How To Spend Time Productively: 7 Tips For Making Better Use Of Your Downtime

By: Shannon Sweeney

Most of us tend to live life on the go, because it seems like there’s always someplace to be. But when that comes to a stop, when we suddenly find ourselves with a lot of time on our (well-washed) hands, it’s easy to find ourselves wondering:

“What do I do now?”

It’s totally normal to want to sit on your couch and nothing, no one is no knocking that. But if you find yourself becoming bored during your downtime, there several ways you can be productive while also enjoying yourself. As an added bonus, most of these ideas are cheap or cost-free — so if you’re on a strict budget, there’s no need to worry.

Here are seven tips on how to make better use of your time at home. What will you try to make your free time more productive?

Catch up on your reading

There will be a lot of books consumed over the next several months, for good reason, reading is one of the best ways to relax and immerse yourself into another world. Reading can also reduce stress by 68%. In trying times, reading can really make a difference in your state of mind. No matter what you want to read, dedicate a little time every day to do it. If you’re looking for an extra reading challenge, try reading a book that helps you focus on your health and wellness, or learn more about a topic that interests you. If household care keeps you from settling in with book, try an audio book while you get work or cleaning done.

Spend some time outside

You may have lived in the same place for years but have you ever really explored your backyard? Not your literal backyard, if you have one, but the area around where you live. Whether it’s taking a walk in your neighborhood, locating a trail near your house, or exploring a park (with proper distance) - get outside and do something. Travel a little bit if you need to, hike a scenic spot that’s popular for visitors or just take a drive trying a back roads route you normally wouldn’t use. Whatever you choose to do, find a reason to leave the house to get your heart-rate up and your body moving. Breathing fresh air and getting a little natural sunlight, with sunscreen of course, will help you relax naturally and feel revitalized.

Turn to YouTube for how-to videos

Whether it’s a hairstyle, a recipe or a craft project, chances are at some point in your life you’ve said: “I’ve got to try that someday!” Well, “someday” is here, and it’s time to actually do it. The best part is, you can explore those to-dos right on your phone or laptop. YouTube and Pinterest are a goldmine of how-to videos and tutorials. Hair, makeup, cooking, organization hacks, home improvements, car maintenance, sign language and even accent tutorials are all abundant, free, useful and fun.  Worst case scenario - whatever you try doesn’t go well and, in most cases, even that has an up-side. You might get your very own epic Pinterest fail or a terrible hair style photo to share with your cooped up friends.

Meditate 

Let’s start off by saying this: meditation is productive. When you focus on your breathing, you can truly help your body physically and mentally unwind. Meditating to relax is extremely beneficial when it comes to lowering our blood pressure, improving our heart rates, and releasing tension and tightness. If you’re feeling pressure related to your job or if you just naturally hold a lot of tension, meditating in your free time will be extremely productive for you — it will make your body and mind feel relaxed, rested, and ready to take on whatever the world brings next.

Stream a movie or documentary at home

Streaming a movie at home is a great way to relax, turn off your brain and enjoy time with the family. Between paid services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ and other premium content providers, there’s no shortage of ways to get new content. If you want free movies, you can find those online too! But if you’re looking for a way to make movie night feel more productive, give the just-released blockbusters a pass and check out a classic film, bonus points if it’s in black and white. Or try a documentary to get an in-depth look at an important topic. Television and movies will always play a huge role in entertainment, but when they are getting more use than usual, try filling up the extra tv-time with a little more education and a little less guilty pleasure.

Check-in with friends and family 

This one is simple, but an important reminder nonetheless. It’s easy to become so immersed in our own lives that the people we don’t see every day stay on the periphery of our minds. But now more than ever, it is critical to pick up the phone to call, text or video chat the people you love — even if it’s just to check in. In many ways loneliness can be as detrimental to a person’s health as smoking or obesity. It’s easy to feel alone sometimes, even under normal circumstances, and during a period of extended isolation those feelings can increase significantly. The message you send to a loved one, an old friend or even a casual acquaintance may just be the lifeline they need.

Whether you’re looking for new ways to pass the time or better ways to relax and relive stress, there are many ways to spend your time more in ways that are fun and productive. No matter what you choose, you’re bound to feel better for trying something different, and you might learn something new along the way, too.