My Ultimate 2020 Stay At Home Guide

2020 has been more like something you’d see in a movie than actual reality. It’s as if the universe is challenging us in every way possible. Who knew staying that home and not being social was so much work? Just when you think things can’t get any worse, they do. While we anxiously wait for the results of the presidential election in the U.S., I want to keep things light and share what has helped me get through the past 7 months at home.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read my full disclosure for more information.

The Stay at Home Essentials

Whether or not you have a stay at home job, the concept of self-care is important for everyone, even though we each may do it differently. First, when I’m home, I need to have some pretty, entertaining, or fun things to look at. You spend so much time at home, so it shouldn’t be in a setting that brings you down. When I found an old orca whale figurine that I had gotten as a kid, I put it on my dresser. Now, it makes me smile every day. It’s the things like that, or the photos of my dogs, or my friend and I at our high school homecoming dance, that make each day staying at home a little easier.

If you want even more recommendations of items that can spruce up your lockdown life, check out this post.

Gadgets

• Laptop/Computer- When the stay at home order began, my laptop died. Can you imagine saying home with no computer right now? Luckily, I was able to use my iPad. Once I began freelancing, I invested my tax return and stimulus check into a new laptop (thanks IRS!). I sprung for another MacBook Pro, and I haven’t regretted it once. Being limited for almost two months to just an iPad (First World Problems, I know) made me realize how great iPads are, but also showed me just how dependent I am on having a good laptop.

• Headphones- Listening to music can help everyone, regardless of what type of music you’re into, but don’t play it through your phone. Using a good set of headphones is great for everyone, because you can literally tune everything else out. But, if you have a rare hour of being alone in the house, blast that music on a speaker as loud as it can go and dance around!

There are a lot of negative things that can be said about technology and our dependence on it, but without it, this year could be so much worse. Can you imagine having to stay home with no internet? Not fun at all.

Books

I like reading, but I don’t do it as much as I used to. Staying at home has given me more time to read for enjoyment. Here are some of my favorite books. Let me know if you want more recommendations!

• My Hands Came Away Red by Lisa McKay
• Delirium series by Lauren Oliver
• The Iliad & The Odyssey by Homer
• Hamlet by William Shakespeare (I personally recommend reading an act and then watching that act on film.)
• Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling (read the entire series!)

Need help picking your next book? Check out whatshouldireadnext.com. Or, check out my book reviews and recommendations here.

Movies & TV Shows

If you don’t have a streaming service, you have been failing quarantine. One of the best things about being stuck at home has been the ability to watch shows and movies that I’ve always wanted to, but never have. Here are some of the things I can now say I’ve seen. Let me know in the comments what you think I should watch next!

• The Godfather Trilogy
• Rocky (Link does not include the Creed films, but they are part of the Rocky stories)
• 1917
• Prison Break (Still working on this one, I watch it on Hulu)
• Modern Family (Still working on this one, I watch on Prime Video and Hulu)

Things To Do While You Stay at Home

Spend Time Together, But Apart

Staying home sounds like a lot of fun, right? Who wouldn’t want to stay in their pajamas all day, laying in bed, and watching Netflix? In reality, even introverts like me need some sort of human connection. Here’s how I’ve been attempting to ‘see’ people this year.

If you’re not a happy hour person, or want something to do on a Tuesday night, try a virtual dinner date with your friends. Just last week my best friend and I enjoyed our morning coffee together. Granted, we have lived in different states for almost 20 years, and are used to this type of thing, but having meals together is a great way to make long distances seem short. For Christmas, we have a tradition of picking a time on the 23rd or 24th of December where we get on FaceTime, have tea and cookies, and ‘exchange’ our presents (that we’d already shipped to each other).

If you’re looking for a FaceTime alternative, try HouseParty. I have had great luck with the connection working better than FaceTime, and you’re able to play games like trivia or heads up with the person you’re talking to.

Staying Home? Stay Online!

Here are some of my favorite websites that are great to browse when you need to turn off the negativity that often comes with most social media and news sites.

• Pinterest- Ok, yes, this is considered social media. But, it is a very different type of social media than something like Facebook. You have more control over the things that you see, instead of seeing things that people you are friends with post. You can eliminate anything and everything you want, but still have the option to follow your friends. Don’t believe me? Follow my account, and see my little happy place!

• Tumblr- Tumblr is technically a blogging tool, but I would describe it more as an endless scroll of pretty things. It’s similar to Pinterest in that you can control what you do and do not see, but, everything is on your ‘dashboard.’ The dashboard is one long feed filled with posts, and from there you can share or ‘reblog’ them to your own account, or just scroll past them. There’s so many sides to Tumblr, there’s a community for everyone there. Check out my account, and give it a try! If you’re a Sims lover, check out my Sims tumblr, where I share new and favorite custom content items.

• BuzzFeed- Hear me out before you judge! While it shouldn’t be your primary source for news, BuzzFeed is a great site for wasting time. And that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Staying at home has it’s advantages and disadvantages, but if you’re like me, there’s definitely been moments when you realize you’ve just stared at the wall for 15 minutes out of pure boredom instead of doing something entertaining. BuzzFeed is great for finding new strange products to buy on amazon, taking quizzes to discover what type of Oreo matches your personality (apparently I’m fudge-covered because I’m “a little bit extra”), or watching someone play through The Sims 4 100 Baby Challenge.

Bring Back Your Inner Child

We all have those moments when you’re instantly transported back to your childhood. So, spend some time reminiscing and experiencing the things that made you a happy kid. After all, when will you get this type of chance again? Hopefully, never.

About 2 years ago, a coworker reminded me how much I missed playing The Sims. And I mean the game on the computer. The versions on your phone or gaming console just don’t match up. Why did I let high school and college stop me from playing? If you played any version of The Sims when you were younger, keep an eye on Origin and their sales. You can get great deals on the base game and the different packs. (Personally, I don’t purchase a pack unless it is on sale, and that’s what I’d recommend to you. They have sales all the time, you won’t have a long wait.) Each version of the game offers different things, but the graphics on Sims 4 are impressive, especially when you compare all of the editions. I also learned about mods and custom content last year. Now that is amazing stuff.

What about other video games? Grab the family and decide who is doing the dishes tonight based on a round of Super Smash Bros. What about a Mario Kart tournament? There’s even a Mario Kart app for your phone you can try if you don’t have a gaming console. And who doesn’t like the innocent yet competitive Mario Party? Just remember, you are all stuck staying home, so you may want to keep the competition friendly!

Stay Home Spa Day

Have you done a stay at home spa day? I love using face masks, bubble baths, and painting my nails during my ‘me’ time. Being stuck at home is mentally exhausting, even if you are close with everyone in your family. When we first had to stay home, I didn’t paint my nails for about two weeks. Those of you that know me probably can’t believe that, but it’s true. However, I found that I was much happier when I took a few nights a week to paint my nails and just be alone.

Being alone at home and working is not the same thing as being home and doing something enjoyable, and I need that distinction in my life. The point? Giving myself dedicated ‘me’ time while staying at home, has made this year manageable, and I think it can for you.

If you missed my first post, you can check it out here. If you’re in need of holiday activities for toddlers, check out this post, and check out this post for products and gifts that will be great additions to your new home office.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read my full disclosure for more information.

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