You’re the type of person who tends to have a diary that is jam-packed for most of the year. Having a prolonged period of downtime is not something you’re accustomed to, so how do you spend this precious time without getting bored or being lazy? Now, there is nothing wrong with having a lazy day and achieving absolutely nothing; in fact, it’s highly recommended that you give yourself at least one of these days a month to recharge your batteries and give yourself a much needed boost. However, if you’re looking to do something enjoyable and enriching with your day off, you may want to get a little bit of inspiration under your belt to start with. Whether you’re picking up a book or heading outside for a run in the great outdoors, there are so many fun, fulfilling and enriching activities you can do. Consider some of the handy ideas below and try some of them out for yourself next time you’re lucky enough to have an extra day of downtime in your schedule.
Join a Sports Team
If you’re keen to keep fit and you’re the type of person who enjoys regular exercise, joining a local sports team could be the perfect solution for you. Joining a sports team might help you to meet new friends, improve your skills and stay on top of your fitness regime. From badminton to basketball, there are probably a whole host of local sports teams for you to explore, so why not consider this as a worthwhile option?
Batch Cook Healthy Recipes
On a rainy day, you probably wouldn’t want to venture outside and try out for a new sports team, so let’s consider an indoor activity that is just as productive and keeps your health in mind too. Batching cooking is a super productive way to ensure you’ve got healthy meals to hand throughout the week, especially when you’re usually very busy with your career, home life and social activities. Follow some simple recipes online and you will soon have an array of delicious meals in your freezer to eat whenever you need something wholesome!
Play a Game Solo or With a Friend
Playing games isn’t just for those looking to escape reality, they can also be a brilliant way to enrich your mind, test your memory and boost your cognitive skills. Online games such as sudoku are a brilliant way to keep your mind active on a busy day, and they’re extremely satisfying once you have finished in record time! You can enjoy an online game, card game or board game with a friend next time you have downtime without anything else to do!
Try an Online Yoga Class
Stretching your muscles, working on your flexibility and taking time out to really embrace your fitness levels is such an enjoyable way to spend a quiet moment at home. Trying out an online yoga class could be the perfect solution to your non-busy day. What could be better than rolling out of bed, staying cozy in your pajamas and enjoying a stretch in the comfort of your own home? Luckily, there are so many different yoga classes to try online, and they are catered to all different abilities too. Practicing yoga is so good for your mental health, strength and stability too; you may find that one class has you hooked and you want to keep coming back for more as often as you can!
Take Piano Lessons
You may have to plan this one in advance, but why not take up piano lessons when you’ve got some downtime? Piano is such a fascinating and interesting skill to learn, and it’s a great party trick to show your friends too! Learn from an online tutorial or hire a teacher to work one on one with you to advance your skills. This is the type of hobby that you need to dedicate a significant amount of time to, so make sure you’re fully invested before you give this one a try.
Paint on a Blank Canvas
Got a spare canvas lying around at home, or a set of old paints you haven’t touched in a while? Painting can be one of the most soothing and relaxing activities to enjoy when you haven’t got anything planned. Allow your imagination to run wild and paint the first thing that comes into your mind. Whether you’re painting a fresh vase of flowers or a lovely landscape, now is your time to allow your creativity to flow and release some positive endorphins through painting.
Bake Fresh Cookies
Is there a better smell than freshly baked cookies? Imagine the sweet aroma spreading through your household as you cook up a delicious batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies. You could start your day by heading down to the supermarket for all of your ingredients. Then, you could spend some downtime finding the perfect recipe to satisfy your sweet tooth. Whilst they’re baking you can give your kitchen a little spring clean, and once they’re done you can enjoy a hot cup of tea whilst your freshly baked cookie melts in your mouth!
Clear Out Your Closet
Remember those clothes you promised you’d organize, but you haven’t quite got round to doing it yet? Now is your chance to clear out your closet and start afresh! Getting rid of clothing you haven’t worn for a while can create more space for new items and give you a sense of accomplishment too. Donate your unwanted items to charity, hand them down to a friend or send them to a recycling center if they’re very well-loved and unable to be given to a new home.
Deep Clean Your Home
As the type of person who is generally house proud, it would always seem like a good idea to deep clean your home whenever you get some downtime. Over time your home can become full of unwelcome dust, dirt and grime, so it’s always good to keep on top of a regular cleaning schedule if you have a bit of spare time on your hands. If you’re hoping to deep clean your home, you need to map out the process methodically and go room by room. As soon as you’re done with your deep cleaning project, you will be over the moon with the final results!
Read a Book
What better way to spend your quiet day than reading a good book? Getting lost in a story is something that should never be underestimated, especially when you have nothing else to do for the day. Sit beside your window, head out to your local park or cozy up in bed with that book you have been meaning to read for so long; you won’t regret it!
All of the ideas mentioned above are a brilliant way to keep your mind engaged and busy when you’re not working or carrying out household chores. Spending your time in a productive manner is a great way to take care of your mental health and ensure you feel emotionally strong. Laying around and being lazy is okay to do once in a while, but it’s always good to have some creative and productive activities at your fingertips so that you can use your downtime wisely. Whether you’re catching up with a friend or working on your new hobby, all of the activities mentioned above will help you to fill your day in an enjoyable and enriching way!