11 Ideas to Make Staying at Home More Enjoyable

11 Ideas to Make Staying at Home More Enjoyable

By Jami Switzer, Arvidson Marketing Manager

We are all spending a lot more time at home. All those extra hours at home can lead to increased screen time, boredom, and real cabin fever. So how can you make the best of it?  Here are 11 ideas to make staying at home more enjoyable.

#1: Break Out the Games

When is the last time you played Monopoly or Scrabble?

Pull out some of your childhood favorites and get everyone involved in some old-fashioned fun. Even a deck of cards provides a myriad of options for hours of entertainment with games such as Canasta, Hearts, or Crazy Eights.

Live alone? Break out that jigsaw puzzle you’ve had sitting on the shelf because you never thought you’d have time to finish it. Odds are you will now.

#2: Read a Book

Books provide the perfect way to imagine you are somewhere far away even when you are sitting in your favorite living room chair.

For historical fiction fans, here are a few of my personal favorites:

Non-fiction selections currently on the NY Times Bestseller list include:

#3: Take Up a New Hobby

Perhaps you’ve imagined having time to learn something new.  Here’s your opportunity to do it!

With YouTube videos at your fingertips, it’s easy to give yourself a tutorial on a new talent. This is a good time to open yourself up to new activities.

Another plus –  it will take your mind off of all the negative news circulating even if it’s just for an hour or two a day.

#4: Try New Recipes

Pull out the cookbooks (or the Internet) and try something new for dinner tonight.  I heard there’s a shortage of bread in the grocery stores, so why not make your own?

Get the whole family involved by letting each person pick their favorite meal and be Chef for the Night. Gordon Ramsey would be proud!

#5: Take Spring Cleaning to the Next Level/Organize Your Home

This is a great time to do some deep cleaning in your home. Clean out the junk drawers, clear cabinets and closets with unused goods and clothing, let the sunshine in by cleaning the windows.  (Check out this article about the History of Spring Cleaning). You can even rearrange your furniture for a fresh new look.

11 Ideas to Make Staying at Home More Enjoyable

#6: Meditate to Soothe Mind & Body

There’s never been a better time to stay calm, focused, and energized.  This Inc. article walks you through 10 meditation prompts that will challenge you to think bigger.

#7: Start an Electronic Chain of Inspiration

Earlier this week, my sister sent me an email asking me to send an inspirational quote to one person and then invite 10 friends to do the same thing. I loved this idea that provided me with regular positive messages among the barrage of negative thoughts invading my inbox these days.

Here’s one of the uplifting quotes that I received as a result of this campaign.  It will certainly bring a sense of peace to this uncertain phase of chaos we are in.

#8: Work Out at Home

Your local gym has probably shut its doors, but you don’t need to have expensive gym equipment to get a good workout at home.

There are unlimited cardio workouts available at almost every level on YouTube.

Have you heard of Functional Fitness? It refers to exercise that helps you with everyday activities, like getting up off the floor, carrying heavy objects, and putting something up on a shelf.  This article provides 13 exercises that help improve functional fitness for adults of all ages. Most of them can be done without any special gym equipment.

If you already have a home gym (or are planning one now), an at-home sauna can be a great addition that provides heat therapy and deep sweating that aids in releasing toxins from your body.

#9: Grow a Garden

The first day of spring is coming up soon. Use this time to plan a flower or vegetable garden in your yard. An added bonus – you’ll have plenty of fresh herbs, fruits, and vegetables for your favorite recipes. If your local nursery isn’t available, you can order seeds online.

#10: Spend Time Outdoors

Get outside and breathe in some fresh air.  Taking a walk on a local trail or in your state park is a great way to fill your lungs with fresh air and experience the first few days of spring. Spending more time outdoors has been shown to relieve stress, elevate moods, and even reduce high blood pressure.

Caldera Spas Geneva

#11: Create a Peaceful Retreat in Your Backyard

Spend time in your backyard pool, swim spa or hot tub. This is a great way to provide your family with an electronics-free zone to reconnect and share time together. Water soothes the soul and is a fantastic stress reliever.  Who doesn’t need that right now?

You’ll also have the perfect place to enjoy the outdoors – whether you prefer mornings with a cup of coffee or evenings under the moon and stars.

To Conclude

Arvidson Pools & Spas is available to help you get the information you need to find the perfect hot tub, swim spa, above ground pool, or in-ground pool.  Financing is available with low monthly payments to make it possible to take action now when you need it. Our stores are currently open, but our sales team is also available to assist you by phone or screen-to-screen selling.

These are unusual times.  I hope that this article has provided you with some useful ideas for making your increased time at home a bit more bearable. Stay calm, stay positive, and stay well. As my mother used to say, “This too shall pass.”