Other


You’re Stuck Home During COVID-19, Now What? Here Are 11 Things!

Being stuck home right now during COVID-19, also known as the Coronavirus, is going to be a challenge for so many.

Besides it being boring, isolation can be a mental challenge for a lot of people.

While you have to take care of yourself, also think about others around you. Sometimes a quick phone call or text message can change someones day. Get a group chat going, video chat or join some active Facebook groups.

Here are a few things that you can do (not necessarily book related) during this potentially long haul.

1. Keep a schedule.

This may seem a little odd but it will help. Try and get up a relatively regular time (but of course sleep in now and then because you just can) and some days, put effort into how you look. Some of us may feel like wearing sweatpants every day (guilty) but trying to keep getting dressed now, doing your hair and makeup will at least let you feel better, You wear that tux or ballgown around the house because WHY NOT?!

2. Read new books.

Okay, one has to be book-related. We’re a book blog, come on! This is a fantastic time to read something new. Libraries are closed so this is that time to read that book you never could bring yourself to read, like a classic, or re-read an old favorite. It gives you a break from technology and you can go outside and do this to get some fresh air, which is really good for you!

via GIPHY

3. Learn a new language.

This is such a great time to learn something new. Places like Duolingo are amazing places to practice a language you know or pick up a new one. Maybe invest in Rosetta Stone (which is amazing) to become bi- or multi-lingual. Language apps are great to practice this language and get some social time in during this isolation.

4. Documentaries.

Sometimes the days can drag but a documentary will waste a few hours and you can learn some things in the process – even if it’s about Aliens (we won’t judge).

via GIPHY

5. Video chat with your friends.

This definitely isn’t as cool as it used to be but if you can’t get together with your friends you may as well try and see them. Make some food, get a good drink and some cozy clothes and video chat with them like you’re hanging out together. If you connect your device to a larger screen it may feel like you’re actually there.

6. Learn a new skill!

Like a new language, you could learn a new skill as well. Maybe it’s crafting, maybe it’s trying that guitar you always wanted to try, how to do a handstand or calligraphy. There’s a lot of great videos on YouTube as well as some places are offering free classes during this whole situation. It’ll pass time and you’ll have something incredible at the end of it all.

7. Journal.

Now this may seem a little crazy but I really recommend it. If you can’t talk with people a lot you can write out what you’re feeling. Sure, you can journal on your computer but when you write it out you really get to think and spend some time writing how you feel. It doesn’t have to be happy. You could say that you’re really struggling and just don’t feel great or that you absolutely love being stuck at home. You’ll be able to look back on it one day and remember how you kicked COVID-19’s butt.

8. Catch up on your shows.

I wouldn’t recommend binge watching just because there may be a long stretch and you want to make sure you have some good stuff to watch, but you can use this time to try a few shows you normally wouldn’t do.

via GIPHY

9. Write a letter.

As long as the post office is operational (which I hope it will continue to be) this is a great time to bring back letter writing. It gives you something to look forward to, you can practice lettering and calligraphy and just do something new.

via GIPHY

10. Go outside and get some fresh air.

Life tends to keep us inside as students or office workers so this is a great time to go outside. Take that conference call on the balcony, take some of your readings to your park if it’s still open (remember, social distancing!) or go into your garden. If you can’t do these things, open your window and just stick your head out for a little while. Make sure to get some fresh air and some sun if you can.

via GIPHY

11. Foster an animal if you can.

If you don’t own an animal, or want more, this is a great time to foster. Shelters are struggling, it’s nearly kitten season and you could always use a play-mate. It’s not permanent (but it could be if you want) and may help you along. If you have a landlord, make sure to talk to them and see if an exception can be made. Also make sure you’re fulling able for this and committed. It may only be a few months but remember that dogs have to be walked and cats have to have their litter changed.


7 Women Writers Who Wrote Under Male Names [International Women’s Day]

Throughout history, women have chosen to write under male names to get more publicity and to be taken seriously. As today is International Women’s Day, I think that some of these lovely ladies should be recognized.

I wonder if these’s any male writers who write under female names – such as if a guy is writing a romance book. Do you know any?


1. The Brontë Sisters

These ladies originally posted under the pseudonym names of Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell. As some of their books were pretty edgy for the time, like Wuthering Heights, it is completely understandable why the decision to take a male author name was chosen. Additionally, during this time, writing was not seen as something that a lady would do, so the decision to write under a males name was chosen.

2. Mary Ann Evans aka. George Eliot

The writings of George Eliot are up there with works by Charles Dickens! Dickens himself even believed that works under the name of Eliot were written by a female as he had never seen writing so beautiful!

3. Joanne Rowling aka. J.K. Rowling

This one is pretty commonly known now, but as it’s a modern book, you’d never think that writing under a males name was still needed. Part of the reasons was to help bring more males into the world. I guess men don’t want to read books written by women, or they may find the writing too girly. As Harry Potter is one of the most famous books out there, I guess she did pretty well for herself!

4. Pamela Lyndon Travers aka. P.L. Travers

Best known for her book Mary Poppins, it took two names before arriving on the better known P.L. Travers. She was born with the name Helen Lyndon Goff and later renamed herself Pamela Lyndon Travers. Fun fact: she hated children, really disliked the Mary Poppins film and was rumored to be quite a grouch!

5. Karen Blixen aka. Isac Dinesen

Best known for her book Out of Africa (which has a fantastic movie adaption by the way) she used her pen name, especially for her Gothic writings which were published in America. She used various pen names for various works.

6. Louisa May Alcott aka. A.M. Barnard

Best known for her work Little Women, which she published under her real name, she used her male pen-name to write her Gothic novels. This was because Gothic novels were seen as not being feminine but she wanted to write anyway!

7. Nelle Harper Lee aka. Harper Lee

Lee dropped her first name as she felt that it was too feminine and so opted for the second and third parts of her name. Best known for her novel To Kill a Mockingbird, she chose to write under a more gender-ambiguous name as all the popular authors during her time were men!


How many on this list were you familiar with?


Personal Success 1

Success comes in my shapes and sizes. It can be anything from getting your dream job to finishing that book that was on your list for ages (that was definitely the book that took me forever to finish, Shogun).

Whatever it may be, starting small will boost your confidence versus giving yourself something you wish to attain that is extremely difficult to reach. I like lots of little successes that lead to a big success in the end than a single success which takes a long time to complete.

So an example of that could be instead of completing 12 books in a year or something like that and having to wait until I reach that goal, I will read 1 book a month at least for a smaller personal success that will lead to something bigger. With homework, instead of completing all of my homework, I’ll set my goal to be one full assignment in a few hours and as the small successes pile up, the bigger success of completing all my tasks comes to me.

So this post isn’t a rant, just advice. Set smaller goals which may be smaller successes, but they keep  you motivated. If you set a goal of a new job, set smaller steps like getting a nice suit, finishing the resume and with each ‘success’ you will feel better and feel that you can do it.

And no matter what, don’t ever give up. One failed success doesn’t mean you failed totally. It’s just a bump in the road.

As Dory said in Finding Nemo, “Just keep swimming!”

For the Daily Post: Successful

Success