Quarantine and Chill

10 Ways to Keep Busy During Self-Isolation

With the fate of COVID-19 resting on the general population's commitment to isolation, it is now more important than ever to stay home. However, with a lot of us going on week two or three of quarantine, it’s getting harder to come up with ways to keep busy.

For this post, we asked our team to put together a list of their favorite things to do under quarantine that will keep us productive, kind, and healthy in mind and body.

An important note: during this difficult period of isolation, remember that you are helping to keep others safe.

Though it is extremely tempting to take advantage of the spring weather by going outside, remember that we are responsible for our community. Every day that you stay inside and away from others is a day closer to the end of this quarantine. By showing restraint now, we are helping to save lives. We can do it! We’re in this together.

1: Keep honing your craft.

Whether you like to sing, write, paint, or take photos, now is the perfect time to practice. Carve out time each day to work on the things that truly fulfill you – feeding your passions will nourish your spirit and make this trying time a little bit more bearable. Share your work with us @frenchgirlorganics on Instagram!

2: Find creative outlets.

We believe that creation is the antidote to the COVID-19 madness. Not only does art create community, but it inspires and encourages hope. Some of the best and brightest have created magic during periods of isolation – Isaac Newton discovered calculus and the laws of motion during quarantine during the plague, and Shakespeare likely wrote King Lear, Macbeth, and Antony and Cleopatra in similar conditions. So, take a cue from the greats and let your creativity run wild. 

We are getting inspired by numerous videos online demonstrating how to make something new and attractive out of recyclable materials found at home. For example, this DIY Macrame Plant Hanger Using Recycled Tights is something we are dying to try this week!

If you have a passion for sewing or a need to help out, you can make and donate surgical masks to hospitals and medical facilities that screen patients, who are in dire need of supplies during this time. Many websites and youtube channels are offering free patterns, so be sure to check them out! The masks can be relatively simple or more complex, like this surgical mask with a filter pocket, depending on your skill level and comfortability.

HERE is a list of facilities currently accepting home-sewn masks.

3: Try that recipe!

Whether or not you consider yourself skilled at cooking, now is the perfect time to challenge yourself and try that dish you’ve had pinned on your Pinterest board for months. We’re especially excited about this Easy Vegan Ramen recipe and the delicious Shockingly Easy No-Knead Focaccia Bread from Bon Appetit! Replace the honey with agave for a veganized perfection.

 For dessert, go all in with Avant Guard Vegan Profiteroles!

4: Movie Night

Host a virtual movie night with your friends via Netflix Party, finally catch up on Outlander, or get cozied up on the couch and settle in for a guilt-free binge session of The Witcher. If ever there was an acceptable time to stay in and watch movies all day, it’s now.

5: Move your body

Stretch, practice Yoga, or take a virtual kickboxing class – your favorite fitness influencers are most likely posting at-home workouts right now, and there are plenty of fitness instructors hosting live classes on IGTV or on their own platforms. Take advantage of the fact that since everyone is stuck at home, tons of health and fitness professionals are offering their services virtually, free of charge.

6: Read, read, read!

Now is the perfect time to get lost in a gripping novel. Need a FRENCH GIRL recommendation? Try some of these:

• Love in the Time of Cholera, Gabriel García Márquez: if you’re looking for a romantic classic.
• Parable of the Sower, Octavia Butler: if you're ready for some amazing sci-fi/fantasy.
• Senlin Ascends, Josiah Bancroft: if you’re in the mood for a page-turning indie fantasy.
• Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier: if you can't get enough mystery with twist endings.
• Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Lisa See: if you want a taste of historical Chinese culture and a new way think about how a woman would find her voice throughout a lifetime of hardships, following a story of the intricacies of lasting female friendship.
• The Spy and The Traitor, Ben Macintyre: if fast-paced, nonfiction espionage is your thing.
• Just Kids, Patti Smith: if a memoir sharing the complexities of her relationship with her dear friend, and the experiences of artists in the 1960's piques your interest.
•  Me Talk Pretty One Day, David Sedaris: if personal essays of the extra-wry variety calls to you.
• No Ordinary Time, Doris Kearns Goodwin: for some time of reflection-here is a great one about Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt, their partnership and leadership during one of the most difficult times in our history. At a time like this we need learn from history so we are not making the same mistakes over and over again.
• For those who find themselves in psychology section or scanning the New York Times Bestseller’s list, we recommend Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything, BJ Fogg: “When it comes to change, TINY IS MIGHTY. Start with two pushups a day, not a two-hour workout; or five deep breaths each morning rather than an hour of meditation.” The author also has online classes that are perfect to do at home or with family. 
• Pride and Prejudice or Persuasion, Jane Austen: if you’re ready to embrace a literary classic, and because we can't decide on just one, you can never go wrong with any of Austen’s works!

7: Start your spring cleaning.

Where to begin? Organize your pantry, de-clutter the garage, perform a much-need closet purge, sanitize your living space…the list goes on! Now is also an excellent time to start on those little house projects you’ve been meaning to get to. Work on cleaning and improving your physical space, and your mental space will brighten as well. Good Housekeeping offers some great natural recipes for homemade cleaning products are simple and effective.

8: Pamper YourselF.

Try a new detox facial treatment mask, make a cup of tea, give yourself an at-home mani/pedi, or draw a warm, sea soak-infused bath and let stressors slip away. However you choose to pamper yourself, make sure to set aside time each week (or each day!) to treat yourself to a little R&R.

9: Learn a new skill.

There are tons of online classes just waiting to be discovered, and now is the time to explore them - often at a discount. Sign up to learn a language, hone your photoshop skills, or take a virtual mixology class. Reignite the excitement for learning that has had to take a backseat to the day-to-day routine of work and commitments. We’re using Duolingo and Coursera. 

10: Garden.

Whether you have a gorgeous outdoor haven or a boho indoor jungle, gardening is an excellent way to reconnect with nature during a time that has to be spent primarily indoors. Plus, it’s spring! Plant a few seeds, prune your roses, re-pot your house plants, or fertilize your soil. Soak in the beauty of the natural world during this time of renewal and rebirth.

As we spend more time cooking meals at home, having access to fresh herbs in our kitchen is becoming essential. We’re starting with basil, which can be a finicky plant: basil prefers a warm sunny windowsill – but be sure it doesn’t get too hot! If leaves start to droop, your basil plant is either too cold or too dry. A good rule to remember is: if you’re comfortable, the herbs usually are too!

Have any ideas we haven’t mentioned? Let us know what you’re up to during quarantine in the comments below. Stay safe and healthy!

"Welcome to our petite maison on the web! Here we welcome thoughtful and civilized discussion. The FRENCH GIRL editorial team reserves the right to remove comments at any time . If you’d like your comment to appear on La Mode Verte, be respectful of our community and think before you post."