I'm in the Bay area, and all 7 counties are now under a shelter in place order due to the Coronovirus for the next 3 weeks. That basically means that except for critical activities we need to stay home and we need to stay at least 6 ft from other people (non family). The good news is I have a job where I can work from home. The bad news is one of my major binge eating triggers is boredom, or really sitting on the couch watching tv.

I'm working during the day (and its been really busy) and I've been walking the dog when I can (this order happened to come just as we are having a series of rain storm)s. I can't go shopping, movies, gym, etc...

Thoughts on ways to stay occupied?

Keep healthy all!

Lori

I'm in the Bay area, and all 7 counties are now under a shelter in place order due to the Coronovirus for the next 3 weeks. That basically means that except for critical activities we need to stay home and we need to stay at least 6 ft from other people (non family). The good news is I have a job where I can work from home. The bad news is one of my major binge eating triggers is boredom, or really sitting on the couch watching tv.
I'm working during the day (and its been really busy) and I've been walking the dog when I can (this order happened to come just as we are having a series of rain storm)s. I can't go shopping, movies, gym, etc...
Thoughts on ways to stay occupied?
Keep healthy all!
Lori

I posted this on another thread but I'll copy it here. Hang in there! We're all in this together!



Here are some things I've come up with to keep my mind and body sane. Maybe they will help you too.

Ignore #1 if you are not in a secluded area of course.

1) get outside. Don't be near people but walk the dog, jog around the block, clean up your garden. Its cold as hell where I am but bundling up and getting out and moving helps! Biking works too!

2) try a new hobby. This is the time to finally try knitting or sewing! There are tons of YouTube videos that can reach us essentially any skill or hobby. And you can order materials online. Bluprint.com has great knitting kits and follow along videos. When your hands are busy you can't be putting food in your mouth. I started knitting dog sweaters for the animal shelters this week

3) start a journal. This is an incredibly crazy time in our lives. Write stuff down! Get your feelings out ! Use good old fashioned pen and paper. Again, keeps your hands busy

4) get an awesome puzzle and work on it a couple hours a day. Frame it when you're done as a reminder we survived this!

5) adult coloring books and documentaries! Color while you listen/watch - not only are you keeping your hands busy, you're keeping your mind sharp and learning!

6) find a friend or group of friends and do an online workout. Set up a workout ahead of time that can be done in the house, and Skype your friends and do it together!

Marie Kondo your dressers and closets? I’m the type of person who copes better when I’m doing something vs. being passive.

I’m afraid I’m going to run out of things to paint! Lol

I am bored as hell also but Not in total lock-down yet! Problem is my company is shut down so that free's up to much time, I have decided to go kill every fish in the dang ocean. Everyone i know has fresh fish Including a food shelter i gave a whole cooler to. Going again Thursday - Friday

Of course i was no help to this thread but it kept me busy and not bored and tied up your time reading it!

10 hours ago, loridee11 said:

Thoughts on ways to stay occupied?

Several good ideas already listed, binge watching Netflix shows is not one I would suggest. For me if I am watching TV for an extended amount of time I tend to desire food, something to munch on so I avoid long periods of TV time.

For me I am gong to use the extra "at home" time after work to complete some on-line technical courses that are reverent to my profession. I also received a lifetime subscription to Rosetta Stone as a gift this past Christmas so maybe I will also start to lean a 2nd language just for fun. Figure if your keeping your brain active perhaps it will be too occupied to think about food.

Edited March 18, 20206 yr by VIN_IN_AL

3 hours ago, AJ Tylo said:

I am bored as hell also but Not in total lock-down yet! Problem is my company is shut down so that free's up to much time, I have decided to go kill every fish in the dang ocean. Everyone i know has fresh fish Including a food shelter i gave a whole cooler to. Going again Thursday - Friday

Of course i was no help to this thread but it kept me busy and not bored and tied up your time reading it!

Save some fish for the Osprey ? j/k though they are the ultimate fishers they were literally born to do it. That’s the only thing that kept me partially sane, the Osprey finally visited the tree outside my window twice to eat his fish. But now the birds migrate and off they go.

13 hours ago, loridee11 said:

Thoughts on ways to stay occupied?

I’m home bound so much due to my chronic illness. Yet this still is unsettling as everything slowly shuts down and it’s harder to go anywhere at all especially given my immunodeficiency. I’m also waiting on scheduling an important medical test which has to be done in hospital, and next month am supposed to have a double balloon enteroscopy.

