10 ideas for weekends in quarantine

First of all, I have the hardest time spelling quarantine. Anyone else? First I had to spell it in Italian, quarantena. I kept spelling it wrong and my friends there kept correcting me. Then the idea of quarantine arrived in the states and I had to figure it out in English too. Thank goodness for spell check. Like the word bachelorette (I mean….!?) I had no idea how to spell it on my own, haha.

After a few weeks in quarantine (practically 27 days by my own count), I felt inspired to make this list because it seems the weekends are the hardest part. Or the easiest if you’re working more hours than before, like me. Still the lack of plans and the imminent boredom was enough for me to want a list like this for when I’m out of ideas. I hope it inspires you to throw out your routine for the two days we like to call Saturday and Sunday and appreciate the extra time. That second shot of espresso? Sip it slowly in your unmade bed.

Here’s a breakdown of the list, with links to more ideas…

I’ve had my eye on all the recipes being posted lately. It seems people across the globe have taken up baking to pass the time. And what’s better than something hot and fresh out of the oven to eat!? Banana bread is my favorite, but anything will do!

This is a great stress reliever for me, until I see people who aren’t following the six foot/two meter rule and anxiety takes over. But I’ve been trying to take advantage of not being on total lockdown like some countries, and the small escape from my house does wonders, as do the endorphins. Last Saturday I walked with my mom and sister and we grabbed coffees from a friend’s cafe, curbside. If you can’t go outside, I’m truly sorry. Trade this for some time on your terrace or rooftop, or sit near a window and pretend to be outside. Fresh air is magic, especially now that it’s spring.

Even better if everyone you’re quarantined with agrees on the same movie. I don’t watch a lot of movies normally, though they always serve for great inspiration. Recently I’ve re-watched One Day, The Duchess, and Dear John. Next up is Call Me by Your Name (which I have yet to see) and A Star is Born (which I saw four times while it was still in the theaters).

The weekend is a good time for this. It’s nice to organize the call over coffee or a glass of wine, as if we were really meeting. I’ve found it’s a big relief to share how I’m feeling and check-in on my friends. Especially important if they’re quarantined alone or far from family. My cousins and I do a meeting once a week, and last time our theme was for everyone to wear a hat. My sister and I chose berets and there were some serious Mary Kate & Ashley vibes happening.

Put make-up and jewelry on, too. This really boosts my mood, even if I’m just headed downstairs to the kitchen like I am every night. It’s a break in the routine to dress up and put more time into my appearance, like I would if I were going out. Light candles, play music, and most importantly, turn the news off.

It really helps to have a meal plan for the week, as I’ve learned from watching food writer Elizabeth Minchilli’s lockdown in Umbria. But over the weekend we like to take a break from cooking and instead have been ordering out from our favorite local spots. From coffee to dinner, anything helps to support the small businesses. If you’re local, Visit Saint Paul created a great list of who is open for take-out and delivery.

This has truly been my saving grace when the hours seem endless. I get lost in a project then find myself wondering where the time went. I’ve been creating a new mood board (I really want to usher in this next chapter with strong visuals) and just ordered some new supplies from Blick to do more sketching and drawing. They have the best prices for artists.

I’ve been really struggling with feeling helpless in terms of how I can help my friends and family in these hard times, and feel like I’m still close to them (as I’m sure everyone has). So I ordered stationary from Paper Source’s recent sale, and also found some heart-shaped stickers from Acme Local to send to some people. They have a long list of cities so the heart says “Minneapolis Love” for example, and part of the money goes to local businesses. You can also customize them if your city isn’t listed.

Does anyone else find so much joy in organizing? I love it. When I returned from Rome I really simplified, so the only big project I have left is purging through my desk. I’ve also done a small amount of redecorating in my room, since I’m spending more time there. I wrote a list of Quick Apartment Updates a while back if you’re feeling restless too. One small thing that brought me a lot of joy was ordering a new throw pillow from Zara Home (my go-to for decor and bedding). The pillow design reminds me so much of my neighborhood in Rome, and makes me happy.

Bonus: organize your photo archives and finally order some prints. I just made a chatbook and ordered some of my Instagram photos on cardstock from parabo press…you can find those ideas in my post Documenting my Travels.

This could be anything. Finally commit to learning a new language, or figure out something new for your blog or website. Start a blog if you don’t already have one! Make that Instagram account you’ve been dreaming about. Whatever it is, dive into the unknown with abandon.

That’s my list for an enjoyable and productive weekend at home. If you have more ideas, leave them in the comments below. Buon weekend!