I Can't Leave, What Do I Do? Part One - Activities

What do I do now? WHAT DO I DO NOW!

You might be here because this says it's a beauty blog - that stuff's coming next, don't you worry. I know how exciting it is to see a lunatic dress up at 10 pm in a full Gatsby gown and 20s makeup for no apparent reason, and take the pictures to prove it.

But for now, what to do . . .

Bread

My first recommendation - don't try that sourdough bread baking fad unless you have superhuman timing skills, which I do not. I've murdered various starters, and it does seem to be on par with my success rate in keeping plants alive (nil).

Is it fun? Initially, yes, it's very satisfying to beat up some dough with your pent up energy. Is it ultimately worth it? I'm honestly consumed with guilt over my utter failure in providing for these baby breads, so no.

So promising. So doomed.

My next recommendations are basic as they come, but hey! I'm having a good time, and so might you!

These are knitting needles.

Knitting

I've been working on my knitting skills while sitting inside doing absolutely nothing else but re-watching all of The Magicians series (highly recommend), and they are definitely coming along. I have a starter patch with about four rows - there was a steep upward trend in my success rate after I realized you have to actually pull the stitch off one needle onto the other to progress. I would definitely recommend watching some tutorials if you want to take this up - I liked this website: Sheep and Stitch.

The main reason I'm enjoying knitting is not because I have dreams of presenting my family and friends with floofy scarves come Christmas, although that would be cool (warm?) - it's because it helps calm my anxiety and distracts me from spiraling into depressive thoughts. I've struggled with depression for years, and I just can't seem to turn my brain off, no matter how hard I try sometimes. 

Knitting puts a task in my hands that takes my full attention and literally does not allow me to drift off into those downward thought spirals, which is a much needed break! For those who really count on socialization to keep them sane, this is a very difficult time - personally, I know my inner demons have been at a high lately, so anything that's calming is very welcome. 

Speaking of calming - ZOMBIES!

They're gonna getcha getcha getcha getcha.

Zombies

I don't run. I've been made fun of for trying to run. I know this. However, you really get your ass in gear when you have a voice in your ear screaming that a zombie horde is rapidly approaching from the left.

This app is so cool - it takes you on a series of missions and tracks your run on an actual map, including your overall speed, time, and distance. It's presented like a story, with you playing the role of "Runner 5" in a zombie apocalypse scenario. When I need to get outside for some fresh air, I've taken to putting on a mission and taking off around the block - and it feels like it goes by in no time at all! The groans of the zombies from my earbuds overpower the sound of my frantic wheezing by far, A+ design. 

You can check out this app here: Zombies Run

Yoga

Wow, what a roller coaster this is - we're going from zombie survival to yoga. It's important to stay vigilant in times like these, however, so consider this whiplash training!

I'm really enjoying this yoga series that my sister (the middle one) recommended to me a few years ago and which I have not since looked at until laying flat on my stomach on the floor this week reaching for the remote that I accidentally flung while dancing to some hardcore rap I heard on TikTok.

It occurred to me, Ah. This could be something I do for health as well.

And thus!

She has a cute dog too

Thanks Shelb! This yoga guru has a series for anything you could want - relaxation, weight loss, anxiety, waking up, going to sleep. Don't do them all at once. 

You can find her channel here: Yoga With Adriene

AND FINALLY!

Learning

Smart things that are very awesome - Yale is offering its "Science of Wellbeing" course for free! From what I've read in the promotional material, this is one of their most popular classes, and it feels particularly relevant right now.

Course description:

In this course you will engage in a series of challenges designed to increase your own happiness and build more productive habits. As preparation for these tasks, Professor Laurie Santos reveals misconceptions about happiness, annoying features of the mind that lead us to think the way we do, and the research that can help us change. You will ultimately be prepared to successfully incorporate a specific wellness activity into your life.

According to the summary, skills you will gain include gratitude, happiness, meditation, and savoring. I think we could all use a little bit of these.

I've signed up for this and am one week deep in the material, out of a total ten weeks. You should  jump into joy with me.

Find it here! Science of Wellbeing




COMING IN MY NEXT POST . . . The various beauty related coping mechanisms I've developed to endure my total boredom! I expect to emerge from isolation like a butterfly from a cocoon, fresh with newly fluttery false lashes that I just learned how to apply without making myself look like a haunted Victorian doll. 

What have you been doing to keep busy? Let me know!