What to when there’s nothing to do?

As we’ve entered a time where the only choice we have is to wait is to wait patiently, we need to remember that there is a lesson in everything and patience seems to be something we don’t even practice anymore. So just being able to flex that bone will help us all when we get back into civilization. 

There are many good and bad things that comes when you are stuck in a place for too long - good thoughts, bad thoughts and even over thinking about something that had no meaning at all. 

But let’s keep things positive. This time can be very useful and you can learn many things. If you have ever said “if I only had the time…” this article should sit well with you. 

So I’ve create a to-do list for your boredom, and the rest is up to you!  

Learn How To Sit Still!

Sit Still for 5 Minutes a Day

Stop and Meditate

Mindful meditation is “paying attention to the present moment, without judging what’s present,” says Melissa Blacker, director of professional training at the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester. Meditation requires only the willingness to do it and a free moment, whether you’re at the office, in the bath or sitting in your car at a traffic light.

The letters on a stop sign may remind you of an easy method of centering yourself in the present moment.

Stop. Let yourself come to rest.

Take a breath. Notice the breath moving in and out of your body.

Open yourself to how you’re feeling at that moment. Observe yourself and the world around you.

Proceed. Let go without judging what you observed and move on.

A practice like this can be used once or a hundred times a day to call you into the present — relaxing you, helping you focus, and allowing you to approach yourself and the world around you with greater clarity.

Organize your life

Day in day out we always find an excuse on why things don’t look the way we want them to. Time controls you and you wish there were two of you.

The time has come. Take charge and create the setting you want to live in. Make it joyful, add some flavor and create your own space. This can help you feel happy and at home.

By following simple rules and applying them consistently, you’ll organize your life in a way that adds calm to your days and order to your weeks.

1. Develop Habits and Build a Routine

We all have habits that have solidified in our lives over the years and routines that determine our actions without conscious thought. The question is whether these habits are intentional or simply the result of inertia. 

Good habits set us up for long-term success and make us feel good. Bad habits rob us of our time, health, happiness, and money. Take a look at the habits in your life too see what’s working, what needs to go, and what new habits would help you reach your goals. 

• Do you spend hours scrolling through Instagram each day?

• Do your monthly bank statements have more takeout line items than you care to admit?

• Could you be using your free time to get in more physical activity?

Once you have the habits you want in your life, assemble them in a daily routine that keeps you productive. When you have good habits and can string them together into a strong routine, you can rely less on fleeting motivation and leave minimal room for procrastination and distraction. 

2. Plan Ahead

Life has unpredictable twists and turns. That doesn’t mean a little planning doesn’t go a long way. A task manager, like Todoist, and a calendar are the tools you need to think and plan in advance and organize your life. 

Set aside time to map out your days and plan your weeks. When you know which day your work presentation is due, you can work backwards and add to-dos to your task manager to get it done. If you capture when your kid’s parent-teacher conferences are in your calendar, you can rest easier knowing that things aren’t slipping through the cracks. 

Here are a few tips for planning:

• Plan and schedule in the small things – they add up! (e.g. laundry, cleaning, etc)

• Dedicate an hour a week to planning your week (e.g. friday afternoon, monday morning)

• Overestimate how long a task will take you

• Try time blocking your day

3. Embrace your natural inclinations

“The best book is the one you can’t put down. The best exercise is the one you enjoy doing every day. The best health food is the one you find tasty. The best work is the work you’d do for free.” – Naval Ravikant

Organizing your life and thoughtfully crafting your habits and routines can quickly become a self-defeating exercise in aspirational living. 

• “I should wake up at 5am everyday.”

• “I should really switch to veganism.”

• “I’m not going to watch any more movies.”

The only problems? You’re a night owl who does your best work at 12AM, you love a good steak, and a good film is how you unwind. To organize your life, opt for habits that fit with your natural inclinations. Be realistic about yourself and embrace what you can conceivably commit to for the long haul. 

Here are a few different areas where you can lean into your natural state:

• If you dislike ironing, buy only clothing in wrinkle resistant materials

• If you hate going to the gym, join a recreational sports team

• If you don’t enjoy reading, listen to podcasts and watch documentaries

By opting for the path of least resistance you can save yourself the time of trying to embrace what you hate and simply opt for what you enjoy. 

4. Consistency over perfection

For many of us, an “all-or-nothing” attitude can be a source of self-sabotage. When we fail to meet the unrealistic expectations we set for ourselves, we throw in the towel altogether. By understanding the impact of incremental progress and the power of compounding effort, we can be more realistic and get more out of life.

The first step is creating realistic plans that fit into our lives: 

Unrealistic plans set us up for a spiral of shame and regret when we ultimately fall short of our goal. Make consistency a part of your life and get used to imperfection. By opting for continuous effort towards a realistic aim we create more room for everything we want to do in life. 

5. Find Balance

In our attempt to do it all and organize our lives perfectly, balance is often a casualty. Instead of getting to bed, you stay up coding deep into the night. Rather than meeting with friends, you study all weekend for an upcoming midterm. 

