End of the road… nothing to do… and no hope of things getting better. Sounds like Saturday night at my house.

– Eeyore, Winnie The Pooh

It has been such a crazy experience in our lives! Social Distancing is the new normal and staying indoors is not considered a red flag for depression! There are rules governing our outdoor activities and learning to work from home is a struggle; especially with comfy beds within walking distance. This experience is even worse for people who have lost their jobs, were separated from family, or living alone!

I was reading a blog post from a blog I subscribe to called: The Confused Millennial. She posted a blog called 41 Things to Do Alone. This topic hits home for me and I was eager to talk about it in my own version of things to do alone; but with the current pandemic and limitations, I have decided to adjust my blog to focus on the things you can do alone during this pandemic. I would still strongly recommend reading the 41 Things to Do Alone as it is great way to spark some ideas for once restrictions are lifted.

5 Things to Do Alone: During A Pandemic

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#1. Read A Book: The beautiful thing about books is that you can find one about ANY TOPIC! Just like a movie or a television show, you can find a book that makes me cry, laugh, and even feel scared! Reading is known to improve memory function and provide some much-needed vocabulary and grammar refreshers. Personally, I enjoy both fiction and nonfiction books. I highly recommend Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine by Gail Honeyman if you are interested in a fiction read and A Man’s Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl if you are interested in a nonfiction read.

#2. Go for a Walk: Put on some headphones with music, your best walking/running shoes, and just enjoy the fresh air and the warm breeze. Did you know that walking just one mile at a regular pace takes approximately 25 minutes? It gives you some exercise during the day and time outside during this pandemic.

#3. Be Creative: I went online and purchased a paint by numbers kit! It gives me a chance to enjoy my alone time. I did make the decision to purchase from a small online retailer instead of Amazon. It takes a bit longer to receive and might be a bit pricier, but I was able to create my own painting sheet. Here is the link to the retailer: https://numeralpaint.com/

#4. Movie Night in Style: 1 word – FORT. Build yourself a living room fort, fill it with pillows and blankets, movie snacks and drinks. Choose a couple movies to play and enjoy. I would be lying if I said I hadn’t built a fort within the last 6 months (really less than 2 months).

#5. Stay Connected: We live in a world of technology and social media. Call a friend, face-time your family, or even participate in a happy hour zoom call with co-workers! Its great to be alone, but some socialization with the outside world is nice too.

Being Alone Isn’t So Bad

Like I mentioned earlier, this is a topic I have been eager to discuss. It hits close to home. When I first moved to Reno, NV for college; I felt so ALONE. I went to work, went to class, and then went home for what felt like a long period of time. Eventually I broke out of my rut. I went out to eat alone, I went and hit golf balls alone, and I even ventured to the movies alone. It was such an amazing boost in my self-confidence. I didn’t even realize I was closed off until I learned to spend time alone with myself.

For My Alone Readers

I hope you enjoyed this blog post and that it inspires you to venture outside of your comfort zone. I would love to hear all about what you choose to try out below in the comment section!