1. Organize your photos
All those thousands of photos on your phone, yeah those. Create that photo book you keep meaning to do or try narrowing your “favorites” from 500 down to 5 or ten and then order prints to be able to actually display them in your home.
2. Finish all those unfinished things
Whether it’s a DIY project, a stack of books you’ve only started, or the last 3 episodes of a TV series you never finished 5 years ago, just finish the dang thing! Chances are, you have many unfinished projects or things you’ve started but haven’t yet completed. Rather than letting time go by waiting for “normal” life to start up again, you can still feel a sense of accomplishment and progress. Focus on being a Finisher.
3. Create a Reverse Bucket List
You may find yourself antsy to do all the things you are no longer able to. Spend some time creating a Reverse Bucket List to give attention to all the things that you have done in your life. The adventures you’ve taken. The lessons you’ve learned. The places you’ve been. The accomplishments you’ve had. The sweet moments that you want to remember always. This practice can bring perspective and gratitude.
Take it one step more and find photos of the things on your list to create a photo book of your Reverse Bucket List, especially now that all your photos are organized 🙂
4. Organize, purge and prep
Harness your inner Marie Kondo and tackle those organization projects that have been on your endless To Do List. In a time with quarantines and social distancing, it may feel like your spark is being put out by the current circumstances. This time certainly gives us time to reflect on what truly gives us joy. Whether you chose to donate items or plan a neighborhood yard sale after socialization restrictions are lifted, you’ll find a new home for all those things that have been cluttering up your home. Enjoy preparing for the next season.
5. Be curious
Along with all the physical clutter, notice the emotional clutter that is becoming more noticeable as the dust of the hustle and bustle starts to settle. Be curious about your emotional wellness. Use this time well to connect with yourself. Reflect on these questions or use them as journal prompts.
How are you holding yourself back? What resentments are you holding on to? What do you need to make space for in your life? What is draining you? Who do you need to forgive? What do you need to simplify?
6. Start a Book Club or a Podcast Discussion Group
Yes, we all know that discussion of the book is not the reason people actually join book clubs. We want an excuse to be out of the house for an hour or two and to carry an adult conversation. It’s because we want to connect. Though meeting face-to-face may not be an option at this time, a time set aside to connect with friends, even if it’s just through a platform like google hangouts or Zoom, still give us something to look forward to, whether you discuss the book or not.
7. Create a playlist
We all know that once social restrictions are lifted, there is going to be a whole lot to do. So enjoy some quiet time creating playlists for all the things you’re looking forward to once life returns to some sense of normalcy. Create a new playlist for working out. For Spring. For your summer BBQ. For a cozy night in. For your best friend’s wedding that has inevitably been postponed. For your morning or evening routine.
8. Create a Time Capsule
Let’s be honest, the current events we are living through are the life-changing in ways we’ve not experienced on a society level in a long time, likely before you or I were born. Rather than focusing on the uncertainty or what’s causing fear or anxiety for you, have fun with it and write about the things you want to remember looking back in 5 or 10 years. But maybe don’t put a roll of toilet paper in your time capsule just yet. Whoever thought TP would be such a precious resource.
9. Reach Out
Despite all the jokes that introverts are not living much differently than before social distancing, having social restrictions placed on us leaves us recognizing just how much we actually do long for connection. So rather than binging watching another series that really isn’t worth your time, focus on reaching others who might be feeling especially isolated. Reach out to that friend you’ve been meaning to go to lunch with for months or years. Write a letter (people love snail mail). Leave a comment on a social media post or send a DM and make sure it’s heartfelt.
10. Keep planning
You may not be able to secure the date or book the flight, but that trip you wanted to take, the gathering you wanted to host, or that business you wanted to start are STILL ideas that can energize you. Research excursions and put together a tentative itinerary. Plan the menu and come up with the decorations for the dinner party. Start doing some of the research or behind the scenes work to set up your business.
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