I am a work-from-home mom when I am not at school covering for a teacher, and most of the time, I find myself excitedly thinking about different activities that I can enjoy outside the four corners of my home. However, when I look outside and see the blazing heat of the sun and the possibility of adding up to the sunspots at the corner of my eyes, I suddenly feel deterred from carrying on with my plan.
When this scenario happens, I usually just stay at home because, hey! It is fun to stay indoors, too!
So, listed in here are different activities that a scared-to-get-sunburned mom can enjoy inside the house.
1. Work Out
One of the first activities that I do during the day once I have our home to myself is working out. I simply prepare my yoga mat, tune in to my YouTube workout buddy Emi Wong’s channel, and follow the workout plan designed for the day. If you enjoy dance workouts, why not try Maddie Lymburner’s Madfit dance workouts, just like this 15-minute Taylor Swift dance workout? It will definitely make you sweat in a fun way!
Doing this sets my mind to greater heights, just like what Robin Sharma said in his 5AM Club book. Though I do not work out at 5 am as recommended, I definitely still get the morning boost that I need before executing all the tasks I prepared to do during the day.
Not only will a 30-minute workout session make you healthy and strong, it will also enliven your listless energy as working out releases happy hormones that will last throughout the day.
Read also: Do the Outdoors Really Make Kids Happier?
2. Learn Online
My personal mantra is for learning never to stop. This is the reason that whenever I do menial household chores such as washing the dishes or folding clothes, I listen to podcasts or Spotify materials with the aim of learning something new or catching something amusing at home.
So far, these are some of the materials that I found online that have kept my mental juices flowing at home:
- Ted Talks.
TED Talks are influential and inspiring videos shared by speakers who are experts in their various fields. I love the different genres covered by Ted Talks. Whether in the field of education, sciences, psychology, or entertainment, Ted Talks episodes are always fun, engaging, and encouraging to listen to. Some episodes, such as the struggles in Afghanistan, exposed me to the discrimination that Afghan girls were experiencing in their country. Meanwhile, some episodes inspired me to become more generous to the world, and some speak about parenting strategies that are worth applying in our lives as parents.
- Joyce Meyer.
For those who are in tune with their spirituality, Joyce Meyer is definitely an option to listen to. I find her preachings practical, realistic, and inspiring. She injects personal anecdotes and inspirational nuggets on how she learned to forgive and live her best life despite being sexually and emotionally abused as a child.
Among the important lessons that stuck with me is to not talk negatively about myself, as well as not to waste my time dwelling by being stuck with the past! She preaches in such an engaging way that sometimes, it feels like I am listening to a friend over a cup of coffee!
Also Read: Mistakes I Made as a Mom
- Book Animated Summaries.
There are YouTube channels that provide animated summaries of books from different genres. Books such as 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, How to Talk to Anyone, and the like, will surely captivate your attention because of the graphics and animations shown as the narrator summarizes the book.
I love watching these animations because some books, especially the hardbound ones, are so intimidating to read! Also, watching these summaries makes me feel like I have read more books than I can imagine in a day!
- Coursera courses.
Coursera is an online course provider that is based in America. It is associated with different universities in offering online courses and certifications on various subjects.
You can opt to either pay so you will have a certificate after successful completion of the course, or you can avail of their no-certificate courses just to learn something new from the course. So far, I have taken courses on digital marketing, child safety, and communication. Of course, I always take the free courses! I’m just after learning new things, after all.
Also Read: Tips on How to Encourage Toddlers to Eat Healthy Food
3. Cultivate your passion
Do you have a green thumb? Work on your indoor or outdoor garden. Do you love singing? Sing your heart out and if you like, sing ala karaoke style on YouTube. Do you have a passion for writing? Go on and pour out your ideas in your notebook. Are you trying to be a master chef? Learn new recipes and try them out in the kitchen!
Personally, whenever I am too lazy to go outside, I belt out my favorite tunes using Sing King! I also write blogs, like the one you are reading right now!
4. Watch Netflix
Of course, this list will not be complete without the famous Netflix! Depending on your mood, there are a wide variety of movies and TV series that you can watch at home. Right now, I am binge watching the Turning Point series, a documentary series talking about what really happened before, during, and after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Highly informative and eye-opening!
Just be careful not to be addicted to it. It is a strong digital opioid! like what its Chief Communications Officer said years ago, he envisions Netflix to be a brand that people would believe they cannot live without. True enough, Netflix is, I believe, a staple in any digital household.
Also Read: Guided Meditation – a Different Kind
5. Take a nap
You are alone at home and you have the bed to yourself! Take a nap as a way of rewarding yourself for tasks finished during the day. After all, for a mom like me, I always need to recharge so that I have enough energy to bond with my schoolgirl when she comes home from school. Enjoy the luxury of sleeping for a few minutes. Just don’t forget to set the alarm!
There you go! So, are you still feeling unenthusiastic about enjoying the outdoors? No worries! With the scorching heat outside (the heat index factor in Cambodia has risen to 41 degrees Celsius!), it might actually be safer to just stay at home.
Want to read about our family travels? You can watch our travel videos here, too!
Save exploring the outdoors when the weather is finer! For now, read again and you might want to try something from the list!
Remember, this is Moms Inspiring Moms! Be the reason someone gets inspired today!
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