I have not blogged in so long. My life has been pretty hectic between the end of bar prep, the bar exam, traveling to Switzerland, arriving home and starting my new job and then the craziness of COVID-19 putting my state into quarantine.
Speaking of COVID-19, I decided to tailor my post to fit the current time. I am not stressing too much over being stuck at home. I am an introvert and a homebody so this isn't overly strange for me to be at home a lot and I am very content this way. I think that having several good hobbies that I do at home contributes to my comfort.
In this time of social distancing, you may be looking for ways to fill your additional time at home. I have outlined some of my hobbies that are easy to do from home and provide an excellent form of entertainment in this time of crisis.
1. Reading
A tale as old as time... I truly believe there is no better way to enjoy time at home than to read. Books will transport you out of your home into other worlds, historical times, possible futures.... the possibilities are truly endless. There is almost nothing I love more than getting lost in a book.
If you are not a reader, now might be the time to explore it. Maybe you will gain more enjoyment from it now that your are out of school or maybe you just need to search in a different genre to find something you enjoy. There are some amazing resources out there that will bring books right into your home without every leaving it. Here are some of my favorites:
- Libby app: this app allows you to download e-books and audiobooks for free with a library card.
- Kindle app: there are tons of free books and cheap books accessible in the app plus any other book you could want!
- Scribd: this is another reading app that is offering a free month of unlimited access to their library which includes e-books, audiobooks and magazines.
2. Blogging
I started my blog in the lull between graduating college and starting law school. It was a great way to fill my time and flex my writing skills. It has remained one of my favorite hobbies throughout law school and beyond. A blog is a great thing to start up when you have some free time. You can have a blog on almost any topic and it can even become a side-hustle where you can make some spending cash. There are tons of people who have considered it and just not followed through. With some extra time at home, why not now?
I host my blog for free on the google Blogger platform. It is easy to figure out and navigate.
3. Knitting
Knitting has been a pastime for hundreds of years. I started teaching myself to knit on breaks from law school. I found it to be very soothing and cathartic after the craziness of law school. Soothing is what we all need right now in this time of crisis and uncertainty. There are a million youtube videos that can teach you how and knitting needles and yarn are cheap and easy to find at your local supermarket (just please don't buy ALL the toilet paper while you are there) or on amazon.
I love that knitting gives you a tangible result. There is an element of instant gratification. It is also something you can do while watching TV or listening to music. If you are a busy body like me, it is a great way to keep your hands busy so you don't get antsy.
4. Yoga
I have practiced yoga on and off for almost 6 years now. Yoga is great because in my opinion, it doubles as a hobby and a workout good for the mind and the body. I love how I feel when I regularly practice yoga. It makes my body and mind feel better whenever I do it- it eases my tension and stress.
Right now is the perfect time to begin a yoga practice in your home. All you need is a yoga mat (Amazon sells them for $12). I practice yoga in my living room from free videos on youtube from Yoga with Adrienne.
5. Cooking or Baking
If you are a person who generally eats out, this is a rough time. Many areas are shutting down restaurants to combat COVID-19. What better time to improve your cooking skills? This is a great time to add some quick, easy recipes to your recipe box. I personally enjoy cooking most of the time. I turn on a Netflix show on my ipad or listen to a podcast and get to it. It is a low stress moment in my day and that is something I appreciate. If you start cooking more, you might even find that you enjoy the challenge of cooking and can find some enjoyment out of something generally considered a chore.
Have you always wanted to learn to bake? Now is the time! Baking is one of my favorite ways to relieve stress. It is calming and you get something yummy at the end. Grab a bag of flour and sugar at the store and start mixing up something yummy at home. Dance around your kitchen with a bowl of brownie batter and make sure to lick the bowl- I promise you won't be able to keep the smile of your face.
For both cooking and baking, pinterest is my go to resource closely followed by the Pioneer Woman.
Stay safe and stay healthy!
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