What I'm Up to during my #StayAtHome + Tips on Staying Busy and Content!

Hello friends! For those of us who are fortunate enough to be able to stay at home during this time, I am sure we have all taken extra steps to keep busy (or stay relaxed) while at home. For me personally, I have delved into new hobbies! As a student currently in my gap semester, I am ensuring that I appreciate my free time now while still being productive. While I originally had plans of traveling abroad during my gap semester, things change and that's completely OK! As I always like to say, c'est la vie! Therefore, I have spent a lot of my time diving into hobbies of mine that sort of went on the back burner. Specifically, I've returned back to my passion for playing the piano. I have tried learning one new song each day, which has been SO fun! I tend to lean towards learning my favorite songs by my favorite artists, like Harry Styles, Lauv, LANY, One Republic, and Dua Lipa. If you're a fellow pianist, share with me your favorite songs to play!

I have also spent a ton more time in the kitchen cooking with my family. I have always loved cooking and creating exciting meals, but during this time, it's a different type of love for cooking. I've gained a newfound appreciation for the ingredients my parents always have on stock at home, like cilantro, onions, rice, green onions, and EGGS. It's been fun to reinvent meals and make the best of what ingredients we do have at home, since we are opting to limit our grocery runs and only going when we absolutely need new ingredients. With that, I am even more grateful to be able to cook meals for my family. Some of my favorite meals we've made so far: Turkey Burgers, Meatball subs, Arepas, Chicken Parmesan salad, Vietnamese Veggie Noodle Soup, Vegetarian Fried Rice, Crusted Cod Fillets with Asparagus, and Teriyaki Salmon with Rice Pilaf. It's always a fun time in the kitchen for sure! What're you guys cooking during our #StayatHome?

Homemade cheese arepas

Sauteed onions, grilled asparagus, and citrus shrimp

Meatball Subs

Turkey Burgers with Gouda Cheese and Alexia Fries

Furthermore, I've also found myself spending time organizing. If you guys may recall, I had improving organization at the top of my list for my 2020 New Year's Resolutions. With this time I've had off, I finally had the time to organize spaces throughout my home and bedroom. Let me just say, organization during this time has been so relaxing. It's given me a sense of calmness and relief that at least my bathroom, bedroom, and closet are organized well! I took a page from #thehomeedit's book and went on somewhat of an organization frenzy. So I guess what they say is true... don't underestimate how good organization can bring a sense of calmness and order to your life.

One of my favorite ways to spend time at home now has been working out. I usually do workouts at home and now with the extra time that I do spend at home, I've loved finding a new workout to do. Some of my favorites are HIIT, yoga, core training, cardio, and cycling. I usually use Pop Sugar Fitness videos on Youtube for my favorite workouts.

I am sure many of you may be spending your time studying, working from home or the front lines (Thank you all SO much for all that you do! It's certainly serving as a great reminder of how incredible the healthcare field is and makes me excited to join the field in the near future!), teaching your kiddos, or caring for your family and loved ones. Know that we are all in this together and we will get through this! I hope that everyone is remaining safe and healthy and remembering to follow the CDC guidelines for social distancing. It truly is imperative that we social distance if we can to help #flattenthecurve. We have so many incredible healthcare workers, grocery store clerks, and other essential services workers on the frontlines and if is it the least we can do, let's #STAYATHOME.

With that being said, here are a few tips for staying busy (and relaxed) at home.

• Find a new hobby: Crafting (I've been spending time trying to craft cloth face masks), cooking, reading, gardening... the options are endless.

• Enjoy some time outside (while social distancing of course)

• Organize that space in your home that needs just a little TLC

• Cook or bake your favorite recipe: Challenge yourself to cook or bake with the ingredients you have at home!

• Help those in your community that may not be able to go on grocery runs

• Find your new favorite workout routine!

• And of course, connect with your family members, friends, and loved ones. Checking in with one another is always helpful during times like these.

Thank you guys so much for reading this post and following along. Let me know how you're spending your time at home.

Stay well,

The Britt Edit