10 Simple Ways to Live like a Hobbit (While You’re Stuck at Home)
Last month, I published my first ever eBook — Thirty Days in the Shire — a guide to slowing down, living simply, and becoming more of a Hobbit at Heart. The book includes a list of thirty challenges to complete within the thirty days, along with five hobbity habits to begin putting into practice.
One of the hobbity habits is to stay at home as much as possible, inspired by the tendency of most Hobbits to prefer their cozy chair by the fire over any and all sorts of adventure.
And now that many of us are finding ourselves stuck at home due to the outbreak of coronavirus, this habit is probably coming along much more easily than it might have before. I realize for many this is a hardship due to lost income or childcare situations (not to mention the actual risk that the illness poses), so I don’t mean to make light of the situation! However, I do mean to make the best of this time at home and share a few simple ways for you to do so, too!
Read | This one might seem obvious, but log out of Netflix and pick up a book! We have a tendency to become even more plugged in while stuck at home, but if you’re able to disconnect for a bit you will feel so much better. Need book recommendations? Here’s a list of all the Tolkien-related books on my bookshelf. