Experts believe we’re going to be in the COVID-19 quarantine for some time. Many states have crunched the numbers and estimated a peak date for coronavirus infections. Unsurprisingly, many of these dates fall in October, November, and December, which is still months away. Just because you’ll probably be stuck at home until after then, doesn’t mean you can’t be productive.
Try the five things below to make a dent in your to-do list while you’ve got the spare time.
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Fix Up Your House
If you own a home, now’s a great time to DIY to your heart’s content. According to 2019 data, 90 percent of homeowners said they plan to remodel their home at some point. While you may not be able to tackle the big things (think kitchen or bathroom remodel) or your own, there are plenty of smaller projects you can focus on without the help of a contractor.
Painting is an amazing way to freshen up drab spaces, and so is installing new lighting fixtures. Landscaping, deep cleaning your windows and frames or replacing flooring are also quite doable.
Analyze Your Finances
Whether you lost your job or were able to keep working throughout all of quarantine, chances are your finances could use a good review. Analyze your spending and saving habits to see how coronavirus affected them. You may even want to create a spreadsheet with all of your expenses to better track where your money is going.
If you determine you’re low on cash and need a different way to pay the bills, consider opening up a new credit card with a cash rewards system. USAA has several credit card options that come with no annual fees and no penalty APR so you can spend wisely and earn money back at the same time.
Learn a Language
While you may not be able to use it any time soon, a new language could be a great way to broaden your horizons.
In addition to fun apps like Duolingo and Babbel, see if you can arrange for some online lessons. You may even be able to connect with a native speaker that lives where the language you’re learning is spoken, which should make your experience more authentic.
Start Meal Prepping
Eating healthier is a goal for many people, but one of the chief complaints is not having enough time to prepare wholesome meals. One way to combat that is by planning out and cooking an entire week’s worth of meals in one day.
It sounds like a lot of work, but it should only take a few hours. Many people choose to do this on Sunday so they’ll have food ready each night after work. Once you get in the habit of prepping this way, you might have an easier time keeping it going once life returns to a more normal pace.
Read More Books
Americans only read an average of 12 books per year, so use this spare time on your hands to bump that number up. Try to make it through one book a week — that will be 52 books a year.
That may sound like a lot, but as long as you’re choosing things you like to read, it won’t be a problem. Get a good mix of fiction to keep your imagination going (especially in these bleak times), as well as non-fiction so you can learn new things.
Adjust to the New Normal
The new normal will take some time to get used to, so it’s best to make as much of it as you can. Stay productive and focused so you can accomplish things that have been on your to-do list for years.
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