10 Things You Can Do at Home to Keep Calm and Carry On!
Keep Calm and Carry On!
“Keep Calm and Carry On” is a popular slogan found on many things from t-shirts to mugs. It reminds us to keep persistent and continue with Positive Forward Motion especially in times of challenge and adversity.
I was curious about the origin of this phrase, so I did a little digging and discovered it was created during another very difficult time in history when people needed a morale boost. To learn more, listen to my latest podcast episode “Keep Calm and Carry On”.
Now more than ever is a great time to keep this mantra “ Keep Calm and Carry On” in mind, as we are being faced with a new challenge.
Many of us are sent home to work, schools are closed, businesses are changing how they operate or are closed, and essential businesses like hospitals and grocery stores are being overloaded.
This means that a lot of us are going to be spending more time than ever before at home either alone, or with our partners and families. At first this can seem great! However, the idea of it lasting for several weeks or even months is stressful.
Many of us are thinking: “How am I going to entertain myself? How are we going to entertain the kids? This is going to drive me crazy!”
It is important to focus on the Positive reasons we are all practicing Social Distancing and Self Isolation.
While it can certainly be stressful, there are many things that we can do to ease the tension and make the most of it!
1. Start Spring Cleaning Early
Make time to organize that shelf, drawer, closet, etc. that you have been needing to clean! Think of 2 things you can clean today and get started!
Not sure where to start? Check out Marie Kondo on YouTube or Netflix.
2. Learn with Family
Enjoy your time at home by having fun with your family playing board games or learning new skills together. Hold a family meeting and list things to do and learn, such as baking bread or learning a new language!
If you are home alone, try connecting virtually with a friend or family member.
3. Practice Self-Care
With many of us staying inside and potentially having much less social interaction than we are used to, it is important to take care of yourself and your mental health.
A great way to do this is to practice self-care! For those who struggle with mental health, self-care is incredibly important, so here are a few ideas:
- Practice mindfulness meditation
- Stretch or follow an online guided yoga practice (keep reading for an online yoga recommendation!)
- Take a bath with epsom salts and light a candle
- Check in with yourself and how you are feeling (which leads me to my next point…)
4. Start Writing
Write a letter to someone, write a letter to your future self, start journaling! Journaling is incredibly beneficial to mental, emotional, and physical health!
Here are a few journaling prompts to help you get started:
- What makes me feel calm?
- What can I do today that I didn’t think I could do a year ago?
- What goal do I want to accomplish and why?
- What accomplishment am I most proud of?
- Who can I reach out to and help?
- Who can I call to help me?
- Where do I see myself 6 months from now?
5. Organize Your Photos
Have pictures you have been needing to scan into your computer or scrapbook? Use this downtime to organize them so that you can look back on them fondly in the future. Here are some of my favorite pictures I recently rediscovered while going through my own pictures, including one of my mom with Kenny Rogers!
6. Story Time
Use this time to catch up on reading or listening to books on audio. Sit around with your family and do story time! Did you know that Audible is currently offering free children’s books? Learn more here: Audible free for kids.
7. Organize a Virtual Movie Night
Have you heard of “Netflix Party”, “MetaStream”, or even “Discord”? All of these programs are ways that you can stream a virtual movie night to have fun with friends while social distancing!
- Netflix Party is a browser extension that enables a chat on the side of your typical Netflix stream
- MetaStream is similar, but allows you to use any streaming service so long as everyone watching has their own account on that service
- On Discord, there is an option to “Channel Stream” so if not everyone has the streaming service with the particular film you want to watch, one person who has it can screen share their stream of the movie so that everyone can watch!
8. Get Some Exercise
There is no harm in going outside so long as you keep a distance from other people, so go for a walk, hike, or run!
Want to stay inside? Follow an online guided workout from home! What have you always wanted to try? Yoga, Zumba, Country Dancing?
Search YouTube for these things, there are so many fantastic creators making guided workout videos so you can get moving in the privacy of your own home!
Here are a few YouTube channels I recommend:
- YogaWithAdriene
- Adriene hosts this wonderful channel with guided yoga practices for all levels, and with focuses on a variety of topics! I guarantee you there is a Yoga video for everyone on her channel.
- HASFit
- Get the “Personal Trainer” experience right from your own home! HASFit has a variety of workouts of all different lengths, which makes it easy to find exactly what you are looking for whether you are a beginner or you are experienced!
- Check out their YouTube Channel!
- Chloe Ting
- Chloe Ting is known for her free workout programs, challenges, and healthy food recipes. Her channel is a one-stop shop for all things Nutrition and Fitness!
- Check out her YouTube channel!
- PopSugar Fitness
- Do you love to dance, try fun and exciting new workouts, or are you a cardio lover? This is the channel for you! PopSugar fitness has a variety of fitness tutorials and classes, and regularly covers the most buzzed-about workout classes and trends, including the Victoria’s Secret workout, Tabata, P90X, Bar Method, and more.
- Check out their YouTube channel!
- 3 Minute Fitness
- My daughter Leah is an instructor at 3 Minute Fitness, a HIIT based workout studio that has recently started uploading equipment-optional workouts for free to YouTube! I did their arms and abs workout this morning and let me say, it really kicked my butt in the best way possible!
- Check out their website!
9. Watch a Live Stream
Did you know that tons of amazing museums, zoos, and musical artists are live streaming? That’s right! Here are a few recommendations:
- Tour the Louvre!
- This famous French museum is famously known for being the home of Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa”! The Louvre is offering virtual tours of their exhibits on their website.
- Go to the Opera!
- The Royal Opera House recently announced that they will be live streaming Operas on their Facebook and YouTube channel because the show must go on!
- Below are the scheduled dates and times!
- Peter and the Wolf, The Royal Ballet, 2010 – 27 March 2020, 7pm GMT
- Acis and Galatea, The Royal Opera, 2009 – 3 April 2020, 7pm BST
- Così fan tutte, The Royal Opera, 2010 – 10 April 2020, 7pm BST
- The Metamorphosis, The Royal Ballet, 2013 – 17 April 2020, 7pm BST
- Go on a Safari!
- The Cincinnati Zoo is live streaming their animals and exhibits weekdays at 3pm EST on their Facebook page, so you can experience animals around the world in your living room!
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- Watch a John Legend concert!
- It may have already been streamed, but you can catch up and watch it on YouTube whenever you like!
10. Set Time Limits
Stay informed, but don’t let the news consume you! Set 15-minute intervals 3 times a day max! This will allow you to stay informed but not overwhelmed.
For more ideas on how to spend your time at home and discover the origin of “Keep Calm and Carry On”, listen to my latest Positive Forward Motion podcast episode by clicking here!
As always, I am wishing you and your family health, positivity, and happiness both personally and professionally.
While the world has slowed down, continue to finds ways to Keep up the Positive Forward Motion!
