Over 80% of Americans are under stay-at-home orders. What do you do during your time at home? Many are still working, caring for and teaching their children, and managing the household. It is a time of uncertainty, anxiety, anger, depression and fear.
To combat these issues, try walking around your house and notice anything that has been bothering you but you just didn’t have time to. Make a list and when you are taking a break from teaching and working, try to do one of those tasks.
Some ideas are to organize the junk drawer, the pantry, the linen closet. Check canned foods to remove any expired items, organize one shelf at a time on any bookshelf, organize and purge clothes and toys. Children can help with toys and laundry at night or on weekends. Under the sinks in the bathrooms and kitchen there is always a need to organize and remove items. Maybe you have some pet medications or expired or disused items that you’d like to organize. Organizing photos is always an option during this time as is finishing those scrapbooks you’ve had unfinished for years. Eliminating so many piles of paper is also an option because once life returns, you might feel overwhelmed by new work or activities.
For businesses, make adjustments and updates to your social media accounts and profiles. Update your photos and information. We all let it slide once it’s completed, and unless instructed to do so, we rarely look at it again. Give it a fresh look. Same with your website if it is still working and making money. It is also a good time to eliminate those piles of paper and organize your office.
Something everyone should do during this time is find and know where all your important documents are, such as wills, passports, social security cards, birth certificates, insurance, and all financial accounts. A national survey by Smead reveals that Americans choose highly unusual places to store their most important personal documents. 10% keep them in an underwear drawer, 6% use a shoebox, and 40% report that organizing documents takes too long. Make a copy of each to grab in case of fire, flood, or other natural disaster. Originals should be kept in a fireproof and waterproof safe.