Productive Things to do at Home...Since You're Stuck There Anyhow

Tips on productive things to do at home, written in the heart of the global pandemic to help folks out.

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Let’s be honest - we’re all in uncharted territory and nobody, as of yet, has a map.

However, we’re all in this together, and my hope is that all of us can share our own little bits of expertise to help others through this, and even if we don’t create a “map,” at least we might be able to whip up a makeshift compass.

Now, I’m far from perfect, that is an objective fact - but I am damn good at being productive at home.

I started working from home roughly two years ago, and I assumed that, since I have more energy than your average adolescent after a candy binge, I was going to be in trouble.

But that couldn’t have been farther from the truth. Even work aside, home became (and still is) my laboratory for improvement - my place to try to create a better version of myself each day.

I’m not Tony Robbins or your favourite self-help guru, so I promise I’ll refrain from using the phrase “laboratory for improvement” again, but all joking aside, I feel like I know a thing or two about ensuring that being home doesn’t equate to wasting time.

Since the Coronavirus outbreak turned our world upside down, I’ve been looking for what I can share with you all that’s bigger than just travel. I started with writing an article on uplifting podcasts, and that went viral, so here I am back with another article that isn’t travel related, but is in the realm of my expertise.

I’m not looking for a traffic miracle by writing these articles. This is just one way I know how to help in a time of great uncertainty.

I said this to my newsletter subscribers a couple of days ago as well, but if anyone wants to reach out and get in touch about anything at all during this difficult period, feel free to fire off an email to chris@travelingmitch.com.

How to Have a Productive Day at Home

Firstly, I’d just like to acknowledge that these are productive habits and hobbies that I’ve developed over the past two years without having to homeschool children, or deal with the stress and pressure of a global pandemic.

I personally feel they’re more valuable than ever to try to fit into your life, but I also need everyone to know that this isn’t a prescriptive list which suggests that you’ll only be successful if you do everything.

I can only imagine how tough it would it would be to play the role of mother or father while trying to play the role of business owner and entrepreneur, so I need you to know that, if that’s you, this list is meant to help you, not meant to stress you out or feel inadequate.

In short - I simply want to acknowledge that we’re all fighting different battles, and I all I can hope is that my article on productive things to do at home offers a bit of wind at your back.

Let’s get into it, my friends.

Read Like the Dickens

How would I ever know a phrase such as “like the dickens” if I wasn’t a voracious reader? Fun fact - did you know that the phrase actually has nothing to do with Charles Dickens, but actually comes from a line in Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor?

But back to my point.

I read every single night, and have since I can remember. Can you tell?

Sometimes Bri and I will even come back from the bar, and she’ll make fun of me for heading to the couch to fit in a quick chapter.

Reading, to me, is one of the most productive activities you can do. For one, you’re giving your mind a rest from the 10 second videos, and the bang, booms, and pows of content today. You actually sit down, and take half an hour to transport yourself to another world, and to watch the story unfold.

I also can’t think of a better time to truly escape to other worlds. Right now, well it’s kind of stressful, and I relish the chance to be transported each night to another time and place.

I’m also very cognizant of the fact that reading makes me a better writer and communicator. I’ve always held on to the quote from Steven King where he notes, “If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”

If you’re looking for book recommendations, I have a favourites list on Goodreads as well as a list on entrepreneurial books I’ve read recently, but you can also just email me or DM me on Twitter if you have questions.

I believe I've rated well over 500 books on Goodreads at this point, so you can also just take a look at what I’ve been reading as of late if you’d like, as I rate every book as well.

Put Old Projects Back at the Forefront

Do you have something that you’ve been wanting to do for an eternity, but you’ve always had a handful of excuses which made sure it never seemed feasible?

My guess is that you answered yes to this, since that’s human nature at its finest (by the way, read Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art if this is an underlying issue for you).

I know that I’m guilty of this.

Sometimes I have these lofty goals to finally get back to a project that I’ve been wanting to spend time on, and then, before I know it, I’m drowning in a slew of tasks that probably more closely resemble busy work than anything else.

