It is quite likely we will all be at home for an extended period of time at some point, either self imposed or mandated, before we see the back end of this pandemic. It already looks like the apocalypse at the grocery stores around here. And apparently tofu is high on the list of “must hoard” items…really??? I have never voluntarily eaten tofu, so I really don’t understand that. Also chicken is completely non existent at the store, (save 3 lonely packages of chicken nuggets…which I’m not entirely sure qualifies as a food), along with plain yogurt, frozen fruit, butter, and eggs. Frozen veggies were down to a meager selection of mostly brussel sprouts. I felt kinda bad for the brussel sprouts - like they’re the last kid picked for the team. Bread, except for a couple packages of mini croissants, and of course, paper towels and TP were completely wiped out. And shredded cheese. Not other cheeses, just shredded because apparently people are not intending to spend any of their forced free time at home shredding cheese.

It’s quite surreal. And it is understandably frightening for all the high risk individuals, so PLEASE be patient and kind and very conscious of habits that will help keep everyone safe. And while the prospect of forced isolation or forced family togetherness might be grim, it can also be an opportunity. So carpe the heck out of the diem and try to look on the bright side. Maybe even use a few of these suggestions to take advantage of the extra hours you might gain by not commuting anywhere.

1

Find the floor

Okay I may be speaking only for myself here, but the bathroom floor around the hamper is somewhat elusive…clothes seeking the hamper don’t QUITE seem to find it and I can’t seem to impress upon my family that this is not like horseshoes…close doesn’t count! Also, I tend to only do laundry when it’s mission critical. Like we are running out of underwear critical. So there’s no time like the present to get caught up on laundry, especially the stuff that never seems urgent like the extra towels and bedding from the last houseguest!

2

Organize your closets

Admitting you have a problem is the first step in recovery for anything, so get in your clothes closet and ruthlessly assess. Edit out the things you don’t actually wear. The things that haven’t fit in 10 years are unlikely to be in style when you do lose those 50 pounds, so you might as well free up the space. Chances are there is something in there that would be perfect except it needs a small alteration or repair and you never remember until you are trying to get dressed and get out the door. Now is a great time to sew on that button, or hem those pants. It is SO much easier and more efficient getting dressed in the morning if you know every single thing in the closet is in good working order, fits, and can be incorporated into a great looking outfit. Reward yourself with new matching hangers for a job well done!

And after you sort the clothes closets, check out our suggestions for organizing your linen closet and pantry! And this hilarious and informative article from serious eats on organizing your spice cabinet.

3

Figure out a new gadget

Finally read up on how to use the instant pot you had to buy because EVERYONE said it was the best thing since sliced bread. Of course instant is a little less critical now that you’ll be home 24/7 to manage items with long cooking times, but if you have one, experiment with it! In spite of my aversion to extraneous gadgetry, our counter is sporting an Instant Pot that looks, for all the world, like R2D2 (NOTE: not the design statement I was aiming for in the kitchen, but it does turn out some delicious stuff). It’s maiden voyage was an adaptation of THIS risotto recipe only with way less stock and about 10 minutes of actual cooking time! And it’s surprisingly healthy..and coincidentally gluten free.

4

Binge watch

Catch up on binge watching some favorite shows, or download some podcasts to listen to (while doing the aforementioned laundry!) Have you seen The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel? Very funny, but worth it for the costumes and sets alone! Also the Great British Baking Show is a perennial favorite here, highly inspirational and aspirational and possibly also fattening because watching it seems to induce cravings…

5

Get some culture (and not the yogurt kind).

Check out all the arts that are finding innovative ways to digitally connect - streaming symphony concerts, opera, and broadway shows. You can even do some armchair travel with 360’ tours of some of the worlds great museums.

6

Catch up on reading

Subscribe to your local library’s digital account services so you can get digital and audio books for free using apps like Overdrive and Hoopla, or subscribe to Kindle Unlimited. Or order actual books! They make fabulous styling props for coffee tables and bookshelves in addition to being great to read! These are some of my favorites:

7

Do some minor home repairs and tweaks you never seem to get around to

You can get basic supplies like scratch repair markers, felt furniture pads, and wood joint repair delivered right to your door from online sources, at least you can here so far. Level all your wall art and use museum putty to secure a corner so it doesn’t shift every time you bang a door. If your wall art arrangement needs some help, check out this and this. You are going to be looking at these walls for extended periods of time…this could be a good time to make sure they spark joy :)

8

Tackle a cleaning project

Some cleaning projects just never seems urgent enough to get to…like cleaning under appliances, or vacuuming under the sofa cushions, or evicting the spiders that are setting up condos in the corners of the skylights, or cleaning the glass on light fixtures. Now might be an opportunity to feel virtuous and productive by tackling some of them. As you can probably surmise, I am NOT a particularly fastidious housekeeper. If YOU are, then awesome, you can do something virtuous like…

9

Take up a new hobby, learn a new skill, or adopt a new healthy habit.

Try a creative pursuit, like drawing or coloring books for grown ups - it’s very therapeutic! Check out Duolingo or Memrise to help teach yourself a new language. Actually floss every day instead of just the week before your dentist visit so you can claim that you do, or start an exercise program you can do at home.

10

Dream and plan

While you are staring at the 4 walls of your house, it is a great time to take an inventory of what is working for you and what could be improved around your home. Our homes should be a shelter and a haven and a place that supports the wonderful contribution we were created to make in the world. Your surroundings affect your sense of well being in profound ways, so take this time to assess what could make your surroundings work better for you and your family. Once you have honed in on the problem, start dreaming about what the solutions might look like. Pin inspiration from Pinterest, research pricing for projects and furnishings, engage a designer to help you figure out the best solutions for you in particular - they will bring creative energy and ideas and experience to the table and many of the beginning stages of a design project can be done virtually and remotely. Planning is THE most important part of any home design project, so take advantage of the time you have to do it right!

And if this goes on for a while, it might be an excellent time to join that wine-of-the-month club…