Reading Time: 3 minutes 4 Creative Ways To Use Your Free Time
This is a lifestyle post by Michelle.
With schools, offices and all other public places forced shut, we have been locked in our houses for months. While it is necessary to keep infection rates in check, it has caused great damage to our emotional and mental health. The work-from-home policy has turned professionals’ time-table upside down while youngsters have started to find life repetitive and mundane.
The best way to deal with such a difficult situation is to find out ways to be more productive. Spending our time purposefully can not only make us happy but also reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety. It can also help us stay positive and hold on to the hope that things will get better with time.
So, to help you in this journey, we have prepared a list of things that you can do to feel more productive. Here are our top 4 picks for creative ways to use your free time.
- Exercise
The best way to utilize your idle time is to do some exercise. It can boost not only your physical health but also your mental health. Exercising regularly can also help in clearing out your head and aligning your thoughts, both of which have become highly important in current times. Plus, it also allows you to take a little break from computer screens and look after yourself.
Cycling, swimming, skipping or running, you are free to do whatever you want. However, try avoiding going to parks, gyms or other public places to work out. Opt for exercises that you can easily do in your backyards, terrace or lawns.
- Make Soft Toys
Another great way to spend your free time productively is making soft toys. You can sign up for online classes and learn new skills. If you have a little one in your family, this activity becomes all the more fun. You can make beautiful toys and then play with them later, along with your baby.
Additionally, you can also make your own bobblehead. It is like a miniature version of a person or animal that has an oversized head attached to the body with a spring. The spring makes the head bobble every time it is tapped. It is a very funny and unique toy that can also be used as a showpiece to enhance the beauty of your living room. You can easily find its DIY videos on youtube.
- Start Journaling
This year has been extremely stressful. Many of us have lost our loved ones. This is bound to leave us with grief, sorrow and a lot of regrets. It is important to let go of all such negative emotions and try moving forward in life. A creative way to do this is by writing it all down. This will help you get the baggage off your chest as well as understand your feelings better.
You can also start journaling about your day-to-day activities.
- Learn Baking
Who doesn’t love cakes and cookies? So, why not put our free time into learning the art of baking them? You can start by trying some online recipes with your kids or siblings. If you are more serious about it, you can also sign up for online cooking classes and learn more than just baking cakes.
Conclusion
Life is short and uncertain. Thus, we should try to make the most out of it while we can. The activities mentioned above are sure-shot ways to utilize your free time more productively. However, do not feel guilty if sometimes you want to do nothing but just rest. Your only goal should be to wake up smiling the next morning.
Rachel is an Austin blogger, educator, mom, wife, young breast cancer survivor writing about health, saving money, and living a happy life in Austin, Texas.
Rachel has written for HuffPost and Hometalk and has been featured on KXAN, Studio 512, Fox 7 Austin, and CBS Austin.