Your Stuck-at-home Survival Guide
So you’re stuck at home… It’s time for some stuck-at-home survival tips!
This spring, we have experienced a national pandemic. This is the first time in many of our lives that we have seen anything like this. Businesses are closing their doors, restaurants have been limited to takeout and delivery, and grocery stores cannot keep the shelves stocked. Our nation is freaking out, parents are homeschooling their children, and “social distancing” has become a daily phrase in many people’s vocabularies.
With all of the chaos, how do we keep our lives as normal as possible?
Being self-quarantined with your family for an indefinite time period can be daunting. In an ideal world, the family time sounds great. But what happens when everyone goes stir crazy and there is nowhere to go?
Just because you have to stay home doesn’t mean you can’t have a great time. I have some tips and ideas for how to make the most of your time while you’re stuck-at-home!
Remember, be mindful.
Nobody wants to live in isolation. Be mindful of how your children are processing this. It’s important for them to be aware that something is happening and that is why they must change their routine, but it’s also important for parents not to place their stress and concern on their children.
Here are some stuck-at-home survival tips!
1. Come Up with a Post-quarantine Bucket List.
Make a post-quarantine bucket list with all the things you wish you could be doing right now!
Many of us wish for simple things at this time such as going out to eat together, going to the movies, shopping at the mall, watching March Madness, preseason baseball, or going to a park.
Every time you or someone in your family wishes they were doing something else, put it on the bucket list as a future family day. Once the quarantine is over, go through the list and be grateful for the simple things we forget to be thankful for in our daily lives!
2. Have a Game Night.
Break out the puzzles and board games! With all of the technology available today, it can be tempting to let our kids play XBox or binge watch Netflix or Disney+ all day. Even though you may all be in the same house, it is still important to have social interaction together. Play some games, even if it’s just a few times a week. Take the time to set aside the devices, turn off the news, and spend time together.
Movie nights are also a fun idea to get the family together. With all the streaming services and on-demand abilities, there are so many ways to digitally access movies from your home. Many streaming services even offer a free trial period. Find a movie to watch as a family, or a TV show to watch a few episodes of together each week. Having something to watch as a family will be a lot more enjoyable than each person watching their shows individually.
3. Maintain Structure (as much as possible).
It’s tempting to stay in pajamas all day and not set any alarms, but try to keep your kids on as close to a normal schedule as possible. This will help avoid feeling stir crazy while staying at home!
Have them wake up at a decent time, eat three meals a day, complete their schoolwork before playtime, and have recess. Let your kids play outside in the backyard to get their energy out.
Homeschooling can be challenging, but there are tons of resources online to help as well as what the schools are providing. Don’t get stuck in the habit of sleeping in, staying up late, snacking all day, and not doing any physical activity. Go on a walk and get some fresh air. It’s okay to bend the rules some, but acting like it’s eternal spring break will cause you to feel sluggish and create habits that will be hard to break when the virus has passed.
Limit the technology time your kids are having. It’s much easier said than done, but make sure they are still learning and doing things other than having tech time. Teach your kids how to cook a meal or have them do chores around the house.
4. Take Time for Yourself.
Even though your kids are at home all day, it’s important to still take time for yourself. Go on a walk, wake up early to have some quiet time, or take some time to yourself when your kids are using their screen time.
You may think that doing everything for your kids and being there for them every minute is the best thing to do, but you will need a break and some time to yourself in order to prevent burning out. Spend time in prayer or get some things done that you need to do.
It’s important to take care of yourself during this time so that you can take care of your family as well.
5. Do a Family Bible Study.
This one is simple, but it’s probably one of the most important stuck-at-home survival tips there is!
Church is now online, so watch as a family and spend some time discussing it!
If you have young kids, we have free children’s programming available at faithlifenowTV.com. Watch some programs together or pick a book of the Bible to read and discuss. There are also lots of online resources available on how to do a Bible study with kids. Get creative!
You may be feeling overwhelmed with the coronavirus and all of the change it has brought. I want to encourage you to look for the hidden blessing of family time. Many couples and families have not spent this much time together in a long time!
Take advantage of the family time. Go on a hike, watch some movies, be together. Use this time to learn a new skill, start a new task, or go further in your walk with God—this time will pass, and life will get back to normal!
