Let's Talk about Free Time

Hello friends. Wherever you are in the world, I assume that you are trying to stay at home as much as you can to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Let’s not beat around the bush: this is a crappy time and most of us are spending almost all of our time indoors. Even introverts such as myself are struggling with the general lack of social interaction. I have come to realize that I don’t necessarily like being alone, but I like being alone with other people. I like to be in my own zone and focused on my work, but have the option to talk to one of my coworkers if I want to. Anyways, we are all doing what we need to do to help shut this thing down and we need to make the best of it that we can. For today’s blog I wanted to focus on some of the little creative things that you could be doing whenever your mind needs a break.

I understand that for many people who have the option to work from home, your kitchen table or your home office or your crafting area or your coffee table has been turned into your makeshift workspace. My company is having us all work from home until at least early May so my craft desk has been turned into a workspace for the time being.

Even if your work area feels like it is crowding the places where you usually go to express your creative side, it is important to find ways to let your brain do something besides work. Below are some examples of things that I am doing to pass the time:

1. Use up any craft kits that you have stored away. In the picture below, my mother and I are working on a card kit that she recently got. Go ravage your closets and find the random sewing, pottery, painting, or color by number kit that you bought once because you thought it would be fun and then never did it. If you have children, look through all of the kits they may have received as gifts and see if there is anything that you could do together.

2. Send someone a card. For those of you that do not necessarily have a large pile of craft supplies to fall back on, this takes almost nothing at all. Grab a piece of cardstock, construction paper or even white printer paper and some pens or markers and go to town. If you have stamps or stickers, go wild and add those on there! This is a great way to expel some creative energy while also putting a smile on the face of someone that you aren’t able to see in person for a while. My grandmother is in a nursing home which is not currently allowing visitors in so this is a card that my fiancé and I wrote in and sent to her to hopefully make her smile.

3. Redecorate with only the things you already have. Since you will be stuck in your home for an extended period of time, why not make some small changes to freshen up the space? Switch the pillows on your bed and couch, move your plant to a different shelf, rearrange the pictures on your wall. Little things like that can make you feel like you’ve accomplished something big.

4. Make some cookies. If you don’t like cookies then I really don’t know what to do with you. But most cookie recipes only need flour, sugar, butter, salt and either baking powder or baking soda to work. If you don’t have chocolate chips, throw sprinkles in there. Or make sugar cookies. There are approximately 18765 cookie recipes online so you will be able to find one that fits the ingredients that you have available. Below are some cookies that I made last night which were delicious!

5. Of course, if you are more of a seasoned crafter who has the supplies, this is also the time to do the big projects that you haven’t had time for. Refinish the dresser. Paint the cabinets. Sew new pillowcases for the couch. We have all the time in the world right now, so use it.
 
6. My final suggestion is not really crafty related, but just something that I have been trying to do with all of my extra time: find a new book, Youtube channel, podcast or blog. Or just revisit one that you really love. I am a Harry Potter girl so yesterday I picked up the third book and just started reading. For me, taking small breaks from staring at my computer screen really helped me get through the day. Find a new blog on a topic that has always interested you or on a topic that you want to improve on. Might I suggest this blog: Managerine Leadership: https://www.managerine.com/#/. My wonderful, talented, badass friend Julia just recently started a blog on female leadership and empowerment and is also offering a subscription box with leadership books and products from women-owned businesses every month. Take this time to invest in yourself and find a new outlet that feeds your passion and gives you a chance to focus on something other than work or the state of the world right now.

And finally, given the state of the world right now, I need to take a moment to thank all of the people in my life who don’t have the time to just sit back and relax right now. Thank you to my fiancé who is a police officer and my two cousins who are healthcare workers and to all of the grocery store workers I know who still have to go to work every day so you can get supplies. If you have any essential workers in your life, go thank them, because they need it.

Next blog we should be back to regularly scheduled content with, hopefully, an update on how wedding centerpieces are going. Stay safe my friends!

 - Rebecca