Keep yourself occupied during your free time
There seems to be quite a bit of spare time on many people’s hands as of late. It is hard to be self-isolated and fill every minute of every day with something exciting or new. Sometimes you think you will have plenty to do and then you’re done with it way before you expected. There is nothing wrong with that. But the hard part comes when there is that extra time and you are left with little to do. I know a lot of people tend to overthink and get into a bad headspace when having lots of time on their hands.
One of the best things I can recommend if you’re one of these people is podcasts. This might seem a little out there, but podcasts are something you can simply listen to while doing other things, even if that means just sitting outside in the sun. There are a lot of different types of podcasts that you can find for free. There is true crime, radio drama, educational, I could go on and on. No matter what you’re interested in there is a likely chance that there is a podcast out there about it. They are a great resource because you can listen while doing homework, cleaning or just relaxing and still have a form of entertainment. Many of these podcasts have more than one person speaking on them so it is also nice to hear real-world conversations during a time when conversations can be limited.
Another way to entertain yourself that might not be the first thing to come to mind is to do some spring cleaning. Take time to go through all your things and declutter. Clothes, random things in that one drawer (yes that drawer we all have), objects, books, and other things around your house. Throughout the years we build stuff up and most of the time we don’t need some of it. Take time to declutter and figure out if you really need certain things.
One last suggestion for something to keep yourself occupied if you have extra time on your hands is reading. Yes, I am aware many people do not like reading. Yes, I am also aware people have grown up hating reading. The great thing is if you’re reading this you are probably an adult that can change the way you think about certain things. With that said there are a ton of different genres and levels of readings you can find. Many authors right now are lowering digital books and online tests so more people can have a form of entertainment. Maybe if you don’t like reading a traditional novel you can read a graphic novel, which is set up like a comic book but with a little more complex content. Or maybe you don’t mind reading but classics are boring. If that’s the case, read young adult novels. I think they are some of the best books I’ve read are young adult books. Maybe you don’t like sitting down and actually reading but like the stories that come along with books, one-word …audiobooks. There are also many classic novels available through the Gutenberg Project online and they are totally free! There is so much out there you just have to find what works for you.
There are many other things you can do to fill your time during this crazy time. These are just a few suggestions that you might not have thought of. No matter what it is, take time to find things that will keep your mind busy but can also be educational or helpful for the future. Hopefully, you will find one of these useful. Stay well everyone!