While this strategy can work in the short-term, the long-term impacts eventually rear their ugly heads: stress, burnout, and lethargy. Instead, prioritize long-term sustainability with balance and self-care.

Here are a few strategies to consider:

• Avoid overextending yourself and spending too much time on work

• Prioritize physical activity for its mood-boosting effects

• Try meditation, journalling, or cultivating a gratitude practice

• Spend time with friends and family

• Unwind alone with a good movie or film

• Ensure you’re getting enough sleep and avoid all-nighters at all costs

Besides the day-to-day pauses to breathe, make time for longer breaks too. At minimum, try to take week-long breaks from work at least 1-2 times per year. By constantly recharging your batteries, you’ll be able to show up in work and life for yourself and others who depend on you.

Learn how to prepare

When it comes to being man, there are many things we just have other people do for us or we do it very mediocrely and that just not a good habit to have.

The things everyday tasks we must know how to execute are:

1.How to iron a dress shirt

Step One: Iron the back of the collar first. Work from the points toward the center. There's often a bit of extra material in the collar to let it stretch, so this method keeps creases from forming.

Step Two: Flatten the cuff of the sleeve on the ironing board. Regardless of whether you wear Button cuffs or French cuffs, pressing these first makes it easier to work with the rest of the sleeve.

Step Three: Next work on the sleeves. This is one of the trickier parts of the shirt, especially when learning how to iron. Start by laying the seam of the sleeve flat across the ironing board. Using your hands spread the material out, then use the iron. Use the tip of the iron near the cuff and work back toward the shoulder. If a crease down the arm is desired, press the edge of the sleeve.

Step Four: Now work on the back of the dress shirt. Take your time around the pleat on the back. I find it easier to iron the underside first, then work on the pleat itself. Afterward, transition to the shoulders. Place the narrow end of the ironing board into the sleeve. This will allow a flat place across the yoke (upper shoulder) portion of the shirt.

Step Five: Iron the button row. Use the point of the soleplate between each button. Work gently so that the thread holding each button in place doesn't get damaged. Placing the tip of a spoon over the button may help protect it.

Step Six: Now, flip the shirt over and work on the front. If there is a pocket, iron from the sides to the center like with the collar to avoid creasing.

Step Seven: Lastly, work on the front of the collar. Once again iron from the points to the center.

2.How to sew a button

Step 1. Gather your materials.

Thread your needle and tie a knot at the end. The length of your thread will vary on the size of your button but about 15-20 inches should be enough.

Notes:
Use strong thread or double the string so that it is stronger. You will want this button to hold! Always use a color that matches your fabric or a color that you want to be obvious as it will be visible.

Including a tail after the knot will allow you to tie the thread once you finished, which helps create a more secure hold.

Gather your materials.

Thread your needle and tie a knot at the end. The length of your thread will vary on the size of your button but about 15-20 inches should be enough.

Notes:
Use strong thread or double the string so that it is stronger. You will want this button to hold! Always use a color that matches your fabric or a color that you want to be obvious as it will be visible.

Including a tail after the knot will allow you to tie the thread once you finished, which helps create a more secure hold.

Push the needle through the second hole from the front of the button through to the back. Pulling lightly while making sure that all of the excess thread has moved through.

Notes:
Remember, you want a little bit of extra space between the fabric and button so that it is functional. For reference, look at one of the shirts in your closet. This is more of an issue if the button is being used with a buttonhole or clasp rather than for decoration. 

A trick to assure your thread is not pulled too taut is to place a pin or needle between the holes on the front of your button while making your first stitch through. Remove the pin when you are finished stitching.

At this point, you have passed the thread through two of the four holes in the button. You will be making an "X" with the thread across all four button holes.

Note: You don't have to create an "X" but rather create two straight lines, like "I I". Whichever you choose, stay consistent while sewing.

Push the threaded needle up through the third button hole.

Push the threaded needle down into the fourth hole (the last one without any thread through it) and all the way to the back.

Repeat the process of pushing the threaded needle up through the first hole and down the second, and then up the third hole and down the fourth. Repeat at least two more times and then determine if it's strong enough to move to the final stages.

Try lightly pulling your button to determine if you have sewn enough thread through the two holes. If it seems like it is strong enough, move on to the next step.

To finish, instead of going up through the hole as done previously, run the threaded needle horizontally through the back set of thread stitches two to three times in different directions to tighten.
You can also pull a little of the fabric through as well as an extra measure of security.

Cut the thread with enough excess to tie and then take the two strand (or four if you doubled) and knot them together. Cut off the remaining extra thread.
Your button is sewn!

Try a diet

This is the perfect time for a new diet. Gyms are closed and it just not the same working out at home. I know there are gym warriors out there that are using they mattress to bench press but alternatively, trying a new diet is perfect.

You know your body better than I do but things like fasting, juicing or low carb - keto diet can be something that would be great to try. The only person you have to impress is you right now so why not?

This can help take your mind off being stuck at home and if you need to rest due to your new diet, you’re home! No worries about co-workers, food swings or seeing other people eating a slice or cake you only wish to have.

Get your mind right and come back for more ideas as this is part 1.