DoUntoUdders
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2020
- Messages
- 6
- Reaction score
- 3
Many of us have wished for years that we could just stay at home and not have to go to work. Well... You know what they say about being careful what you wish for. I communicate well and I'm affable but I'm not a social person. I like going out and doing things but generally prefer being on my own. I'm very selective about who I interact with, so this isn't too much of a change for me. The orders to stay at home are what is really messing me up. I was excited at first because there are a lot of trails and natural areas around me, but those are now closed. Since a lot of you are dealing with the same thing I thought I should share the list of things I've been doing with you. I'm hopeful someone will appreciate it. 
1. Taking online classes. I've been taking a class that teaches students how to become more mindful of how they feel, why they feel that way, and embraces CBT skills applied to everyday life. It is free on Coursera.org and taught by Yale staff. Not only has it been a fascinating way to fill the time, but I'm learning things that I can apply to the crazy situation right now and the rest of my life. I've been pleasantly surprised and have been taking notes. My therapist has actually started taking it after I brought it up to her.
2. Reading! I've been receiving books for free in the mail to review for about the last year or so. Goodreads.com and Librarything are the two sites I've been using. Of course things are delayed right now, but you can still sign up for giveaways. I've won SO many books that way. Also, Dollar Stores have a lot of great books too. I buy one almost every time I go.
3. Catching up on things I need to do. Cleaning, things like that. This is something that is brought up in the Science of Well-Being class I mentioned earlier. We put off things we find burdensome, especially things that are very time consuming. Studies show that even when people have unlimited time and claim to be bored that they still would rather be bored than do some Spring cleaning. The course also mentions that things like this, when completed, help boost well-being by increasing happiness and decreasing anxiety and depression. The best thing I learned about it though, SPOILER: Is that you are more likely to finish big tasks and get more enrichment and fulfillment out of them if you break them up, say doing 10-20 minutes of it a day. I know that I'm someone who tends to take on too much and then give up when it becomes too laborious. I thought that it was just more evidence of how inefficient and insufficient I am that I couldn't knock certain things out all at once, but apparently approaching it this way (when YOU deem it's too much to comfortably be done at once--we all have different thresholds and limits) is one of the best things you can do for yourself.
Also, another spoiler: They cite evidence that we get more enjoyment out of our hobbies if we break them up too. Even if the break is to walk the dog, make some tea, do a few dishes, etc. Just food for thought.
4. Taking surveys online is an interesting way to make a little bit of money and mix things up. Some of the topics are fascinating, granted, I'm a bit of a nerd. Even so, I'm making a few bucks every day doing it and being out of work until things get back to normal.
5. Picking up a new hobby! I used to be a freelance photographer and started diving back into that. I've also been using Duolingo to improve my Spanish. I was nearly fluent when I stopped taking my classes in college due to meeting the requirement. Now I'm about at where I was again. This is something else that will have long term benefits! There is one other Spanish speaker at my workplace and during my first day with him I overheard him say something in Spanish, laughed, and commented back in Spanish without thinking. He asked me if I could speak it and I said, "Un poco..." ("a little..."). He was kind enough to tell everyone else that when they can't find him or if he's off one day that I can help out. LOL! Gracias.
6. Coloring books ROCK! If you read my intro post you'll see that I've been hospitalized about a dozen time over the last seven years or so. My longest hospitalizations have been up to three months per stay. These were psych hospitalizations due to severe anxiety and depression (my anxiety has always been worse than depression). Coloring books can be so fun! I like to mix that up by sometimes drawing in additional things, like goofy surroundings, party hats, etc.
7. Word searches are awesome too! Seriously. They can be time consuming and I find it very satisfying every time I finish one. Also, they're great for improving mental plasticity! You can find these and coloring books at dollar stores.
8. Sitting outside on a day with particularly nice weather has been lovely. Natural light is scientifically proven to be something that not only benefits us and makes us feel better, but it's something we all need. And this is coming from a woman who had blackout curtains over every window and would go days without seeing the sunlight intentionally. Now I can't get enough of it. I take a folding chair or towel out and read in the shade. It's lovely. I did have a squirrel come up behind me the other day and scare the crap out of me, so now I take my dog out too! When I take him I put the loop/handle of his leash through a leg of the chair just in case he wants to roam. He hasn't yet, but being prone to anxiety makes us awesome at planning ahead, right?
9. Reconnect with people! Even strangers. I isolated myself for so long that I've got my sister, parents, dog, and... That's about it. Everyone else I've interacted regularly this year is either an ex (ahem) or was paid to interact with me (cashiers, therapists, doctors, co-workers, etc.). That's actually why I joined this forum. I wanted to talk to people, make some friends, and maybe help some folks out in the process. My ex fiance kept me isolated for years, so I lost touch with most of my friends. I'm a little anxious about making new friends due to PTSD and social anxiety. I know that I'm a likable person with a lot going for me now, but you know how anxiety is... That seed of doubt is still there, although every day without water it shrivels up a bit more.
