? You may even be able to get some extra credit from their school for this one. Check out my How to Make Your Own Magnificent Sparkling Crystals! It’s sure to be a hit with little ones as well as older kids. Heck, I made them for my house and I still love looking at them years later. It’s totally true, you can literally make any size, shape, color crystal you want in a matter of 12 hours. The kids will be completely mesmerized watching them form!
If your older kids are home from college, I put together these two great posts to help them create a few fun do-it-yourself’s they can do while they’re waiting for the all clear to go back. The first one is from a few years ago. It’s packed with some absolutely amazing projects that will keep everyone busy and creative for weeks! The second is all about some amazing holistic items that are hyper relevant to health and wellness at this moment in time. Both posts will really get you thinking about self-care and creativity in a number of new ways!
If you’re looking to start a new self care routine during this time, you might find my post on Creating a Sacred Space After a Life Change helpful. This one is all about carving out some “you” time from your busy schedule. Now that things are in slow motion, it’s the perfect time to start a routine that brings a bit of calm and tranquility to your life. Doesn’t that sound nice? There really is no time like the present to get started on that for yourself!
If you’re interested in continuing down another path of selfcare, I’ll recommend that you read Is Your Morning Magic? How to Create the Time to Get Stuff Done. It will definitely satisfy the “new routine” aspect that you may be looking for. If you like the idea of staying productive and keeping your focus sharp, then you’ll love this article!
There’s actually a whole treasure trove of great information here and I have been honored that you take the time to read it every week. Although I don’t hear from many of you in the comments, I do hear from you over on Instagram and through my site analytics, so I know you’re there and I couldn’t be happier that you decide to spend a few minutes over here!
Now it’s your turn. Do you have ways of staying busy at home during this time? Are you still going into work each day because you have to? If so let me know what’s keeping you going?
I also want to say a special thank you to the people working in the medical field. I know that many of you are not getting the luxury of feeling cooped up or “bored” that many of the rest of us are feeling. Your constant care for the sick and injured is deeply appreciated and I am so thankful for you and your expertise! I salute your tenacity and professionalism. Please take care of yourselves, everyone!
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“This man is a plant shaman. He not only designs beautiful rooms, he’s got a green thumb that works like magic! My peace palm never looked better”
“Michael Helped me to get my home office in magazine ready form. Thank you a million times for helping me figure this room out. It’s now my favorite room!”
Michael is Principal designer and blogger at Michael Helwig Interiors in beautiful Buffalo, New York. Since 2011, he’s a space planning expert, offering online interior e-design services for folks living in small homes, or for those with awkward and tricky layouts. He’s a frequent expert contributor to many National media publications and news outlets on topics related to decorating, interior design, diy projects, and more. Michael happily shares his experience to help folks avoid expensive mistakes and decorating disappointments. You can follow him on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook @interiorsmh.
