The COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak is affecting everyday life nationwide. Families are making adjustments in child care since K-12 schools throughout Pennsylvania have closed for two weeks starting Monday, March, 16th. Many bars and restaurants are limiting dine-in customers to carry out only and non-essential businesses are either closing or implementing alternative work strategies. State officials are urging everyone to minimize exposure in public settings, practice social distancing, sanitize frequently and stay at home. How can we best fight coronavirus? USA Today is recommending stay home to save lives.
These big changes are shifting everyday home routines. Keep busy and stay connected while keeping household members healthy and safe. Check out our tips to improve home life during this crisis.
Keep Busy
It’s easy to get caught up with screen time, binging your favorite streaming series, or sitting the kids in front of a device, especially when parents are getting accustomed to working from home. Ditch the screens and take the downtime to connect with your family. Check out these ideas from Red Tricycle, there are hundreds of activities to do indoors. Play a game of Scrabble or Monopoly. The whole family can have a book club and read books that are part of the school curriculum. They’ll also love to play outside. Swing on the swingset, set up the easels and paint, prep your garden for spring planting or coordinate a backyard scavenger hunt.
Get Your Daily Dose of Sunshine and Fresh Air
In an article posted to Medium, Richard Hobday reports on the benefits of fresh air and sunlight. Fresh air can kill the flu virus and other harmful germs. Equally, sunlight is germicidal and there is now evidence it can kill the flu virus. This is a good reason to get outdoors. In Pennsylvania, temperatures are now comfortable enough to enjoy a walk outside, ride bikes, hike, complete yard work and even wash the cars in your driveway.
Start Spring Cleaning Early
There are cleaning measures you can take to combat the spread of Coronavirus. Wash your hands often, sanitize surfaces thoroughly and open windows to let fresh air flow through the home. While you’re at it, get a jumpstart on spring cleaning. It can be a daunting task organizing and deep cleaning your home, but it’s an important change-of-season step for home happiness and personal well-being. Spring cleaning combats seasonal allergies and also boosts mental health. This renewal lifts our mood and releases tension.
Stay Connected
Although too much screen time should be avoided, when facing social distancing, digital connections can be a valuable asset. Stay in touch with friends and family members by connecting online. Video chat services also provide an excellent way for virtual face to face interaction and can work well when telecommuting while working from home. It’s also important to keep the personal connections going with all members of the household. Take time to cook together or develop dinner recipes with immune-boosting ingredients.
Start Designing your Next Signature Home
Building a custom home can provide health benefits. Health concerns tend to arise in aging homes where construction is failing, often causing water leaks and roof damage. Improper insulation and poor sources of natural light are also noted as top concerns. Invest in a home free of constant repairs, that promotes good health. A customized Signature Home of your dreams, bathed in natural light and ventilated throughout. From deciding on the perfect lot right down to selecting the knobs on your cabinets. Your dream is our vision. We will make it come true.
Home happiness is important to us at JT Maloney Signature Homes. Contact us today to learn more about our Lehigh Valley custom home building experience and stay healthy.
