Stuck at home & can’t travel?
When we are busy and on the go, many things fall by the wayside. Now, while we are stuck at home and can’t travel, it is a good time to catch up and explore new opportunities. Here are 10 beneficial things to do to pass your “can’t travel” time.
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1. Organize your laptop for future traveling.
It’s hard to believe that there isn’t SOMETHING that needs to be organized, updated, deleted, input, or downloaded on your computer. Put your loss of travel time to good use by improving your computer. Before starting, mini project 1(a) is to create a pleasant work environment if you don’t already have one. After all, you may be using it daily. A good mindset to use while working is to imagine how happy you’ll be when traveling with your well-organized laptop!
Once everything is organized, our blog post “Why now is a good time to think about a travel lifestyle” might be a worthwhile project!
2. Exercise away your “can’t travel” woes.
If you already exercise, you know it is a great stress reliever. However, if you don’t exercise, and you’re not traveling, it may compound the issue. Fortunately, with the current pandemic, many subscription exercise websites are temporarily free. As a result, it’s a great time to experiment with changing up your current exercise or embarking on an exercise lifestyle.
By all means, if your area allows outdoor exercise, it is strongly recommended. Exercise and Mother Nature are a powerful combination. Plus, you can take outdoor exercise with you when you travel again.
One of my favorites websites is DoYogaWithMe. As of April, 2020, they offer two free months. Afterwards, you can continue with their free content or subscribe to use the full website. Along with Yoga, this site also offers Pilates, both of which are scaled for beginners to advanced.
Another favorite is Kira Stokes. This site is $14.99/mo but I pack her Kira Stokes workout bands and get a good workout while traveling. Whatever you choose, have fun with this. Just go to Youtube or Google “free exercise classes online” and try them out. For information on how to stay fit once traveling resumes, check out our post Fitness while Traveling.
This may seem like a no-brainer, but believe it or not, there are people who are not socially connected online. Some are by choice while others are simply unfamiliar with FB, Skype, Zoom, WhatsApp, Messenger, etc.
When you can’t travel, being socially present online is important both for you and your loved ones. Beginning or increasing your skills with these various platforms is something that will also keep you connected when traveling. Use this valuable time to learn the platforms and choose the ones on which to engage. If you’re a beginner, ask your friends, your kids or grandkids. They’ll be happy to help! If all else fails, Youtube has videos on EVERYTHING.
4. Improve your picture-taking ability.
If you travel, you probably take pictures, either with your cell, tablet or camera. Take your non-travel time to improve your current ability. If using your cell or tablet, explore the apps that enhance your pictures. You’d be surprised at the difference it can make.
I have a camera that seldom gets off “auto” although it is flush with features. It’s on my list to learn more and might be something of interest for your list too! Again, Youtube is a great resource here. Think about what you like to photograph while traveling and learn the features of your camera that will enhance those types of pictures. (ex; Macro for flower, film speed for actions shots etc.)
If you’re more of a book person, here are a few best sellers to consider:
5. Learn a new recipe from your favorite country.
Since traveling isn’t an option right now, ease your travel woes with a meal from your favorite country. Have fun with it. You can enjoy learning solo or make it a family event. You can learn easily on my favorite go-to, Youtube. For family fun, try searching on Pinterest where the visuals are sure to delight the kids, and the kid in you! Just create a free account to access.
If you want to take it a step further, enroll in online cooking classes. Research to find your favorite cooking website and check out their classes. Some courses are by subscription only while others have extensive free introductory classes
For family fun and to keep the little ones engaged, here’s some international cookbooks for kids! All come in Kindle editions so there’s no wait!
6. Not traveling? Learn to meditate!
We’ve all been told how very GOOD meditation is for us, and during your “can’t travel” downtime may be the perfect opportunity to incorporate it into your lifestyle. This is a hard one for me, as I tend to keep moving. (Which is why I created a walking desk for myself.) But really, meditation has been shown time and time again to reduce stress, control anxiety, increases mental clarity, and more. Given our current situation, it’s the perfect antidote.
Need help getting started? Let your fingers do the walking over to Google or Youtube and you’ll find information, guided meditations, and more. Don’t forget to check the apps on your phone. Download one or two for quick access when you are feeling stressed.
Keep in mind, you don’t have to stand on one leg in a yoga pose or sit with your feet crossed up over your thighs to meditate. There really is no right or wrong way. Just sit or lie quietly and quiet your mind, for the benefits.
Here’s a best seller for adults, teens, and the kids.
7. Check out the night skies.
This could be a solo or family fun activity. Since people can’t travel, the reduction in pollution is producing some amazing night skies. The other night, I saw something so bright I stepped out onto our lanai to check it out. I finally realized it was a bright, twinkling star, although it appeared much brighter than before. Yes, it is the absence of pollution. Take advantage of your non-travel downtime and check it out.
Even if you don’t know the Milky Way from the Man in the Moon, just inhale, look skyward, and enjoy. Have the kids research star position then have fun trying to identify them. It might be a habit you carry over after you are back to traveling again! Enjoy practicing some of your new photography skills by photographing the night sky. Here’s some books to help:
8. Start to learn a language.
If you’re an avid traveler, you’ve undoubtedly gone to foreign language countries. What better time than now, as travel woes set in, to learn a new language or brush up on existing language skills. Search Google and Youtube for reference material, as well as your library. Many have online access where both audio language books or eBooks can be checked out.
Think positive as you do this, imagining yourself asking for two chocolate chip cookies from your favorite bakery in Ecuador in Español. That was my goal at the time.
Make it fun, perhaps using the chosen langugage to pronounce common household items or food. Have the kids use sticky notes to label items and learn the common courtesies like, thank you, you’re welcome etc. Most importantly, have fun with it.
9. Prepare for your next traveling adventure.
Of course, now is a good time to research some new bucket list destinations and/or discuss how you plan to travel in the future. Will you be staying closer to home, or is international travel still an option for you? In addition to the planning aspects, take time to research and perhaps purchase items to enhance your travel. For example, a “safer” crossbody purse for the ladies, or a security wallet for men.
There are any number of anti-pickpocket items available and/or items to make your flight more comfortable. We travel with collapsible seat cushions, back supports, neck pillows and more. You’ll find a huge selection on Amazon. Have fun browsing!
10. Go wine tasting, bar hopping…
Ok, so I saved the best for last. This one is just plain fun. Non-travel woes got you down? Here we go! Whatever your choice of beverage, be it beer, wine, whiskey, tea, flavored water, whatever – buy several different varieties, enough for every room in your house. Then, set them up with glasses, napkins maybe some candlelight in the main rooms, and go traveling.
That’s right. Go bar-hopping, wine tasting, whiskey sampling, tea experimenting; you get the point. Let the kids join in by selecting a variety of a suitable beverage for them. This is travel without the travel. Just have fun but be careful, don’t drink too much of that whiskey!
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If you have more tips to share, please post them in the comments so others can see them. Most importantly, enjoy yourself, practice social distancing and WASH YOUR HANDS.
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