I don’t have enough energy to keep as busy as I want to physically. I’m trying to keep mentally busy but even that is physically exhausting. I’ve never thought of boredom just the moment I’m in and hopefully accomplish even little things in that moment. Keep food to mealtime and if you need anything to occupy your hands? A cup of tea? A tablet to fiddle with and binge watch videos?

but

there are many things healthy people can do to fill time ... sorry I don’t have much ideas. There’s always unfinished projects or chores around the home. Making lists of goals. Going for a walk outside. And sometimes just sitting outside and thinking or not thinking and taking a breath and not worrying about anything at all and looking for birds, birds are awesome if you’ve ever seen nesting great blue herons or wood storks or great egrets Or anhingas, or any nesting birds or watched their natural behavior and mannerisms, you might think so too, or other look for other things ... rabbits ... squirrels? Alligators?

Listening to books on Audible while going for a walk or doing a task is a good idea too. Though now might not be the time for Stephen King’s book The Stand ... albeit one of my favorites besides The Dark Tower. Though my top two are Lisey’s story and Duma Key. An interesting read/listen is Darwin’s children and Darwin’s Radio (I cant remember the author right now) but it has to do with a virus and evolution. I like strange books. One of my favorite authors and books is Octavia Butler The Xenogenesis series. About aliens using humanity for their own survival and how they learn to coexist.

Even tv is getting disrupted, shows will stop being filmed and season’s ending early. I guess binge watch tv shows or YouTube. Or random watch Facebook videos. It’s a good thing I bought my mom the complete Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant Doctor Who series for her birthday because she never watched them. She started watching with Matt Smith as the Doctor.

I've just rambled nonsense since I’m tired and not feeling well. I hope everyone finds a way to cope as best they can. Remember live to eat not eat to live.

Thanks all. I just sign up for a Business Analytics course which starts in about a week and that should keep me busy. Maybe I'll also start a second language if I need something more as well.

I JUST did my closet but my kitchen could use some cleaning and organization. Maybe that will be my weekend project this week

I've been thinking of painting the front door so when it stops raining I'll add that to the list. (good news is I have some of the color I want left since I don't think paint stores are open now.

I've tried adult coloring books, puzzles, etc.... and they just aren't my thing. I do love to read though, so appreciate any suggestions on great authors or series.

For the past couple of days it feels like I have been working non-stop between teleworking, helping the kids with their work and cleaning. I am trying to get to all of the little projects that I have not had time to do. But it’s only been a couple of days for me so may if it were longer I would be crawling up a wall? my future plans over the next week includes organizing, getting rid of things I truly don’t need, catching up on paperwork (will, taxes etc.) and to avoid eating junk. Take advantage of this unexpected, hopefully temporary situation and make a list of things you want to get done. The time will definitely pass.

Do you like podcasts? I find myself enjoying the True crime ones because I’m a bit morbid!

I've been thinking of painting the front door so when it stops raining I'll add that to the list. (good news is I have some of the color I want left since I don't think paint stores are open now

Ooh, painting! That’s my obsession, let me know if you need any tips! Lol

1 hour ago, Cheeseburgh said:

Do you like podcasts? I find myself enjoying the True crime ones because I’m a bit morbid!

I've never gotten into podcasts but it's something I can look into. I don't think I can do true crime (I don't like to focus too much on the bad things people do to each other) but i know there are a lot out there. Anyone, please make recommendations

I had recently got into pod cast, and there are so many to choose from! I found a bunch through Pintrest and enjoy listening on my walks.

I never realized how much of a boredom eater I was until this whole thing started. I’ve been home since I was released from the hospital. I’ve been tired so I haven’t been doing much around the house. I’ve been wanting to eat a lot but I’ve been keeping my eyes on the prize. Literally. I have a picture of myself when I was at my goal weight and I look at it every time I want to eat. I printed out a few of them and put them on the mirror in my bathroom and on my dresser. I’ll post the main one so you can see what I’m looking at to keep me focused. I want that body back. If you have anything you can put around your house to keep you focused it might help. I also have inspirational quotes on sticky notes posted on my mirror. They help keep my morale up and help me stay focused. Just hang in there. Like my Daddy always tells me, this too shall pass.

I can so relate!! I have literally walked to fridge and turned around a million times over the past few weeks. This morning, I decided to set up a schedule for eating, exercise and an activity that I never have time to do because of my usual schedule. I agree that visualization works and wish you the best!!