How do we continue to maintain a balance in our lives, even through this strange time in our world/country/communities? These are trying times, but the best thing is to keep doing what you know how to do, and to not panic. We are going to give you some tips and insight to our to-do lists that are keeping us productive and in a positive mindset!
Christine's Tips:
-Stay calm!
-Pray.
-Give and receive support.
Christine's To-Do List:
-Work (she's an accountant, God bless her! I'm thankful for those people that are still working through all this mess!).
-Pack (she's also moving pretty soon).
-Read books!
-Start a devotional or a journal
-Choose a self-care option like a bubble bath, a face mask, or do your nails.
-Run or walk outside (If you've never cared much for this before, now is a good time to start! Fresh air does WONDERFUL things for your body and mind.)
-Organize and purge things from your closet/pantry. There's a good chance that you have lots of things you don't wear/use in your closet or pantry. What better time than now to go through all of that?
-Do at home workouts. We find lots of at-home workouts on Pinterest and Instagram, or sometimes we make up our own. There are lots of resources out there, some that aren't typically free, but because of the current state, they are free for now. Take advantage of all the many resources you have available to you!
-Start your spring cleaning! Open those windows, ask Alexa to play your favorite songs, and get to work!
-FaceTime your family. It is important to stay connected, even though we're distancing ourselves physically.
Lari Jean's Tips:
-Make a schedule. I'm not saying your day at home has to be planned to the hour (I assure you, mine is not!), but it helps me to stay sane to have some sort of order that I am accountable for keeping. I'll attach a picture of my very loose schedule below from my bullet journal (something I’ve picked back up over this slow-down).
-Make your bed. Do NOT stay in your bed all day. By all means, choose a few days to sleep in, but as for me, sometimes the longer I stay in bed, the less productive I am. Getting up and making my bed sets the tone for the rest of my day, and always assures me that my day is going to end on a positive note when I climb in bed (I love the way our bed looks when it is made; it makes the room look so clean and aesthetically pleasing).
-Don't buy a bunch of crap food at the grocery store during this stressful time! We don't have a lot of junk food in our pantry right now, and it is making it so much easier for me to not binge on snacks. After work I am often in a grab a bag of chips when I get home kind of mood, but I have been very proud of myself over this past week. I've been thinking about things before eating them, and only eating if I'm actually hungry.
-Give yourself grace when you're not in the best mood. Especially right now, we're not going to be sunshine and positivity ALL the time. Forgive yourself if you have a lazy day (it's totally fine to sleep in and watch some movies-- no judgment here!) or eat a whole row of Oreos. Just don't let that become a lifestyle in these weeks while we're at home.
Lari Jean's To-Do List:
-Organize the cabinets under your kitchen sink. I ordered some organizers from Amazon to organize plastic wrap, aluminum foil, etc. that I think are going to do the trick!
-Clean the kitchen and bathroom cabinets (doors and handles).
-Devotionals every day. YouVersion has a great devotional, and I also just joined a devotional group on Facebook. There are so many videos out there right now of sermons, talks, and worship music. Again, take advantage of your resources!!
-Steam your curtains. (Currently going down in my house this afternoon!)
-Organize that junk drawer. You know what I'm talking about-- the one you're always digging through trying to find the batteries or matches. Yep-- do it.
-Take everything out of closets, vacuum the floor, dust the rods/shelves,and organize everything when putting it back.
-Clean your oven and stovetop. (I need to clean the inside of my stove but I am dreading the smell. SO BAD).
-Painting my nails and toenails with my DIY gel kit!
-Reading. I am currently reading Love Does by Bob Goff. It is a great read! I'll hopefully do a book review when I finish it.
-Workout. Some of my workouts will be at the gym, others will be outside, and others will be at home. It doesn't matter how you do it, but don't let COVID-19 become an excuse for not meeting your goals.
-Try a new recipe! I plan on making a new banana bread recipe with some less-than-pleasant bananas I have on the counter.
-Make a photo album of our wedding photos. Print out those photos you’ve been digitally hoarding! Make a photo book, or organize your pictures in folders on Facebook.
Amelia's Tips:
-Say yes to your kids more. Let them choose some of their activities! What better time than now to let them have a little more independence?
-Let them wear dress up clothes to "school".
-Challenge your brain differently than you usually do (ex: puzzles, board games, etc.)
-Try a new recipe!
-Do a home project (clean out closets, etc.)
-Go on a nature scavenger hunt outside!
Ashley's Tips:
-Yes, we need to distance ourselves from others, but it's still okay to go outside with your kids (weather permitting). Just please do not go out and let your kiddos play with the neighbors down the street.
-Play outside more.
-Crafts/coloring
-Clean house and catch up on laundry
-Finding new movies to watch together (We've been LOVING Disney plus releasing all these movies)
We don't want any of these suggestions/our to-do lists to be overwhelming. Rest assured in the fact that none of us are doing ALL of our list in one day. These are lists for the next few weeks, that we're breaking apart into manageable chunks. I just LOVE the satisfaction of crossing off things on my list, and that keeps me wanting to do more! This is a perfect time to spend more time with your kiddos, try that french braid you've always wanted to learn, pick up that guitar you don't know how to play, get caught up on things you're behind on (laundry/cleaning/etc.), get some extra rest and relaxation time, and to spend time talking to God. Know that God has a plan, and that there are brighter days ahead! We are always here if you’d like to chat!
xoxo,
PTB
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