With so many people working at home and all of the shut downs, it is important to find ways to entertain yourself and keep your mind sharp. While many will take to the internet and binge watch their favorite shows, we’d like to offer up a few fun alternatives.

Learn To Cook

“Cooking brings you back to a nurturing home space. It creates an environment that's supportive and helps you fight stress.” There are many benefits in learning how to cook. It enables you to eat healthier, save money, have a creative outlet and can also be a great way to bond with loved ones.  There are an endless number of cooking tutorials online and you are likely to be able to find a recipe for just about anything you like. Start with your favorite restaurant dish and master that.  Once you’ve done so, you may find yourself hooked on cooking.

Paint On Canvas

Painting is one of the great art forms and has served as a way to express yourself and be creative for thousands of years. “Painting is incredibly relaxing and can help reduce your stress levels. While painting, you’ll be able to focus specifically on what you are creating and let everything else go. This has a similar effect on your body as meditation. The result is a positive mindset and a different outlook on the world around you.” Speaking from personal experience, learning to paint is one of the best ways to unwind.

Get In Shape

Although many gyms have closed down, it is still essential to your well-being to remain active.  There are loads of aerobic and strength training videos out there that require using little more than your own body weight. “Regular physical activity can help keep your thinking, learning, and judgment skills sharp as you age. It can also reduce your risk of depression and anxiety and help you sleep better.”

Practice Mindfulness

The practice of mindfulness has become an essential life skill for those with high-stress jobs and lifestyles. Meditating and doing yoga can benefit anyone willing to keep an open mind about it.  “Studies to date suggest that mindfulness affects many aspects of our psychological well-being—improving our mood, increasing positive emotions, and decreasing our anxiety, emotional reactivity, and job burnout.”

Read Books

Reading books has many benefits including improved cognitive function, improved vocabulary and an increased ability to feel empathy. Reading can also help to relieve stress. “In 2009, a group of researchers measured the effects of yoga, humor, and reading on the stress levels of students in demanding health science programs in the United States.  The study found that 30 minutes of reading lowered blood pressure, heart rate, and feelings of psychological distress just as effectively as yoga and humor did.”