*This is a collaborative post.


The world is a very scary and uncertain place right now. We're all going through a shared trauma and each finding different ways to cope that make us feel some semblance of okay. If you're a front-line working in the medical field, a grocery store, a delivery driver, or any other essential business, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you're doing. Realistically, essential workers don't have a choice, because they need to be able to pay their bills and put food on their own tables. But know that you are so very appreciated.

Right now, maybe you're not an essential worker, or maybe you're fortunate enough to have the ability to work from home. But if you're stuck in the house, it's possible you're looking for new ways to pass the time. I've been surprisingly busy over the past few weeks, as we purchased our first home (YAY! More on that in a later post.) just before everything got really bad here in the States. So we've been gradually moving between two houses over the past few weeks, and we've also been able to work from home. So we're not quite as bored as most folks are.

Maybe right now, you don't want to be productive, but you want to focus on the here and now, and spend time loving and appreciating yourself and those you're with. And that's okay. You do not have to be a productive human right now.

But if you’re looking for ways to pass time during the COVID-19 lockdown and you don’t know where to begin, hopefully this post will be a helpful tool in finding something to do. Although this is an incredibly difficult time for everyone, finding ways to help pass the time can help ensure you’re staying away from all of the negativity that surrounds us. Though it may be difficult to take your mind off of things, there are lots of things you can do to try and help put your focus elsewhere. From starting a new hobby to learning a new skill online, if you need something to do to pass the time, check out these five ways to pass time during a lockdown:



Try A New Hobby

One of the best things you can do when it comes to passing time during your time indoors is to take up a new hobby. Whether that means you start creating cross stitch patterns or you take an interest in a particular game, having something that you can do each and every day will definitely help. If you had a hobby that you no longer had the time for, now might also be a good time to pick it back up. Check out this site for inspiration when it comes to taking up a new hobby.


Learn A New Skill Online

Another great way to pass time during the COVID-19 lockdown is to learn a new skill online. Whether you’re doing an online course or watching YouTube videos, there are lots of different ways to learn new skills online. In some cases, you may find that you’re able to find free courses due to the current situation.


Consider Improving Your Baking Or Cooking Skills

If you have always wanted to improve your baking or cooking skills, now might be the perfect time to try. Whether you’re baking for yourself or cooking meals for your family at home, you may find that now you have a lot more time you’re able to be a little more adventurous. Whether that means perfecting your banana bread or trying a new broccoli cheddar quiche recipe, you may be surprised at what you can come up with.


Take The Time To Read

If you find you have a lot of downtime during the COVID-19 lockdown, I'm a huge advocate for taking more time to read. It helps you escape and you can do it while being lazy. Whether you have a huge TBR (to-be-read) pile or you buy a couple of new books to get you started, it’s a great way to take your mind off of what is going on. I'd encourage you to try out Book of the Month ($5 for your first month!) to get some brand new books. Or check out my reviews for some ideas of where to start.


Start An Exercise Routine

Finally, it’s important to try and get some physical activity in each day. Exercise may seem overwhelming right now, but studies show it releases endorphins, which is totally good for your well-being (physically and mentally). Lots of gyms are offering online classes now, but Yoga With Adriene will always be my favorite way to add some calming movement to my day. Or maybe you've been wanting to deep clean your home for a while, but could never find the time. Cleaning is a great way to get in some movement. You can get get a five-piece Mrs. Meyer's cleaning kit by making a $20 purchase through Grove Collaborative. It took me forever to sign up and I was really reluctant,  but there's truly no catch. I ended up with like $150 worth of stuff for like $40. And if you don't want to be a VIP member, just cancel the VIP subscription - you can still order stuff regularly. But I've been able to get a lot of stuff through Grove that I can't find at the store right now. Plus shipping is fast (even when it's delayed), and they always write kind little notes on your packages.