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The holidays are here. The cold weather and snow are keeping you at home. The siren song of the sofa is loud and calling your name. But instead of binging on Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+ you could put that time to better use. Here are 30 things to do instead of watching Netflix.
1. Write in a journal and self-reflect
Writing down your thoughts and feelings in a journal or even keeping a gratitude journal is a great way to self-reflect. To get even more out of it, commit to journaling every day for a month. It will help you feel better about your problems and be thankful for your blessings.
2. Meditate
If you feel like you’re all over the place and need to find some calmness and peace in your life, meditate to refocus your thoughts and reset your mind. I believe that meditation is so helpful for the mind and body that I recommend it as a daily practice.
3. Create a vision board
A vision board is a physical representation of your dreams and aspirations. They are fun to create and can serve as a tool to motivate and inspire you to take daily action towards your most important goals.
4. Make a bucket list
If you’ve made a vision board, you probably have a head full of things you want to do and accomplish. That’s great. Put them all down into a bucket list.
5. Read a book
Looking to get more knowledgeable about a subject or maybe you love to get lost in a good fiction book? Either way, reading is a great way to expand your mind and improve your reading and writing skills. Need some ideas for books to read? Check out my current reading list. Or sign up for a Book of the Month.
6. Create a moody playlist
If you love to listen to music, head over to Spotify and create some moody playlists to listen to. What kind of playlist should you make? Any kind. One for when you do an upbeat workout, maybe another for waking up in the morning. Or you could put together your favorite songs to sing for a road trip. You can save them and even share them with your friends.
7. Do a page in a coloring book
Coloring books aren’t just for kids. There are so many fun options for adults with super detailed pages to keep you busy for hours. Of course, you could pull a page from your kid’s coloring book too. Coloring is a great way to relieve stress and calm the mind.
8. Do a puzzle
Puzzles are great for exercising your brain. You can do a picture puzzle, word puzzle, or even number puzzles like Soduko. Studies have shown that puzzles can help with memory and can delay illnesses like dementia and Alzheimer’s.
9. Practice an art like painting, calligraphy, or photography
If you want to excel at a creative hobby, you need to put the hours in to develop your skills. Just want to keep it casual, artistic practices can be relaxing and are a great way to reduce stress.
10. Practice an instrument
Just like above, if you want to get good at something you need to practice. You also need to practice to keep from losing the skills you already have.
11. Learn a new language
Another great productive thing to do instead of watching Netflix is to learn another language. Being bilingual can be very beneficial to your career and can open up many doors, including being able to work in different countries. There are tons of resources online for learning a second language and apps for your phone like Duolingo.
12. Take an online course
You can enroll in a program to get a certificate related to your work area or even get a different degree. Online courses are also a great way to stay up today on industry-specific skills so you can be more competitive in the workplace.
Online courses don’t always have to be about work or getting a degree, sometimes you can take a course just for fun. You could take an online photography course or you can take a course on art history or anything that you just want to know more about.
13. Do your laundry
I know you don’t want to hear this but seriously. Throw a load in and while that is going fold the load that has been in the dryer all week. You need clean clothes to wear and it just needs to get done.
14. Clean out the refrigerator
I know another not so fun one. But really you need to be doing this. Take everything out. Toss anything that is out of date or questionable. Then clean the shelves. All of the crevices too. When you put your food back in make sure to put like things together so you can easily find them.
15. Declutter
No matter how hard you try to keep things clean, stuff finds a way of taking over certain spaces. Whether it is the mail on your desk or toys that never get played with, there is something in your space that needs to be decluttered. You don’t need to do the entire house at once. Just pick one space at a time.
16. Fix something around the house
If you live in an apartment or house that pretty much guarantees there is something that needs to be done. Maybe you need to patch and paint a wall or you want to replace a lighting fixture in your living room. Now is as good of a time as any to get those tiny fixes done.
17. Work on a side hustle
If you are serious about wanting to stay busy instead of watching Netflix, you can start a side hustle. Deliver groceries with Instacart or drive for Uber. Want to stay home? Work as a virtual assistant or start that blog you’ve been talking about.
18. Update your resume
As you learn new skills and gain more experience, you should be updating your resume. For those of you looking to get hired or move to a new position having an updated resume is crucial. However, don’t neglect your resume just because you aren’t looking for work. You never know when a once in a lifetime opportunity may come up.
19. Put together a budget
If you don’t have a budget, stop what you are doing and make one right now. First, take note of all of your reoccurring must-have expenses like rent and electricity. Make sure you count everything from your car insurance to your prescriptions. Second, look at where all of your money is going to see where you are spending and possibly overspending. Third, arrange your budget so all of your required expenses are covered and then move on to nice to haves like savings or money for entertainment.
20. Organize your inbox
DO you have 1,345,678 emails in your inbox? Time to change that. Go through and keep what you need and delete the rest. Getting rid of the clutter in your inbox will help your mind feel at ease.
21. Make a meal plan and grocery list
One of the biggest reasons people don’t meal plan is because it takes a lot of time. But instead of watching Netflix, you could be making a meal plan and grocery list. Meal planning is a great way to eat healthily and save money simultaneously.
22. Exercise
Speaking of health, exercise is a great alternative to binging shows. You can do yoga, jazzercise, hip hop abs, BBG, the options are endless. Don’t want to pay for an online workout class? You don’t have to. There are plenty of free videos on YouTube.
23. Plan your week
If you are a planning person like I am, you probably have a set time for preparing for the week. Personally, I like to do all of my prep for the upcoming week on Sunday, but you can pick any day that works for your schedule.
24. Plan your outfit for tomorrow
You know you have a meeting downtown with a client tomorrow, so you might as well decide what you are going to wear today. This will make getting ready for the day easier and less stressful. Plus if you have realized the outfit you want to wear needs to be washed, you will have time to do that too.
25. Have a pamper session
If you have been a follower of Feisty Life Media for a bit, you know I am all about self-care and am particularly fond of pampering sessions. They are a perfect way to take some time out and feel relaxed. Check out my recommendations for an at-home spa night.
26. Reconnect with a friend
When was the last time you talked to your BFF from high school or one of your bridesmaids when you got married? How about that college roommate? Time and responsibilities often keep us from reconnecting with people that were once such an important part of our life. Take time every week to reach out to someone that was once part of your life. It could be a text, a Facebook chat, or even meeting up for a quick coffee.
27. Send a handwritten letter or thank you
Do you remember how your parents would make you write a thank you note for a gift you received? I’m betting you absolutely hated it but your parent’s intentions were good. There is nothing better than receiving an actual handwritten letter or card in the mail. Because it is so easy to send an email, a handwritten note shows the time and care put in by the sender. So next time someone gives you something or goes out of their way to be kind to you, follow up with a handwritten note or card.
28. Spend time with your partner and/or family
Sometimes because we live with someone we don’t think we need to set aside special time to be with them. After all, you are with them every day. However, being in the same space as someone is not the same as spending quality time together. So instead of watching Netflix like zombies, spend some quality time together. Maybe have a nice talk about each other’s day. Or do one of the activities on this list together.
29. Plan a trip for the future
Going from home to work to home again can be a drag. But going somewhere fun can mix things up. Maybe you need to save up money or vacation days but you can totally plan your trip. Get ideas of places to stay, things to see, and places to eat. If you can, set a tentative date for when you would like to go on your planned trip. Then work toward actually getting there.
30. Work on your dreams and goals.
Every day you are alive is a day you can be working toward your dreams and goals, whatever they may be. The things you do every day are how you end up spending your life. So spend your time working toward your dreams instead of watching Netflix.
