Emily Marrison, Columnist Published 10:16 a.m. ET March 22, 2020

Emily Marrison(Photo: Submitted)

I used to have this thought: If only I had more time, Id _______ (fill in the blank with a variety of activities).

And I would think, My children are growing up so fast, I wish I had more time to spend with them.

Well, here it is as we practice social distancing. Whether we have kids at home or not, there are some great opportunities to get some things accomplished at home.

Routine is good. Kids are used to a routine at school and at daycare. Some of us are piecemealing together a childcare schedule right now that is going to be anything but consistent. So, if there are opportunities for continuity at any point during the day, then prioritize these.

In our house, bedtime is special. Id almost say more important now that my kids are approaching their teen years than when they were toddlers. I wouldnt have believed that 10 years ago, but I certainly do now. This is the time that I listen to my children without interruption more than any other point of the day. They crave this time. If you are not used to having this time with your kids, then this would be a great time to start.

Get kids in your kitchen. I love spending time in the kitchenand though it can require an extra pinch of patience, I enjoy teaching my kids to cook and to bake. My children and I made some kid-friendly recipes on Facebook Live this week and will continue to do this together weekly. Visit coshocton.osu.edu to learn more about this virtual program and get our recipes to use with your family.

When you dont have school-aged kids

Keep yourself motivated. Last week in our staff conference meeting, my colleague Jenny Strickler shared a great quote with us from Zig Ziglar. Apparently, someone once asked Zig how he stayed motivated and positive all the time. He explained that he didnt always, but he saw it as a choice: People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why I recommend it daily.

Get up early each morning. Some of our best work can be in the morning. Take a shower first thing to get ready for your day. Dont lounge around in your PJs.

As Mary Poppins would say, Well begun is half done. So, get started before you get sucked into something on a device. And speaking of devices, one of my biggest concerns for folks during all this social distancing is the temptation for overspending. Limit your time on shopping sitesand you wont be enticed to buy things you do not need.

Make a list of what you want to accomplish at home. You know there are lots of projects to do. Start by prioritizing all those things you said youd do later or when you had more time. This is a great opportunity to sort through boxes of photos and organize them. Or sort through online photos and organize them. Maybe this is the time to go through closets and determine what stays and what can be donated.

Start spring cleaning. Tackle a room every two or threedays and really clean. Remove the clutter, wipe down the walls, wash the windows, move all the furniture and sweep under it. The colder weather looks to be staying away for a while and cleaning out the garage is definitely on my list.

Today Ill leave you with this quote from Mother Teresa:Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.

Emily Marrison is an OSU Extension Family & Consumer Sciences Educator and may be reached at 740-622-2265.

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Stuck at home because of social distancing? Here's what you can do with that extra time. - Coshocton Tribune