The first few months of 2020 have been unlike anything we’ve ever seen. Unprecedented things have happened due to the coronavirus.
Sports are not being played, children are kept from going to school, businesses have closed, and for the first time since World War II, Wimbledon has been canceled.
During this pandemic, families and individuals across the globe are being strongly encouraged to remain indoors as much as possible.
Aside from essential employees getting to and from work and stocking up on necessary groceries, people should not be leaving their homes during this pandemic.
According to CNN, the U.S. has more confirmed cases than any other country — more than 200,000.
Because this virus is so contagious and deadly, at this point, staying home isn’t just recommended — it’s imperative.
“Avoid leaving your house like someone’s life depends on it, because ultimately, someone’s life does depend on it,” said Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf. “Some of you might think a month is too long to go without seeing your friends or family but if we don’t do everything we can to slow the spread of COVID-19, there are some people who you will never see again.”
Sadly, this disease has found its way into nursing homes and other establishments filled with elderly individuals, who are most at-risk.
In addition, nursing facilities and homes where senior citizens reside still have to deal with other issues, as well.
A recent study estimated that only one in 14 cases of elder abuse are ever reported to authorities.
Luckily, there are plenty of things you can do to stay occupied and (relatively) productive during your quarantine. Here are some things you and your family should consider doing while you’re staying at home.
Take care of your house
For many hardworking Americans, it can be difficult to work 40 hours a week, have a family, have a social life, and still find the time and energy to work on major household projects.
During a quarantine, however, you’ll have a lot more time on your hands. Rather than wasting your day away on the couch worrying, take a look around and start working on projects.
Start with plumbing issues because they can lead to all sorts of costly issues. A trillion gallons of water — worth $6 billion — is wasted each year as the result of running toilets, leaking faucets, or other household leaks.
If you’re not exactly the handy type, rather than hiring a team of contractors to come to your home, consider spending a few hours a day researching how to perform certain tasks online.
YouTube can help you learn how to do pretty much anything. Don’t forget to look around your home for corroding metal, too, since metal corrosion costs the U.S. economy nearly $300 billion every year.
Get your finances in order
Carefully budgeting and properly monitoring your finances should always be top-of-mind, but it’s even more important during these wild times.
At this point, no one knows when life will return to normal. We don’t know when people will go back to work when businesses will open, and what the financial ramifications of this pandemic are.
So it’s best to prepare as much as you can.
Start by taking a look at all your financial accounts and determine a budget for the next few months — and start today.
Also, do everything you can to keep money in an additional emergency fund. Though this is certainly an emergency for many families, try your best to continue to save for even more drastic times.
This is a great time to start working on your taxes, as well, especially since Tax Day has been pushed back.
“We are moving Tax Day from April 15 to July 15,” said Secretary Steven Mnuchin. “All taxpayers and businesses will have this additional time to file and make payments without interest or penalties.”
Start a new hobby
Whether it’s reading a few books, learning how to paint, or anything in between, there are plenty of things you and your family can do to make the most of your 2020 quarantine.
Here are some great things to consider while you’re spending a lot more time at home the next few weeks/months:
- Complete a puzzle.
- Start a journal.
- Write a poem.
- Learn a new language.
- Practice meditation.
- Cook a new recipe.
- Write a letter to a friend or loved one.
- Organize all your cabinets and drawers.
- Bake something delicious.
- Learn to play an instrument.
- Learn calligraphy.
- Start working out or practicing at-home yoga.
- Construct the perfect music playlist.
- Learn how to make a classic cocktail.
- Write a set of goals for this year and beyond.
- Clean up everything.
- Watch an entire TV series.
- Go through all your pictures and delete all those duplicates!
- Make a list of things you are grateful for.
- Have an indoor scavenger hunt with the kids.
We’ll get through this together. Just make sure you’re social distancing, taking care of yourself and your family, and staying home!