HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR SPARE TIME: 7 WAYS TO KEEP YOURSELF BUSY & HAPPY WHILST AT HOME.

Whether you're working from home or you've simply had a ton of spare time thrust upon you unexpectedly, being in the house all the time can feel a little alien to us all. Most of us are used to getting up & leaving the house as and when we please - whether that be for a coffee date with our other half or a lovely dinner out - but right now, we are confined to this one space, and as much as we all love our homes, finding ways to keep our minds & bodies occupied can be a test.

I absolutely love being at home, especially since we moved house and we have a lot more space. I feel super-settled at home & I'm currently enjoying the 'nesting' process before our little one comes along. But I have to say, as much as I love being here, the fact that I can't just invite my parents round for a coffee & the fact that I can't just pop out as and when I feel like it isn't always easy.

Still, I do believe that this unprecedented and unpredictable time is something that we have no choice but to make the most of - and if we can begin to use all this extra time to our advantage, then we each have the power to take a real positive from the situation. Sure, things are pretty strange right now (and downright unpleasant for a lot of people), but if we can just try to focus on keeping ourselves busy and doing things that make our soul happy, then that would be so uplifting!

So far during lock-down, I've been making a conscious effort to really make the most of this time. Time is so precious and it's important that we use it wisely. So, for this blog post, I thought I'd share 5 ways to keep yourself busy & happy during your spare time. I really hope you enjoy!

1. Read A Book Or A Magazine

Remember that book you got for Christmas that you've been vowing to read for months? Well, now's the time to dig it out and get your head into it! Reading is such a fruitful way to pass the time, and be it a really long, exciting fiction novel or an interior design magazine, you're sure to be left feeling refreshed afterwards.

I used to read so much when I was younger, and it was getting stuck into great books that made me want to write creatively for a living.

You can't go wrong with coffee and a good book!

2. Get Some Exercise

Working out doesn't just exercise your body, but your mind and your soul, too. So, if you've been searching for something to do whilst you're at home, then a workout is 100% the way to go.

At the moment, we are limited with the amount of physical activity we can enjoy outdoors due to the lock-down situation. However, government guidelines stipulate that one walk each day is absolutely fine - and when it comes to home workouts, well, we can indulge in those as frequently as we wish!

I really love all the amazing yoga videos that are available on YouTube right now, but for me, the best form of exercise will always be a good old dog walk. I am 100% making the most of that one walk a day that we are each allowed, as this really helps to clear my head and keep me feeling positive. Green spaces are great for practicing mindfulness, and as we live in a very green area, I feel lucky to benefit from this.

3. Find A New Series To Watch

When it comes to what to watch on TV, we really are spoilt for choice these days. Platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime grant us access to the most incredible range of films, TV shows and documentaries. So, whatever your preferred genre may be, you're sure to find something you'll love!

Marc & I recently found a love for the American TV series, 'Big Little Lies.' He was skeptical at first as he assumed it would be a bit 'chick flicky' - but it's really not! This series has an incredible all-star cast & the plot is just so gripping. I soon get bored when I watch TV, so if I stick with something, you know it's good - and we've been watching 3 episodes of this show a night! I highly recommend this one.

4. Pamper Yourself

Oh I do love a bit of self-indulgence and pampering - don't we all? Whether it's a hot bubble bath with a face mask and some candles, or a new set of gel nails, doing things that make us feel good about ourselves is so great - and such a positive thing to do. We deserve our me-time, and it's so important that we get it. So, if you've got some time on your hands & you're trying to think of new things to keep you busy and entertained, then it's time to indulge in a little bit of self-love.

When I'm having a proper pamper night (or pamper day!) I like to do everything - the full works. I start by having a hot bath complete with hair mask, face mask and full body exfoliation, before moving onto my nails (I use Candy Coat gel polishes), skincare routine and anything else I can think of!

A couple of my absolute favourite pamper night essentials include the Palmer's Natural Fusions Chia Seed & Argan Oil Hair Mask, The Body Shop Mediterannean Almond Milk With Oats Instant Soothing Mask and the L'Occitane Ultra Rich Foaming Bath. I regularly mix things up in this department, though, and I'm constantly looking for new pamper products to try & test.

We all need a good old pamper night every now and again, don't we?

5. Clean The House

Okay, this might not sound like a scream, but trust me, you'll feel so much better if you actually use this time to get your house clean and organised.

I must admit, I'm quite (extremely) particular about how I like our house to look. and I'm constantly running around cleaning and tidying because I hate mess & clutter - so I tend not to have a huge build-up or backlog of housey bits to do. However, being at home every single day has given me the opportunity to stick the washing machine on more regularly & I've been giving the bathrooms more frequent deep cleans, too, which is nice.

I say this a lot, but I really do believe that the way your house looks & feels makes such a difference to how you feel inside. If our home is a mess, then I can't relax the same. I like things to be clean, tidy and organised - it's just such a good feeling!

6. Bake Something

I'll be honest, I haven't actually baked anything whilst in lock-down so far, but it's 100% on my list of things to do! I've loved looking at all the yummy sweet & savoury snacks different people on Instagram have been making - and it's definitely left me feeling inspired!

I absolutely love baking - it's so much fun! And I love that you have something to really enjoy afterwards. A few of my favourite things to bake include chocolate brownies, chocolate chip cookies and classic Victoria sponge cake. For something a little easier that requires less ingredients, flapjacks are a great option, too.

Love sweet treats but prefer to stay away from refined sugars? I don't blame you. The good news is, there are now tons of amazing healthy recipes out there available for you to try. One of my favourite Instagram accounts for healthy eating inspiration is Wholesome Lee. For recipes in full, you can check out her website, Wholesome Lee - it's fab!

How yummy do these cupcakes look?!

7. Video Chat Family & Friends

One of the best ways to beat the blues when not being able to physically see family & friends is to video call them. FaceTime is perfect for one-on-one chats (I prefer to FaceTime than call, to be honest_ - but the new House Party app is ideal for group chats. This evening my mum, my sister and my nieces & nephew all played Bingo via the House Party app, which was so lovely!

What are you finding most difficult about being in lock-down? And how are you keeping yourself busy during this time? I'd love to hear from you, and I'm definitely open to new suggestions, so please do drop a comment in the box below.

I really hope you all enjoyed this blog post & that you're all staying safe.

Until next time, lovelies.

Lots of love,
Grace x