What are you doing while isolating that’s something positive and different to usual to pass the time?

[JazzyTheDog]

Really interested to see what sort of positive stuff might be happening in everyone’s “down” time. I don’t mean to make light of those who are worried about family/friends, are in financial stress, or are in shitty home situations etc, but I would like to know what people have found to do that brings something positive to their lives that they weren’t doing last year, and helps pass the time etc when many of us are now stuck at home.

Have you taken up an old hobby again, or found a new one? Have you rediscovered board games? Are you FaceTiming older relatives in a more regular basis when it was always hard to fit in visits every other week?

So I’m in Australia and we’re meant to be staying at home, I’m working from home, kids are online schooling/uni, DP has been furloughed. I’m finishing off mosaic projects and starting new ones (never seemed to have time on weekends), have just finished a mosaic teapot wind chime. Dog is getting more attention and is super happy that we’re home lots but is starting to look concerned if her lead is produced more than twice/day (too many walkies interfere with sleeping). The kids (teens) are baking tasty treats now and then, yum. Me and DP are doing a bit more gardening and general prettying up outside the house than we’d usually bother with.

What are you doing? I need more ideas to keep me busy and if you’re doing crafty stuff please post some pics!

I cleaned out a shelf in the kitchen.

I might do my sock drawer as well.

I m working from home which is different, I m all over the U.K. usually and out 9am til 9pm every day so it’s different for me. I teach vocational qualifications to care staff and I am continuing to do this remotely so I think that’s positive. I talk to friends and family via WhatsApp and messenger more where I didn’t have time before and I me noting having more free time to read and come on here. Also homeschooling DS10 has helped me see how different teaching children is to teaching adults. DH is doing lots in the house and garden which we never had time to do before.

Hahah I can’t deal with the kitchen and we actually have a sock basket in our house which is basically an entire laundry basket full of socks that no one can be bothered sorting thru.

My kids made and painted salt dough ornaments. I glazed and framed the best ones. I've also been baking bread (never had time before) and pizza bases. Saved another trip to the shop for bread.

Getting back into exercise, when Covid isn't kicking my butt :(

In between WFH I am finally starting the diamond painting kit I bought before Xmas and making a frontline hero bear for my sister.

I’m getting fit and riding my bicycle tens of miles a day because I’m a volunteer grocery shopper for those shielding. Usually I’m trapped at a desk all day (I work in finance and am still technically working full-time and being paid, but the workload has lessened.) It’s win-win really: the people I deliver to are getting what they need and keeping themselves safe, and I don’t have to stay indoors during this glorious weather.

I search random places in google maps and then go to the street view and tour the place virtually

Particularly aiming for really remote spots; some places in NZ where I’ve actually visited so I can relive the peace, but also enjoying Alaska and it’s nearest point to Russia, which of course takes you to Russia...

I've been trying to practice my photography, it's something I've always wanted to get in to, I don't have a fancy camera, just my iPhone but I find it quite relaxing.

A bit more interesting, but I've been looking up witchy things as I always wanted to be a witch when I was a teenager and I figure being a bit more spiritual in these times can't be a bad thing..

Clearing out room by room having a big clean and sort out, also home schooling while this is going on,but easter holidays so just trying to get it done in these 2wks

I have also cleaned and tidied some cupboards, which is different to usual.

I feel inadequate in not having learned something new but it's difficult as a single mum.

I wfh but have also been exercising, gardening, cleaning, doing fun silly art some of which has actually turned out lovely and I've framed.

Exercising

I'm finally trying to learn Turkish properly 🙈🙈
Been in a relationship with a Turk for nearly 4 years, getting married next year and my knowledge of the language so far barely extends beyond hello/how are you/please/thankyou 😂😂

Thought I'd better learn more so I can actually understand the words during our marriage ceremony 🤣🤣

Another language learning one:
Had a lovely long Zoom conversation with a really dear friend in Paris yesterday who I don’t see that often - and firstly wondered why on earth we had never done this before! This will now be a fixture - well after we are out the other side as well.
And in terms of a positive thing to learn....
She has always spoken brilliant English (she’s French) and so I haven’t really had to bother to keep up my fairly basic French over the years.
So I have promised her that I will now make a real effort to improve my French so we can have (slightly) more bilingual conversations. 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷

I bought a 1000 piece jigsaw today, haven’t done one in years hence no idea if it will be finished in 20 mins or a few hours, so hoping it passes the time with the teens for at least a few hours.

I also have clean sorted cupboards, not all of them yet, I am rationing myself to one room a week to make the fun last!
I now talk daily instead of twice weekly to my shielded parents. It makes a huge difference, like one long conversation where we pick up where we left off, I’ll definitely continue to do that from now on. I have also become the queen of leftover cooking, we are trying to last as long as possible between shops so nothing is going to waste.

I'm learning Welsh online. It's fun even if it is a tongue-twister at times!

I'm learning to talk to spiders. Gave up on the cat years ago.

I painted the fence. I have had the paint since last year but it was abandoned
in the shed in favour of more interesting things to do. It's taken a couple of days, I'm going to miss painting the fence.

I've done a 1000 piece jigsaw as well op. My mum used to do them all the time but I'd never done one by myself, I was quite surprised at how much I enjoyed it and the sense of achievement now it's finished lol I've ordered 2 more online!

I'm reading a lot of books that I'd been meaning to get round to which is great! I've taken up cross stitch as well which makes me feel like I'm in an Austen novel, it's lovely.
Trying to learn Japanese but can't get my head round it, perhaps Japanese was too ambitious lol

I am trying to get through the long, long to-do list that I never tackle. All very mundane like upcycling furniture, decorating, putting blinds up, mending, cleaning jobs. But most of them have been on my to-do list for over a year.

Also planting veg seeds. And reading for about half an hour or more every day.

Also trying to fit in an hour of exercise a day so that I can continue to lose more weight.

DH and I are wfh with two DC, one of whom has severe SN, so there is very much a limit on what we can accomplish. If I had more time, I would:

*do more of my conversational duolingo learning
*something crafty - Ive had a cross stitch on the go for nearly five years
*spring clean a room every day
*declutter in a massive way, maybe hire a skip

At the start I spring cleaned the house. Washed the insides of all windows (I rarely do this!). As I can't use the garden centre I am growing everything from seed this year. I usually buy tomato plants. This time I am trying to grow from seed. I planted 10 and so far 5 have come through. I have planted some old sprouting potatoes in to a potato bag and hoping for the best.

I am also trying to grow flowers for my hanging baskets from seed too. I usually buy the plants to bring on.

I have rediscovered the Wii. Don't think it's seen light of day for at least 10 years! I am doing 'Just Dance' every day for an hour.

I am watching a lot more films now via Netflix. Never really used to watch films prior to this.

Trying to keep busy. It's sod's law this is happening right now. I am part way through a lot of dental work and at the end of February had a temporary crown fitted that was only meant to be on for 2 weeks until the next appointment. Next appointment up to now is scheduled for July! Hoping it lasts but I am doubtful. My hair was dyed black and in the process of having the black stripped out to go lighter. It is heavily bleached with a toner put through it. It was left that my next appointment was (at the time) for 5 weeks later. God knows when my next appointment will be now! It looks a complete mess. Thank God for L'Oreal Magic Touch!

I hope you are all coping and finding things to do to make the time pass quickly. Praying this ends soon.

Growing a baby and learning what to do with one!
Cleaned out and rearranged our kitchen cupboards.
Other general home improvements.
Reading and baking more.