I'd love to hear what you all have been doing! Even just to chat about it and use up more of this seemingly-limitless time.
1. Taking online classes. I've been taking a class that teaches students how to become more mindful of how they feel, why they feel that way, and embraces CBT skills applied to everyday life. It is free on Coursera.org and taught by Yale staff. Not only has it been a fascinating way to fill the time, but I'm learning things that I can apply to the crazy situation right now and the rest of my life. I've been pleasantly surprised and have been taking notes. My therapist has actually started taking it after I brought it up to her.
2. Reading! I've been receiving books for free in the mail to review for about the last year or so. Goodreads.com and Librarything are the two sites I've been using. Of course things are delayed right now, but you can still sign up for giveaways. I've won SO many books that way. Also, Dollar Stores have a lot of great books too. I buy one almost every time I go.
3. Catching up on things I need to do. Cleaning, things like that. This is something that is brought up in the Science of Well-Being class I mentioned earlier. We put off things we find burdensome, especially things that are very time consuming. Studies show that even when people have unlimited time and claim to be bored that they still would rather be bored than do some Spring cleaning. The course also mentions that things like this, when completed, help boost well-being by increasing happiness and decreasing anxiety and depression. The best thing I learned about it though, SPOILER: Is that you are more likely to finish big tasks and get more enrichment and fulfillment out of them if you break them up, say doing 10-20 minutes of it a day. I know that I'm someone who tends to take on too much and then give up when it becomes too laborious. I thought that it was just more evidence of how inefficient and insufficient I am that I couldn't knock certain things out all at once, but apparently approaching it this way (when YOU deem it's too much to comfortably be done at once--we all have different thresholds and limits) is one of the best things you can do for yourself.
Also, another spoiler: They cite evidence that we get more enjoyment out of our hobbies if we break them up too. Even if the break is to walk the dog, make some tea, do a few dishes, etc. Just food for thought.
4. Taking surveys online is an interesting way to make a little bit of money and mix things up. Some of the topics are fascinating, granted, I'm a bit of a nerd. Even so, I'm making a few bucks every day doing it and being out of work until things get back to normal.
5. Picking up a new hobby! I used to be a freelance photographer and started diving back into that. I've also been using Duolingo to improve my Spanish. I was nearly fluent when I stopped taking my classes in college due to meeting the requirement. Now I'm about at where I was again. This is something else that will have long term benefits! There is one other Spanish speaker at my workplace and during my first day with him I overheard him say something in Spanish, laughed, and commented back in Spanish without thinking. He asked me if I could speak it and I said, "Un poco..." ("a little..."). He was kind enough to tell everyone else that when they can't find him or if he's off one day that I can help out. LOL! Gracias.
6. Coloring books ROCK! If you read my intro post you'll see that I've been hospitalized about a dozen time over the last seven years or so. My longest hospitalizations have been up to three months per stay. These were psych hospitalizations due to severe anxiety and depression (my anxiety has always been worse than depression). Coloring books can be so fun! I like to mix that up by sometimes drawing in additional things, like goofy surroundings, party hats, etc.
7. Word searches are awesome too! Seriously. They can be time consuming and I find it very satisfying every time I finish one. Also, they're great for improving mental plasticity! You can find these and coloring books at dollar stores.
8. Sitting outside on a day with particularly nice weather has been lovely. Natural light is scientifically proven to be something that not only benefits us and makes us feel better, but it's something we all need. And this is coming from a woman who had blackout curtains over every window and would go days without seeing the sunlight intentionally. Now I can't get enough of it. I take a folding chair or towel out and read in the shade. It's lovely. I did have a squirrel come up behind me the other day and scare the crap out of me, so now I take my dog out too! When I take him I put the loop/handle of his leash through a leg of the chair just in case he wants to roam. He hasn't yet, but being prone to anxiety makes us awesome at planning ahead, right?
9. Reconnect with people! Even strangers. I isolated myself for so long that I've got my sister, parents, dog, and... That's about it. Everyone else I've interacted regularly this year is either an ex (ahem) or was paid to interact with me (cashiers, therapists, doctors, co-workers, etc.). That's actually why I joined this forum. I wanted to talk to people, make some friends, and maybe help some folks out in the process. My ex fiance kept me isolated for years, so I lost touch with most of my friends. I'm a little anxious about making new friends due to PTSD and social anxiety. I know that I'm a likable person with a lot going for me now, but you know how anxiety is... That seed of doubt is still there, although every day without water it shrivels up a bit more.
I'd love to hear what you all have been doing! Even just to chat about it and use up more of this seemingly-limitless time.
