What To Do When You Feel Like You Have Nothing To Do?!

Here we are, in the midst of the coronavirus, self-distancing/self quarantining and trying to figure what the heck do I do now?!?! I know that I am feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and just a tiny bit afraid of the unknown! I’ve been told that that’s completely normal right now. I moped around for the first couple of days and then decided I should make a list of all the things I want to get done during this time. I wrote it all down, all the things I could actually accomplish with this extra time. I wanted to share this list with my fellow creatives, photographers, makeup artists, illustrators, etc. We could all use some fresh perspective on how to spend this upcoming alone time. So lets cut the yip yap, I know what you are really here for!

Learn a New creative craft/hobby
While it might seem silly to try to learn something new. I wanted to do something creative and fun to keep me off social media for a few hours. I chose embroidery for my first project. I love llamas and thought this cute little guy would be something I can hang in my office and maybe I’ll order another off of amazon if I enjoy this one!
I’ve linked another cute option from amazon because, hello! prime and not having to leave the house! My husband decided he would learn leather tooling! He’s going to stain the leather dark brown and then do a criss-cross pattern! How cool is that?! Anyways, there are lots of options for creative crafts to try and it gets you focused on something else.
Amazon Embroidery

2. Read a Book That Helps YOU & a Guilty Pleasure

I’m sure this is a given, you’ve probably seen a ton of people telling you to read a new book. While reading can be super beneficial in helping take us to a new world, we can also use certain books to get out all of the things we are feeling and help us deal with them. My new favorite book is “52 weeks to calm!” It gives you prompts to make a list of things that you are feeling. It helps you organize your thoughts and focus on what you can control and deal with right now.

Right now Moorea Seal the author of the 52 lists series is giving you 15% off with the code MNYPHOTOS on everything at her website! GO check these books out! I highly recomend them! She’s a local Seattle WA author so please go check out her stuff! She also has some amazing candles on her page. If your gonna be stuck inside might as well have it smell nice!

Click here to go to her website!

And my guilty pleasure is either poetry or a romance novel! I’m currently reading Falling Toward the Moon by Drake and Sin. It’s written by two authors but they wrote it together so you have poetry writtten by one and then poetry written by the other. It’s a great easy read!

3. Work On Your Buisness

Again, sounds really redundant. BUUUUUUTTTT. Here is a list of buisness things you can do right now while at home!

Re-Brand: Yep, Now is the time to freshen everything up. Even if it’s minute. People are at home spending lots of time online and social media. MAKE. THE. MOST. OF. IT! Re-branding can consist of updating your logo, redoing contracts, website updates! I started rebranding prior to social distancing but have gotten so much more done with extra time. I’ll be finished much faster.
Blogging: I know, I’m one to talk here. I am catching up on 6 months worth of blogging, but I am getting it done! I made a few poles on insta-stories to see what people wanted to read and see. Again, people have a lot more time to be online give them quality content that they can read/look at!
Mood Board: Weather you are a photographer, florist, painter, etc. You can make a mood baord of your dream vision. For your business or for a new concept. Now is the time to dream and turn those dreams in to plans! Check out my mood board for my dream photoshoot below!

4. Learn A Tik Tok Dance

Yes, I said it! You know you want to! It’s fun and silly and just because you learn one doesn’t mean you have to post it! I learned one and it took my mind off of everything and got me up and moving after hours of sitting and working! Check out me making a fool of myself but having so much fun with it!

CLICK HERE TO SEE MY FAV DANCE!

5. Work On A Personal Project

Something I have been wanting to work on for the last few months is making a recipe book for my grandma of all of her family recipies. I even photographed her in her kitchen this past summer for her book! I can not wait to finish typing up her recipies and testing a few out! It’s for the sake of Art right? And if I have to eat cookies, key lime cheescake, sweedish pancakes, or apple crisp, theres nothing wrong with that Ha-ha! Also, How freaking cute is my grandma & Grandpa!?! 53 years of marriage later and you’d thought they were just married 5 years ago! #couplesgoals

6. Do A 20Min Workout Everyday

I am bummed that my gym is closed but lets be honest, even if it was open I would be avoiding it becuase too many people! There are some great options out there right now that have great workouts for free! Here are a few that I’m doing! Do you have apple watch? If so, Add me! Lets challenge each other to stay active during this down time!

30 minute Walks with my Dogs and a 10min Nike app ab workout
My friend Clare ( She did olympic weightlifting & has booty goals for days) has a 30 Day Healthy Habits Challenge workout plan thats on sale for $10, such a deal!!! This can be done in home! Woohoo! check it out HERE
Beachbody has 2 weeks of free videos (I don’t sell their stuff but 2 weeks free of workouts is perfect! ), If your a planet fitness member their app has free 20 minute workout videos, Sugarpop on youtube has awesome workout videos for any level!

7. Self Care Day

Do we really need an excuse to spend a day or a few hours of a day pampering ourselves?! I think not! Bust out that nail polish, face masks, jade roller, and tea or te-quila and take care of yourself! It’s okay to take some time to help yourself relax and feel better about yourself. I’m a big fan of bubble baths, and wine with a face mask! You can even DIY your own Sugar scrub which not only smells good, but it feels amazing and if you use it after you shave your legs, your legs will feel like silk! Recpie is below!

DIY Sugar Scrub

1/2 Cup Coconut Oil
2 Cups Granulated Sugar
1 TBSP Water
15-20 drops Essential Oil ( Your choice scent, my fav is lavender)
- Lavender
- Eucalyptus
- Mint
- Citrus

8. C.L.E.A.N

Right now is the perfect time to get into a great hygeine routine with your gear and office. Cameras, lenses, computers, makeup & paint brushes, tablets. Anything you can wipe down and disenfect, think of it as spring cleaning for your gear. It will appreciate the self care as well!

9. Cook New Foods

You know that Pintrest board of food you’ve been dying to try but haven’t had the time for? DO IT! That blackberry White Chocolate Naked Cake that you’ve been dying to make but says it a full 3 hour process? Well, now you have time! Or, ever wanted to make your own cinamon sugar pretzles? Me too! I can’t wait to see what you create! Keep in mind there may be a few #pintrestfails along the way but have fun with it and snap a few fun photos when your done! If trying something new isn’t your thing, try plating it in a pretty way! Watch an episode or two of master chef and Gordon Ramsy will get you inspired to make your food look beautiful!

10. Spend A Day Phone Free

Yep, last thing I can advise is take abreak from it all! From the funny corona virus memes that make you laugh, the new articles that put you on edge, and the FB/Insta posts about everything else. Take a day or two to detox and break the cylce of checking your phone. I see you making the same face Ruger is but trust me! It really does help! Fill your day with one of the other non-tech options above. It will do wonders for your mental state.

To see how my self distancing is going and get updates on my embrodiery, workouts, new foods, lists, or even just to see my dogs, follow along on my instagram! Thanks for reading if you’ve made it this far! Stay safe and sane!