There’s no denying that COVID-19 has put a stop to your day-to-day routine. As a matter of fact, the severity of Coronavirus has put the world on pause. In all clamour, you’re trying hard to keep calm, stay busy, and respect social distancing because the only ‘safe place’ right now is your home. 

While you’re inside, it’s easy to spend your extra time in comfortable joggers, watching Netflix, eating and napping. A lot of people even consider mandated isolation to be a dream come true, but it’s a slippery slope. How do you maintain accountability to stay moving, get active, and be productive when you have every excuse not to be? It’s easier when you have a list of productive things to do at home.

1. Clean Out Your Closet

First on the list of productive things to do is go through your closet and get rid of everything you don’t wear anymore. Self-isolation is the perfect time to put those years of ‘collecting’ tees and hoarding clothes to rest.

One trick to deciding what to toss is turning hangers of what you do wear to face the opposite direction of everything else. This closet-purge trick will give you a good gauge of what you actually put to use. 

Even if you cut out a quarter of your closet, you’ll feel a lot more accomplished for it. Once you’ve made your picks, you can bag up the ‘no’ pile and set it aside for donation later. It’s a win-win for everyone. 

2. Remove Clutter in Your Space

It’s easy to rack up clutter in your space. With no friends or family visiting you right now, what reasons do you have to clean up anyway, right? Well as solid as that reasoning might be, according to Psychology Today, decluttering your space can actually help reduce anxiety - and who needs more of that. 

Getting ahead of your own habits and cleaning up the space that you live in (and probably share) can help boost your productivity, too. The less mess you have to focus on, the more you can set your mind to more important things.

3. Start the Project You’re Putting Off

We’ve all got an unfinished project we’re going to get to eventually. Doesn’t matter how small or large the project is, now is the time to finish it. What other excuses do you have not to? 

Personal projects are a great way to help you and your mind stay productive at home. They stimulate the brain that you’ve spent hours drowning with TV and memes. There’s really no better way to help put that same time to use than with something you’ll feel proud of once you’re finished. 

Maybe it’s that hobby you never kept up with, or the business you always dreamed of starting. The best way to stay productive at home is with something you’re passionate about, that will keep you busy, and make you feel better for doing it.

4. Deep Clean Everything

Not into upstarts or parting ways with your favorite denim jacket? Then giving your place a deep clean is another great option to keep productive at home. If you can’t remember the last time you did more than fold your laundry and make your bed, then it’s probably time for a deep clean anyway.

A deep clean is making your way from room to room while thoroughly scrubbing, washing, and cleaning any surface area you see. It’s the most advanced type of cleaning there is, especially if you’re a housecleaning novice.

The reasons deep cleanings are so great is they keep you up, busy, and help remove things like allergens and dust from your home. Just remember to keep on it - a deep cleaning is no good if you undo your hard work within days.

5. Catch Up with Friends and Family

Have a list of people you still need to call back? Then it’s probably time you pick up the phone and do it. And no, texting isn’t the way to go. Calls are more personal and make it a lot easier to catch up with someone that has a lot to say. 

Maybe you forgot to call your parents back or you’ve been meaning to catch up with your college roommate. Calls are a relatively low-energy, productive thing to do at home. A call will also mean a lot to the person on the other end. 

Some people will require more of your time than others, but catching up with someone might end up being more enjoyable than you think. 

6. Do a Home Workout

This is a little harder to do if you’re not confident exercising on your own, but if you are, then a home workout is a great way to feel accomplished. Without overthinking it, simple body weight workouts like squats and pushups help get your heart rate up in a manageable way. Consider throwing in some cardio, like running in place or jumping jacks. Anything you can do to break a sweat will help you feel a lot less guilty about how you’ve used your time. 

At the end of the day, how you spend your time is completely up to you. If Netflix all day is a day well spent, then power to you. But if you’re in the need for a break from your staycation, then try tackling something from our list. Bonus points if you do them all.