There is no lockdown here in Seoul, nor in any part of South Korea. But we can see now that social distancing is the effect of Covid19. It has been repeatedly requested and reminded by the government. Even before this social distancing has become the newest virtue, I had been staying at home. So, when the international schools here in Seoul decided to start with e-learning, I was more than ready to embrace this new normal.
Beyond my motherhood duties to my two sons, I have come to appreciate the time I have: to do things I have always wanted to do but never got to, because I have always put them aside. So, what were the things I’ve done since my self-imposed quarantine started? I’m sharing them here, so others may get inspired and these may spark some ideas for other creative things to do while in your respective homes:
1. Handsew Crafts
This is my first handsewn-purse, made last week of January to first week of February. Two weeks! That’s how long it took for me to make this! I am yet to use this, though:-).
These upcycled old jeans turned out as placemats and coasters!
More old jeans in the house… upcycled into a Tote! Don’t fail to check out the you tube video for the whole process:
2. Create videos of family memories!!!
My relaxed state of mind – probably because I wasn’t pushing myself to go out and explore, as I normally did pre-Covid – made me look back at family memories. And since traveling was the first to be restricted, I created a travel video through souvenirs we have accumulated all these years:
I have always wanted to put together reading photos and videos of my sons as they were growing up to answer frequent questions why the boys turned out to like reading. This video sums up the why’s and the how’s.
3. Art Therapy
Covid has brought out the best and the worst in people.
The Best – We see people extending their help. Those who can’t do much in the frontline stay at home to save lives.
The Worst – There are so many stressful news brought by the virus. But what’s exhausting are the opposing views of people in social media and the entitlement of some people, especially those who are expected to serve. It came to a point I had to consciously put a stop to absorbing all the stresses news create. I cut out the noises! I’m glad I did and put myself in therapeutic activities. I found solace in my coloring book.
4. Learn DIY Crafts
This was a joint effort with my husband. From drinking all those wine together (of course, those include wine we have consumed when friends visit us), to boiling the corks to putting them together. If you want to know how to do this, check this post: DIY Project: Wine Corks
5. Urban gardening
Gardening in my small veranda isn’t new to me. This time, though, it brought new meaning to what I was doing. Despite the ugliness and stress, my plants defy the current normal. They show beauty after being withered during winter and the ability to becoming healthy again despite the threat of wilting.
6. Take care of your well-being
Even if the world is at a standstill, we shouldn’t let this get into our mind set. Life goes on so we should take care of our well-being.
Exercise! Fitness centers are closed. Even if they are open, it’s better to stay at home to stay safe. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have your own fitness equipment. There are You tube videos that are easy to follow.
For me, the topmost thing to do is to pamper yourself. Continue with your routine because being at home is not the end of the world. This is the time when you have the luxury of time for your skin care. No matter what you do and what you use, enjoy the process and feel good. We all need to re-energize and be re-invigorated. Our motivation should come from within. When the Covid threat is over (and it will be!), the world outside will be ready for us again.
7. Adapt to your domesticated lifestyle – Learn new dishes and clean your house
Whether you like it or not, it’s the time to be as domesticated as you can get. Because… we have to stay at home! I’m not the best cook but I am all my husband and my children got. So, my kitchen is at its busiest these days. And I’ve added more recipes in my notebook as I need to feed my family with some variety, too.
There are days when some parts of my house smells of vinegar. Do you know that vinegar and water is the safest cleaning mixture you can have? Even after all these weeks of social distancing, I haven’t cleaned my whole house yet. And I don’t even have a big house. That’s how deceiving house work is. This just goes to show, there’s always something to do – and you will never run out of things to do – in your house while letting this Covid pandemic wane out.
So, cheer up! You’re not alone. Let’s continue to hold it out just a little bit more so we can collectively make this world better than it was at its best, pre-Covid. Perhaps, the effect of the Covid19 pandemic has made this world less physically busy.
Hi Wendy, great idea on that travel video – it’s nice reminiscing all those trips from those souvenirs! The only souvenir (aside from food LOL) that I usually buy are keychains and ref magnets. Hahaha! And I like how you upcycle old jeans! Will def share this to my mom who likes doing DIY! 😀
Always stay safe there! 🙂
thanks, Hazel. Your Mom will have more time to do her DIY these days. good luck to her and share what she is making, too.
I agree with all of these especially no. 7! I’m one month in WFH job and I’m kinda liking it. I get to save a lot of money when it comes to transportation and the “need” to eat out. I learned to make roti/ chapati for my shawarma and soft taco cravings and a whole lot more 🙂
Grabe diyan no? No lockdown pero disciplined mga tao. Sana dito rin sa Pinas. Ako ang routine ko, kain, tulog, luto, nood Kdrama (finally), workout. Ngayon kasi back to work na ko hehe
We have a lot of time to do all these productive activities. Thanks Ms Wendy for the ideas. I actually do a lot of fitness exercises now. No excuses. 😍
Ang cute nung mga ginawa mo sa old jeans. Yung gusto ko talaga gawin ngayong ECQ is create videos of memories, kahit slideshow lang nung mga travel pics ko sana magawan ko.! 🙂
Hahahaha. I’ve also done so much during this lockdown period, from being so busy, to chilling, to relaxing. Everything. It’s not really so bad being at home, but it still woukd be very nice to go outside and be free to be with our friends again. Hopefully soon.
