Ideas to Make the Most of your Time Stuck Under Your Roof

Making the most of your time (stuck?) at home

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and Governor Inslee’s stay-at-home order going into effect for at least two weeks, now’s the time to make the most of your home sequestration. Whether you live alone or with family, there are enough activities and tasks to keep everyone occupied.

Family time

This is a perfect opportunity to reconnect with family in unhurried, all-the-time-in-the-world mode:

• Play board games
• Cook and eat a meal together.
• Build a birdhouse together. (Birds are in full swing this time of year and access to nesting areas is critical.)
• Hangout in the backyard or on the front porch and watch the deer and other wildlife go by.
• Care for and spend time with pets as a family. Work on easy training and tricks; give them a bath; brush out their shedding spring coat. (Check out at Sidekick Dog Training for some helpful dog training tips – many apply to cats and other small animals too!) 

Getting too much family time? Solitude is good for the soul. Even if you live with a large family, you can all agree to designated solo activity: reading, working, creating, or simply spending quiet time alone.

If necessary, build a pillow fort and escape!

No family? On your own?

• Work on craft projects
• Learn something new. Everyone can acquire new skills and knowledge of an endless array of subjects. Check out your local library’s electronic and audio book checkout availability or find an online course

Work on your business

If you are a small business owner, this is the perfect time to get to all of those items on your task list crossed off.

• Build that course you have been planning
• Get more active on social media – after all, your audience is captive (thank you TSO Media for the tip).
• Create a new system
• Organize your office
• Work on your email list

A number of these activities could be used to keep employees on payroll, even if just for a few hours a day.

Physical activity

Just because you’re stuck at home, doesn’t mean you can’t break a sweat. Create your own indoor workout, walk or run around the neighborhood with sufficient social distancing. There are plenty of apps to get you started and keep you motivated. 

Stuck at home with others? Break out Twister for a fun way to work out and connect! 

Yard prep

Get a jump start on the projects you usually put off until later in the spring or summer (or never). Proper maintenance of your home and yard is a solid investment of your time, and adds to your home’s safety, comfort, and overall value.

• Work the soil in any eventual garden beds.
• Rake and clear fallen branches, leaves, and debris.
• If you don’t have one already, start a compost bin.  

Early Spring cleaning

Cleaning and organizing measures you take now will pay off down the road when you’d rather be outside. 

• Deep clean blinds
• Pack up unused clothing, toys, and household items for donation
• Make the most of your space and de-clutter/organize
• Wash windows (interior & exterior)
• Wash baseboards, window sills, door & window framing, and walls.
• Thoroughly vacuum vents
• Dust and clean overhead lights; replace burnt bulbs

Home improvement & maintenance

Homeowner? Now’s an ideal time to do some recon. Home maintenance and improvement tasks include:

• Checking seals around doors and windows
• Inspecting grout and caulking
• Cleaning the garbage disposal
• Testing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, replacing batteries as necessary
• Replacing the filters in your HVAC system. 
• Ensure your yard is protected against pests with preventive control barriers.

Did you know that pest control is considered an essential service? (We highly recommend Lind Pest Control)

• Schedule your roof inspection, cleaning, and maintenance! 

Look at the bright side

Being at home for weeks on end doesn’t sound all that great, but, looking at its bright side, it’s an opportunity to improve and enhance your home and yard, catch up on backlogged projects and to-to items, and spend time with family creating memories. 

The Bonus: you’ll be freeing up time for outdoor social activities down the road when the current pandemic and social upheaval is past.