If there was ever a time for you to tackle that project, it’s now.

While I’ve certainly got less income coming in the doors, I’ve also got less pressure from others to complete particular assignments, and less emails and so forth to contend with.

That’s why, last week, I formally announced that I’ll be directing my attention to a project that I began to looking towards almost 7 years ago.

It’s a podcast I’ll be starting based on my grandfather’s war letters, and I explained it in detail in a video on Instagram. If you have a chance, you should watch it, as, though I’m biased, I think the backstory is pretty neat - especially what the shaman told me last year in relation to this project. Yes, the story involves a shaman.

There’s no shame is having something in the closet, dusting it off, and getting back to it.

It can be as simple as using a site like Duolingo or Memrise to refresh yourself on a language you used to know well, or to start playing chess competitively again, or perhaps to finish a book you started ages ago.

There’s a real benefit right now to embracing a project in which you already have some familiarity and expertise, and then effectively putting energy into it. You’ll quickly find that you, in return, get a lot of energy back from it.

Take Courses Online

It seems like, at this moment, websites which provide courses are waving fees left, right, and centre with the idea of expanding their user base. That’s a good thing for folks who like to learn.

Just last week, in fact, I enrolled in Yale’s “The Science of Well-Being” on Coursera. Rather perfectly, it’s a ten week course during what I imagine will be a fairly difficult period for my mental health and well-being, so what a wonderful thing to have in the backdrop and keep me in a better headspace.

I actually came across an article just a few days ago on 75 Cousera courses where you can earn certificates for free (a $65 value) to pad your LinkedIn page with. Even more broadly, here are over 1400 Coursera courses that are currently free, with the respective rating for each course.

My advice, personally, would be to think about what you want to learn more about in your industry as well. What skills can you advance?

I’m going to sweep through Ahref’s “Business of Blogging” course, as well as some MOZ Academy courses, both of which are free until at least the end of May.

The worst thing that we can do right now is feel like we’re spinning our tires. Why not inject some new knowledge into your life when you just might need it the most?

I feel this is especially important in a time when I’m constantly digesting heartbreaking news. Taking a course on well-being might just help me figure out how I can still be positive, productive, and, most importantly, continue to help others right now.

Find Your Zen With a Little Meditation

I’ve been meditating on and off for years (and more off than on), but I have come to recognize that meditation has tremendous value. As a matter of principle, I never discount practices which have survived millennia.

Meditation, generally speaking, is an opportunity for us to hit the refresh button when our page just isn’t loading very well. Or, perhaps its more like restarting your computer when you can sense that its overheated.

However you want to think about, the main thing to remember is that meditation doesn’t have to be some big, daunting, spiritual task. It’s largely about focusing on your breath and finding a moment of stillness.

There is no “right” or “wrong” way to meditate. You’re just noticing your thoughts coming in and out of your mind, and pushing your judgments aside.

Both Calm and Headspace are recognizing the importance of meditation right now, and so, with those links, you can peruse some of their free resources which will get you acclimatized to some guided meditation, information about meditation, and a whole lot more (including, in the case of Calm, calm music, resources for kids, sleep stories, and more).

Again, there’s not a whole lot to lose, and plenty to gain, so now might be your time to give this a go.

Oh, and If you want to get more into on mindfulness, I actually just read You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment by Thich Nhat Hanh, and felt it was teeming with wisdom.

Start Brand New Projects

It’s hard to think of a better way of breathing some energy and life into your existence than starting a new project.

I honestly wouldn’t overthink this - just start something new.

If you’ve wanted to start a blog, then start it. If you’ve wanted to write a children’s book, then by all means. If your lifelong dream has been knitting elaborate, Star Wars themed sweaters, then this is your time to shine.

What I’m getting at is that with scorched earth comes immense opportunity for growth. Even planting a seed in scorched earth brings with it the potential of growth, regardless of the result of the project.

New projects also provide us with a sense of meaning and purpose, and shed light on our strengths as well as character. As you might imagine, I’ve got plenty of new projects brewing at this very moment.

