Before I started writing this post, I wondered if we were being flooded with similar posts in the news, on facebook, instagram and twitter and even texted Catherine asking if it was already played out. She said she didn’t think so and honestly, I am writing this for myself as much as for you guys! So far on our first 3 nights of staying inside, we have sat in front of the TV for hours. While, there’s nothing wrong with your daily dose of your favorite TV shows, I wanted to force myself to do other things with our evenings while we are battling the corona virus.

It is so easy to get sucked into the news about Covid-19 and feel like the world is ending. Don’t get me wrong, we need to stay informed, but it simply is not healthy for your mind to wander to all the wrong places. SO, here are a few ideas, in case you stumble on over here and find something new to add to your new routine.

Read – Let’s start with an obvious one. Inevitably, we all have reading lists a mile long that we just never seem to get to! Set a goal for yourself, whether it be one book a month or an hour of reading a day, and start knocking out books on that list! If you have any suggestions for books, leave ’em in the comments. You can find a few suggestions from us here.

Self-Care / Home Spa Day – Paint your nails, light a candle, put on a face mask, take a bath, have a glass of champagne. You know the drill. If you have a partner, roommates or family who you are sharing your home with, ask them to kindly give you a few hours of peace to do your thang.

Learn a new skill – I don’t mean that you have to learn to play the guitar or code an entire website, but something like baking or cooking or a new yoga pose will do the trick! I am notoriously bad at / shy away from baking, so I think that might be my personal choice! What are you guys interested in learning on your time at home? Leave it in the comments!

At Home Date Night – Ok, I stole this one from a girl on instagram, but I love this idea! Treat yourself to something new (hello, Shopbop sale!) and get dressed up with your spouse or significant other and have dinner at home. If you’re like us, you regularly eat on the couch in front of the TV and rarely sit down to a meal. Let’s change that! An at home date night might be just what the doctor ordered.

TV – Turn off the news and turn on your favorite show. There are so many great shows out to binge watch, to make you laugh and transport you from our current reality. John and I have been watching Justified and Catherine is watching The Bold Type. We love to turn on Cheers or Curb Your Enthusiasm when we need a good laugh! Don’t be afraid to indulge and become a couch potato for a few hours if the mood strikes.

Meditate – Catherine is the meditation guru, but I have found over the past week that this is such a necessary and calming practice. Even if you simply try to quiet your mind for 5 or 10 minutes each day, it can make a huge difference. Check out this post about one of Cath’s favorite meditations and how she upgraded her life following the practices of Dr. Joe Dispenza.

Tik-Tok – John and I have gotten obsessed with Tik-Tok and it has been such a fun way to pass the time. We recently had one of our videos go viral-ish and it was a real thrill. It is so very silly, but we all need a good laugh, right? If you’re on the trendy app, give The Piersols and Cathclaire a follow and we’ll follow back!

Play Games – John and I enjoy a good game of Rummy and love to get lost in a card game. There are plenty of other great games for two people and we have found that this is another great way to put your phones down and enjoy each other’s company.

Get Organized – Take advantage of your time at home to get your house organized. Whether you decide to tackle that out-of-control pantry, or delve into the depths of your closet and drawers, be productive! If you are like me, you dread these tasks but it is hard to deny that when we have the time, we should get our butts in gear! I recently finished my office organization and it was SUCH a good feeling.

Virtual Happy Hour, or Face-Time Hang – If you can’t get out of the house to meet your friends for happy hour or coffee, make a virtual date with them! We have plans to do this with some of our friends this weekend and it should be a real hoot!

We hope you are all staying healthy and safe and are able to take advantage of this time with your loved ones and yourself without getting caught up in the chaos around us!