30 day activity list
Can be done in any order, most require no materials, all can be done alone, all are social distancing friendly, and most are free or incredibly inexpensive. Enjoy!
Go for a walk
Watch a documentary
Cook a fancy meal
Bathe a pet, or if you don’t have one browse humane society website
Find a new series to binge
Mail someone a letter
Drive somewhere pretty
Bake for yourself (and/or others)
Try a new exercise
Find new TedTalks of interest
Start a puzzle (jigsaw, crossword, you choose)
Clean out a closet
Plant seeds indoor or outdoor
Start a book
Bird watch
Find a new music artist you enjoy
Do a craft
Make a bag of at least 10 items to donate
Rearrange furniture in at least one room
Try a fruit or veggie you’ve never had before
Do yoga
Send someone a funny card
Play solitaire with real life cards
Clean out phone photos and order at least one print
Bike ride (if you have one), or jog around your block
Find a new blog to follow
Find a new place to take a nature walk
Start a journal
Look at pictures of animals from other countries OR listen to a podcast.
Find a new checklist to start next month! Write down 3 activities from this list that weren’t already part of your routine to try to integrate into your life from now on.
“Letter writing is the only device for combining solitude with good company. ”
Numbers below correspond to numbers above
Documentary suggestion list
Some people like to set out without a plan, some like to stick to a known route. There are benefits to each! I like to repeat routes because I love familiarity, I like watching change over time (for example, people’s yards, dogs, neighborhood trees) and I like knowing how long it is going to take me. Driving to new neighborhoods and enjoying new walking paths is pretty enjoyable as well!
Search a favorite subject and go! I love to watch running documentaries.
If you are new to cooking, here are a couple tips: make sure you have the ingredients and tools needed before you begin, maybe start with one dish and buy the sides or go for all of the dishes on your own. Just search “easy recipes” or a particular food if you have one in mind and browse sites. One of my favorites for healthy recipes is yoursassychef.com - once you buy some of the unique ingredients, you’ll find they are in multiple recipes so you’ll be all set after initially purchasing.
Bathe that little furry friend of yours! OR if you browse the humane society near you perhaps you will find a little buddy to adopt, or you can look at ways to support your local agency. For example, one winter we were able to go in and read books to the dogs and cats. Or during quarantine, they are looking for foster homes which means temporary care until the facility re-opens.
Search something like “top new series on ________(choose your viewing vendor of choice)” or “happy television shows.”
I like to keep blank cards stocked in my cupboard, but if you don’t have any just use paper of course. Write something simple such as “just thinking of you and hope you are well,” then tell a bit about what you’ve been up to. When writing a letter, people like to hear positive news so try to stick to the basics or stick to letting them know you’re thinking of them.
Set out on a journey! Some of the prettiest places I have found started with no particular plan.
Similar to number 3, the only difference being baked good rather than a meal.
A few ideas - jog, yoga, pilates, barre, weights. Regardless of what you choose, you can search examples of routines to follow. If you enjoy it, perhaps you can find a new app for it.
Simply search “Ted Talks about________.” I have learned about a great many topics watching Ted Talks. A few of my favorites are listed in the post for World Autism Awareness Day (I have a list of 5 favorites there).
If you don’t have a puzzle, today is a good day to order one and maybe switch today’s activity with another day.
Pick a closet! I love to search things like “organization tips” or “closet organization ideas.”
Head to a local hardware or gardening store and pick up a few seeds, soil, and if you don’t have something already on hand to plant them in, grab paper cups or eggs so you can use the carton. Look up “starting an indoor garden” and enjoy!
Any book. If libraries are open, go to the nearest one and find a book. If you don’t have a library card, talk to one of the librarians and they will help you. It’s free. If libraries are closed, order one for delivery or if you have a device that you can read on, you can download from Amazon. A good place to start is “book club books.”
Through a window, sitting outside, or on a walk - closely observe the birds around you. What do they look like, can you find a mama and babies, listen to their sounds, watch for behaviors such as competing for space or finding food, any nests nearby?
This one is straightforward. After searching a certain type of music, you might head over to YouTube and check out a few songs. Download to a device if you find someone you like! This was how I found Alec Benjamin, Otis Redding, and Leon Bridges - a few of my favorites. I also love Weekend Youth out of Napa.
Make sure you have the supplies of course! Try something new…who cares if it doesn’t work, the process is the fun part, the finished product is a bonus if it works.
Easy. Look up ‘minimalism’ if you have trouble getting started. Clear out the clutter!
If you need ideas, hop onto pinterest or any other search engine to explore set-up ideas of different types of rooms.
Browse the grocery store and see what stands out. You can always search ways to prepare particular veggies if they aren’t tasty when raw.
If you’re like me and have no idea how to do yoga, look up a few moves or follow an online video.
If you can’t make it to the store, make your own.
If you don’t know how to play solitaire, you can look up how to play. It’s really simple and very fun! There are many options of playing on a device if you don’t have a deck of cards, but if you have or can get a hold of a deck of cards try playing with the real thing. It’s better for your brain.
If you’re like me, you have a bunch of photos in your phone you will probably never look at again. Go through and delete some to make room for new ones and to clean out your photo box in order to really enjoy the ones you have. If possible, print one! You can go into Walgreens.com, snapfish or other digital photo printing places, or any other local store that prints photos. They typically cost less than a dollar and are so nice to have displayed in your living space.
Self explanatory. Make sure your tires have air. If you want a bike and don’t have one, keep an eye out at local thrift stores or sporting goods stores. Everyone should own a bike.
Simple, just search topics you enjoy. theminimalists.com is my favorite and one that made me realize how useful they can be.
The only difference between this one and number 1 is that for this one you might try heading up onto a dirt track or to a nearby state park. I met a woman once who said every time she felt anxious she would make herself go outside and find at least one thing in nature she had never seen before, then would examine it. We are so lucky for nature!
You can purchase one or just use paper of any kind. Start jotting down what you do each day, maybe a way you are feeling, a new thought you’ve had, maybe a question you’ve been pondering… Not only is journal writing good for the mind, it is a great way to look back and remember, it helps us to articulate and sort out our thoughts, it puts situations in perspective, and it often prompts new ideas and ways of thinking.
This is random, yes - but so fun to do! Are you familiar with the Okapi? Or have you really examined the life patters of a hippo? OR Podcast if you know how. Great motivating ones to begin with are Jocko Willink or Grace Church Reno.
Any search engine will help with this, but Pinterest is a fun one for lists. Thank you for getting this far, I hope you have found something new you enjoy!
Take risks, live your life, ask questions, and find your fun!