One such project, which I’ll release before the month’s end, is a podcast that I’m launching with my good friend Allison Green from Eternal Arrival. I don’t want to give too much away, but the basic premise is that, in way or another, we’ve both contended with some anxiety in our lives, but its manifested itself in different ways, and we’ve both dealt with it in very different ways as well.

We want to explore the notion it’s difficult for a term like “anxiety," or “depression,” or whatever else, to be a catch all term for how an enormous group of people might feel. Albeit, in a very comedic, fun, light-hearted way.

Each week we’ll tackle a new topic, which will basically be something at least one of us tends to get anxious about, either rationally or not.

We’re going for laughs, not tears, but we’re also both not scared to wear our hearts on our sleeves, and hopefully help a few people feel less alone in their own struggles.

I’m not sure if I’d have the time or the courage to just go for a project like this if it was routine as usual. And so, to me, that means I’m taking advantage of the opportunity I have right now, and that very much fits the bill for productive things to do at home right now.

If this really intrigues you, you can follow my social channels (@travelingmitch) for updates as they come.

Get Moving. Exercise is Key.

The impact that consistent exercise has had on my life is immeasurable. When I say that, I’m not referring to building muscle or physique, though it’s not a bad side-effect, but rather the effect it has on me mentally.

When I’m not moving, I lack clarity, and it doesn’t even really seem to matter how I’m moving to unlock said clarity.

Walking, biking, stretching, running stairs, playing sports, going to the gym - they all “work.”

For now, I’m going for walks (while respecting social distancing measures) to get a little sunshine, and then doing home workouts almost everyday. I use the app Strong to track all my exercise, and connect it to Apple Health.

I follow a number of fitness podcasts, but I’m particularly a fan of Mind Pump. They know their stuff, and, while I haven’t used it myself, I’ve heard good things about their “MAPS Fitness Anywhere” program.

I also know that Bri has been doing a fair amount of free workout and yoga classes on Instagram, and same with my brother, Dave, and my sister-in-law, Katie. In all likelihood, your gym or favourite instructors at that gym are posting resources online as we all try to remain relevant in this ever-changing, bizarre moment in time.

Finally Find the Time to Tidy and Organize

I’m very diligent when it comes to organizing my thoughts, and using a whiteboard and calendar effectively. And yet, the organization of my office at large doesn’t always follow suit.

It’s liberating to carve out a little bit of time to get things back in order. In fact, When I’m at impasse with work, I find doing something like doing dishes, vacuuming, or putting away laundry to be helpful. It’s still a “productive task,” but it gives your mind a moment to refocus and provides a moment of reprieve.

One task that I found particularly therapeutic was going through all my clothes to see what I could donate. Bri did the same, and we ended up with two garbage bags full. Not only did we have more room in our closet, but we also can now donate those perfectly fine clothes to help those in need. That just seems like such an obvious win-win to me.

I’m now looking for other tasks like that, which allow me to clear my space (and thus head), but also provide me the opportunity to give back.

In general, we’ve reorganized our apartment quite a bit. We moved our bed to provide a workout space for yoga and stretching in our bedroom. We also added a section to our dining room table to ensure Bri had a better working space to teach from and her own desk of sorts.

Our reality has changed, and so we felt our apartment should reflect that. It’s just a small two bedroom apartment in a big city, but it’s what we’ve got, and we’ve made some changes in terms of organization that have ensured we’re happier here for the time being and are able to share the space in ways that respect each other’s needs.

Watch Worthwhile Content

I will freely admit that I’m a bit of a snob when it comes to what I’ll watch, though I certainly don’t judge anyone else. I don’t watch reality TV, nor anything that I don’t think will “broaden my horizons.” Lame, I know.

I’m just obsessed with how my time is allocated and I’m not terribly good at sitting still anyway, so binge watching content isn’t really a thing for me. Quite honestly, sometimes I wish I could just sit and relax.

