Make the most of your time at home during Covid-19

There is so much uncertainty in our world right now. In the US States are talking about reducing restrictions and allowing some businesses to open. Here in Seattle, our parks opened today, and even a couple farmers markets reopened.

Many people are feeling a wide range of emotions with this latest bit of news. On one hand is fantastic to be able to go for a walk at your favourite park or beach (lingering and playgrounds are still off limits), but is it too soon? Are we tempting fate and allowing ourselves to feel giddy a little too soon? No matter what you believe, uncertainty is a common bond we all share. I want you to know I am here for you. I am sending you and your family so much love, please let me know how I can serve you even more. What are you needing right now? Healthy recipes? Nutrition tips? Wellness guidance? Fitness videos? Yoga stretch videos? Guided Meditations?

Please reach out if you need any help. I have successfully helped caregivers from all over the world improve their Health and Happiness. You can read more about my Total Wellness Program here, but during this time, I have opened my schedule for single consultations on an as needed basis. If you want to join the waitlist for my group program please sign up here. I am postponing the start date until further notice.

In the meantime, amidst all the chaos that is surrounding your life, let’s talk about your silver lining? How can you improve your Health and Happiness? What are a couple things you can commit to to up level your overall wellbeing and boost your immune system?

Use this time as an opportunity to slow down and take care of YOU. Let go of anything/anyone that weighs you down and shift your focus to what brings you joy and makes you feel your absolute best self.

There are many things you can do during this time, the most obvious being for you to be safe and stay home. Creating distance is the only way we can help flatten the curve.

Below are a few suggestions for you to do while you’re at home…

Create

🖤 Spend time in the kitchen and cook or learn how to cook a new healthy recipe or two. Boost your immune system by eating a wide variety of whole foods. Make the occasional treat like my Peanut Butter Cups or  Sunbutter Fudge. Download my Healthy Habits Shopping Guide to help you stock your kitchen with all the basics.

🖤 Reconnect with your inner artist. Remember back as a child, what did you like to do? Did you enjoy colouring? There are some gorgeous adult colouring books available, or try freehand, maybe even draw your 1st mandala. Were you a fan of painting, or, curious about trying? There are dozens of YouTube tutorials to help you get started. Have you created a dream board or vision board yet? These are so easy to do on Pintrest.  Whatever sparks your creativity… just go for it.

🖤 Write the book you’ve wanted to write. I am currently working on my first.

🖤 Create the course, ebook or product that you keep putting on hold. Your gift is unique and it deserves to be appreciated.

Connect

🖤 Video call with friends and family — we are loving daily video chats with our global family. No better time to call up an old friend.

🖤 Be sure to tell your Mum, Dad and Grandparents how much you love them.

🖤 Check in with any vulnerable people in your community who might not have loved ones around them. Do you have an elderly, or disabled neighbor, friend or relative who needs help right now? Anyone who lives alone? How can you bring a smile to their face.

Home

🖤 Declutter your home. Clean out and organize every draw, cupboard and declutter every room (now is the perfect time to simplify your home). Read this post How To Transform your Home into a Wellness Sanctuary.

🖤 Plan a date night at home. Whether you are solo dining or have a family of 4 to feed like me. Dress up your dining table, light some candles, listen to calming tunes and make your dream dinner.

🖤 Movie night. Most movie studios are offering “in theater” movies you can stream from home, or turn on one of your old favourites and cozy up with a cup of herbal tea, or Mocktail.

🖤 Organize your computer. Delete old files etc and give it a good clean. (I just did this, and wow I cleared up a ton of storage space, and got a rid of layer of grime where my wrists touch… yuck!)

🖤 Plant your own herb or veggie garden. Even if you live in a tiny apartment, you can still grow your favourite herbs, try ordering a hanging tomato basket.

Move

🖤 Throw a dance party, better yet have a virtual dance party with your besties.  Hop on over to my Spotify account for some upbeat tunes to groove to.

🖤 Move your body every day. It doesn’t matter what your choice of exercise it, just get up and move. You can find free workouts on YouTube or take any of my Barre classes that I’m teaching in collaboration with Barre3.

🖤 Stretch your body. With all the added sitting you are most likely doing, you hips and low back need to be stretched. Try a 5 minute sequence in the morning and repeat as needed through your day: Lay down and hug one knee to chest while extending your other leg long. (hip flexor stretch) Switch. Figure 4 both sides (outer hip stretch and amazing for your low back). Happy baby pose (inner thigh, pelvis stretch). Twist with knees to chest, arms in cactus, shoulders remain flat. Roll up to a forward fold. Peddle your knees. Keep one knee bent, other leg straight and twist towards straight leg (hamstring stretch, core stretch, heart opener) Switch. Interlace your fingers behind your back and reach knuckles to the sky (shoulder stretch). Then slowly roll up. Pull one heel to your bum, hold on with the same hand and lightly press your hips forward (quad stretch) switch.

Growth

🖤 Listen to an inspiring, mindset-shifting podcast, so you can use this time to expand your knowledge.

🖤 Learn a language or something you have been been putting off. I’m listening to Italian lessons every day — half my family is Italian and more than ever I want to be able to communicate with them.

🖤 Take an online course you’ve always been interested in, but never made time for. I’m furthering my Yoga training by taking a Mantra course through one of my Yoga teachers  Rasa Yoga.

Self-Love

🖤 Soak in the tub with Epsom salts and essential oils.

🖤 No better time than the present to start a Meditation Practice. Start with 5 minutes, then as you notice your anxiety and stress fade increase your time. I’m a huge fan of Deepak Chopra’s meditations, Headspace and Insight Timer.

🖤 Curl up with a good book, and read to your children every single day. These precious memories will last a lifetime.

🖤 Have a spa day at home. Make your own body and face scrubs with what you have in the kitchen and your favorite essential oils.

🖤 Sage your home.

🖤 Throw out all artificial fragranced products (your health will thank you) and instead diffuse essential oils .

🖤 Download my Self Love Rituals for more ideas.

Family Time

🖤 Play board games, cards, dominos etc and ditch a night of TV.

🖤 Create a themed dinner. Dress up. Play music that fits and allow your kids to help you in the kitchen.

🖤 Read to them. Now is the time to cuddle up with your babies and drink in this precious time together.

🖤 Walk in nature together (keeping a safe distance from others).

🖤 Paint each others nails. Cut dads hair (I just cut Garth’s yesterday, and it turned out incredible). Let dad colour your hair (Garth coloured the grey hairs that were starting to show in my hair).

🖤 Spend time helping your kids with their school work, you are not expected to replace their teacher but they need your support and they need to keep them confident.

🖤 Create/craft. Draw together. Paint something. Build legos, work on a puzzle bigger than your kids have ever tried. YouTube has loads of ideas for crafting. We just made our first biodegradable bird feeder: Cardboard box, cut into any shape. Spread Peanut Butter and layer with bird seed. Press the seed so it sticks. And voila! Hang it outside and watch how quickly they find it.

🖤 Workout together. Sing together. Dance together.

This list is meant to inspire you to stay positive for the healthy of you and your family. Pick one or more and start today.  

Let me know what you are doing to keep yourself busy. I’ll keep adding to this post, so bookmark it, and be sure to share it with anyone you know who is lonely or needs a gentle nudge to stay mentally and physically active.

Please send me an email and let me know if there is anything else I can do, and if you just need a friend I am here for you.

Sending you so much love.

Amanda