With everything going on right now I wanted to write a bit about what I like to do with my spare time when I stay at home to de-stress. I’m hoping that outlining some of the things I like to do can help inspire others to find some new ways to spend their free time at home!
Reading
I got back into reading when I commuted into the city for work and I’m so glad I did. Reading is a great way to de-stress for me as I feel it lets me escape into different worlds. I have a few books I read recently that I wanted to recommend as well as a few books I can’t wait to read!
Some books I’ve read recently to de-stress are Park Avenue Summer and One Day in December. If you’re into fashion and writing like I am then Park Avenue Summer is such a great book for you! It’s a fictional look into the behind the scenes world of Cosmopolitan magazine in the 60’s and I don’t want to give anything away so you’ll have to read it for yourself!
A book I read this past winter was One Day in December and it was a very interesting take on a love story. It’s written so that the reader sees snippets of the characters lives throughout the years. It’s also a part of Reese’s book club which I thought was cool!
One book I’m really excited to start reading is Love & Gelato! An old friend recommended it to me and its a love story so I couldn’t resist. I’m also excited to get my hands on Our Stop. It’s a love story between commuters and I found that super fitting given my commuter past (insert wishful thinking here).
Being creative
I’ve always loved creating beautiful pictures with watercolors. I find it to be such a therapeutic activity. You also don’t have to be an amazing artist to be creative though(I should know lol)! I’ve found coloring books are also a great alternative to express yourself and de-stress.
If you like painting
I’m not a major artist but I love painting with watercolors to de-stress. I really don’t use anything special so if you’re looking to get started I’d recommend checking out Crayola watercolors! They’re super forgiving because they’re washable, how ironic, and they’re very easy to use. You’ll need special watercolor paper so that your paper doesn’t break up but most craft stores have great coupons you can use for it. I’ve found that the stronger the paper, the better it is to layer color over which is important if you’re using paints like Crayola which tend to need more layers for deeper colors.
If you like coloring
Find a coloring book that’s right for you! You can even print free pages online which is a cheap alternative. I really like picking out a book that’s themed to what interests me because I’ve found it’s much easier to de-stress and want to finish pages.
I have a Thomas Kinkade Disney coloring book (no surprise here) because he’s my favorite artist. In college, I had one inspired by Paris which I loved and for a past birthday, my old roommate had gotten me an Alice in Wonderland themed one!
Workouts to help de-stress
I’m not the best when it comes to being active but YouTube channels like Blogilates are a great way to get workouts in at home. I’ve been watching her videos for years now and it’s nice because I can find videos tailored to my needs. She also makes shorter videos on TikTok now that are helpful when you’re looking for a quick routine to follow!
De-stress with puzzles!
My most recent favorite activity to de-stress has been putting together puzzles! I haven’t put together a puzzle in a long time but my friend and I recently bought a few to do together and it’s quickly become one of my favorite activities. I’d recommend trying to find them bundled together so that you can get a good deal. I found a box of four 500 piece Disney puzzles at Target for only $13 which was great compared to some that were $13 on their own.
Cleaning
I don’t know about you but I have so much to declutter in my house. I can’t remember the last time I truly deep cleaned and set aside things to donate, keep, etc. This is a great way to de-stress that can benefit others as well through any donations you may have! One program I really liked recently is HM’s because they accept garments you may not be able to otherwise donate. They utilize the fabric for housing insulation and other projects which is a great alternative to being trashed instead.
Looking ahead
This is an incredibly trying time but it’s important to look ahead to the future and remember that if we all work together we can make it to the other side of this! I hope everyone stays safe and healthy and know that you’re all in my thoughts. I wish you all the best as you stay at home and feel free to message me on Instagram if you ever want to talk. As always have fun on your next (in door) adventure!