I watch an inordinate amount of documentaries, and I suppose it’s all part of my “productive strategy.” On a very basic level, I think I just love learning and am curious, so I watch things I either don’t know enough about, or want to deepen my knowledge on.

For example, I recently watching the Netflix documentary Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold, and was very moved by it since she’s an author I very much respect. Similarly, a documentary like Inside Bill’s Brain: Decoding Bill Gates, is beyond up my alley, and that too is on Netflix, or at least was until recently.

If I’m looking for a quick jolt of information, or I want something compact and digestible, I’ll often turn to TED Talks. Nowadays, they’ve got nearly 3500 talks on there, so there really is something to quench everyone’s individual curiosity, and what I like about TED Talks is that there does tend to be a baseline of quality.

As you’ll have noted from past posts (such as this one on my favourite travel subreddits), I’m a proud Redditor. True, some subreddits are just bananas, but others are a remarkable source of information. If I’m ever bored and looking to peruse what’s available in the world of documentaries, I regularly turn to r/documentaries.

The selection is eclectic, as the content varies in both length and subject to an incredible degree. Not to mention, the inherent upvoting system on Reddit gives you an understanding of which documentaries are quality.

You can also sort the subreddit by “Hot,” “New” or “Top.” For starters, it isn’t a bad time to go to “Top” and click “All Time,” as those are those are the golden eggs.

Connect with Others in New Ways

Yes, connecting with others falls under the umbrella of “productive things to do at home.” We can’t be productive if we feel isolated, disconnected, and alone, so socializing is a crucial part of this whole process right now.

Since this is all new to all of us, this is going to take a variety of forms.

In the Toronto Bloggers Collective, we’re trying to adapt and think of genuine ways to provide some online community, and drop a little knowledge. Now, on Thursdays, we have a live workshop in the Toronto Bloggers Collective Facebook Group at 10:30am on a different topic each week. We’re also hosting a happy hour every Saturday starting at 8pm on Zoom.

I’ve also been prioritizing “brainstorming calls” where I chat with friends and colleagues I respect in the industry (and out of the industry, actually) and we just do an idea dump. You can’t underestimate the power of talking to a bright person for an hour, where you both have each other’s best interest at heart.

In my opinion, everyone has the opportunity to think outside the box a little.

I’ve never been a “gamer,” either, but I find I’m playing more games online with friends, especially games where we can play on the same team. For now, it’s really keeping me sane, and making sure I’m injecting some fun into my nights here and there.

Think about where and how you’d like to connect in new ways. What hobbies to you enjoy, and what communities might you be able to latch onto or engage with on the world wide web or on social?

So That’s How to Feel Productive in Your Pyjamas

Joking aside, I would recommend starting your day as you would normally do it. Wake up, get a cup of your preferred hot beverage, perhaps a bite to eat, then shower and get dressed.

It may not seem like much, but the act of getting dressed is big, at least for me. Plus, you never know when someone is going to hop on a Zoom call with you nowadays.

This also may sound a touch over the top, but I have “signifiers” that I use in my office that indicate when I’m “on the clock.” After my shower, I go into my office and turn on my air purifier, then I turn on the lamp in the corner, and my lava lamp.

I go and get dressed, then come back to my office and the lava lamp is oozing away, which I’ve mentally begun to interpret as my signal that the workday has indeed begun. When I’m done my “workday,” I turn off all of those things and just use the overhead lamp, and then I unconsciously understand that I’m no longer on the clock.

These things ultimately act as cues, so see what cues you can create for yourself as well.

I honestly believe I’ve shared all my tips and tricks about being productive at home that i’ve come to understand. Through these difficult times, I’m trying to establish how I can be the most helpful for others that I can, and that’s why writing about travel just isn’t cutting it for me right now.

Know that, whoever is reading this, I wish you well in this time, and I sincerely hope this gives you some boost or direction.

What I’ve come to understand more than anything else over the past few weeks is that despite the fact that I might have less to offer right now from a monetary perspective, my mind is still rich with ideas, and, moving forward, I intend to give all that I possibly can.