Something about being cooped up at home sounded so ideal when shelter-in-place initially started, but it has swiftly started to feel more and more confining. And as uncomfortable as this all might be, there has been no better time to tackle the creative and home improvement projects you haven’t yet had the chance to start. Here are some of the ways I’ve been, and am planning on, spending my free time.
Painting wine bottles
If it’s been awhile since you’ve picked up a paintbrush, don’t fret. I was inspired by German model Maya Stepper who shared her favorite quarantine activity on Instagram. By using empty wine bottles as her canvas, she made tapping into my creative side seem so much more approachable. And considering that those have been piling up in my household, I had no excuse to not try it out. So finish off that bottle of pinot grigio and set up a paint night with your roommates, significant other, or yourself.
Tie-dyeing
The summertime activity once reserved for tweens is back and I’m definitely not complaining – nor are the majority of influencers I follow who have also hopped on this train. If you have old t-shirts you’ve been meaning to donate, give them a second life instead. Or, if you want to get really trendy, order some materials online and tie-dye a sweatsuit. This is not only a fun activity, it’ll also give you something to add to your WFH wardrobe.
Create healthier habits
According to statistics, the majority of us have likely given up on the majority of our New Year’s resolutions. Statistics also show that it takes about a month to develop a habit, making quarantine a good time to focus on whichever practices you’ve been putting off incorporating into your daily routine. Moreover, this is as good of a time to break bad habits. Consider reading before bed instead of dozing off to your favorite Netflix series which you can save as a treat for the weekends, setting your morning alarm 5-10 minutes earlier to stretch or meditate, and swapping out the chocolate you may or may not be overindulging in at night (guilty) for mint tea.
Dye your hair
As tempting as DIY bangs sounds, all I can say is put the scissors down! Let the dread of showing up for your weekly company Zoom call looking like Spock inspire you to seek out a less permanent physical change. Instead, switch things up with some temporary dye. Now is the ideal time to experiment with different hues before potentially committing to longer-lasting color in the future – with the help of your hairdresser of course.
Organizing
With spring having recently sprung, what better time than now to channel your inner Marie Kondo? Asking yourself if something sparks joy is a great way to live your life, and an even better way to sort through your belongings. Her methods are useful in every aspect of your home from your closet, to your bathroom, to your pantry.
There’s been a lot of pressure, particularly stemming from social media, to use this time to write the next Great American Novel and come out of this with a 6-pack. So if your to-do list has progressively become a mile long, don’t forget that some days it’s okay to do nothing. After all, the most important thing to focus on right now – and always for that matter – is yourself and your own happiness.
Photography by Kelsey Gayle
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