If there’s one thing I regret not doing before the community quarantine, that’s not buying fitness equipment. As of now, I’m just watching different no equipment exercises on YouTube.
Cool idea for a placemat! Blogging has kept me busy during the lockdown. Hope this pandemic end soon so we can go back to normal
the jeans placemat is Pinterest-inspired. thanks!
This pandemic has kept me busy on blogging and other digital works that I do. Somehow it makes me learn more since I’m on internet browsing the whole day. Pero I’m also doing urban gardening on the side like yoy. ♡♡♡ I have grown an avocado that I have learned from Facebook 😀 Also I made a 3-minute life snippet videos, yung mga random na pinagagawa ko sa bahay kahit naglalaro lang ako ng Adorable home. AND YES to taking care of well-being. I workout everyday! No excuses dun kasi syempre daming time hahaha this is a great list, btw.
I love that you were able to grow avocado. that will be something to look forward to!
You are so creative! There was a time during this pandemic that I felt so down, and I realized it was because I had no way of channeling my creative energy to something worthwhile. That’s when I found the drive to finally work on my blog and YT channel. I wish I found your blog sooner, so I wouldn’t have had to feel so down.
thank you. at least now you have found a way to express you creative energy. good luck!
Of all these things, adapting to my domesticated lifestyle was the one that I liked the most! It was surprisingly fun!
Urban gardening will be my next goal during lockdown. Already collating indoor plants to purchase, and saving up now since my employer has slash half of my monthly earnings and cleaning a spot for new babies in the house.
Gardening, painting, digital painting, watching movies, crafting – I’ve done a lot of things, too, thanks to the ECQ. Ok the other hand, I worry these are results of my mini anxiety attacks. I tend to overeat, sudden drama/cry, mood swings, I feel like a failure even though my journal says I” productive enough. Hays.
I recently learned how to cook during this pandemic. Now i can make my own meals just by watching youtube tutorials
Dami mo din pala napagkaabalahan talaga mommy Wendy. Gusto ko yung Handsew Crafts. Ang ganda. Di sya madali talaga 😊
Ako naman mag repair ng mga damit pagluluto , hehehe.
Talagang yung quarantine nagbigay satin ng time para ma discover naten ang sariling kakayahan naten.😊
Talagang naging productive ang buong taon niyo Ms. Wendy, ang dami niyo pong nagawa nung quarantine time, ako po kasi is pagd-DIY, pagaalaga ng halaman, at pageexercise lang yung mga naging hobby ko during that time. Hindi lang po talaga puro negative yung nabigay ng taon na to, may positive din po talaga dahil marami satin na mas nakilala yung sariling kakayahan. 😊💚
Dami ko ding activities nagawa ngayong Lockdown Ms.Wendy. Isa din dito yung paggawa ng mga diy crafts sa mga lumang damit ginagawa kopong bag ni recycle kodin.Nag wo-workout tapos nagtanim ng mga halaman.Nakakawala din sya ng stress at pagkainip sa bahay.
wow napakaproductive nyo naman po ngayong pandemic, this is inspiring. i love your diy ideas gusto kong i try. ako naman po gardening makes me busy, bonding din namin ni lola, kami po ang green thumb sa family.
Thankyou for sharing this ms.wendy , madalas ang nggwa lang namin ng mga kids ko ung creating videos pra makpag bonding kami . Mgandang tips na din po ito lalo na sa panahon ngayon at tulad kong nanay . Maraming pwedeng gawin tulad ng pagluluto at diy crafts at marmi png iba . Iwas boring na din lalo na sa mga bata . At safe pa dahil nasa loob lang ng bahay 🤗❤️
Thankyou for sharing this mommy wendy. Dahil dito nakakuha ako ng idea. Maaari din naming gawin to, at mag kakaroon pa kami ng bonding ng aking pamilya.. Sa ngayon nanunuod lang po kami ng ibat ibang movie sa youtube.. Pero gusto ko din po gayahin ang Create videos of family memories gaya ng ginawa nyo po . Para maalala at mapanuod din po namin ulit yung mga memories yung mga araw na wala pang covid .
I totally agree with your idea about on how to spend time at home during this time of pandemic. What I love most is the no. 2 which is to create video about family memories. It’s really hard for the family to be at home together. That’s why I think that this is a great opportunity to have a quality and memorable time with your family.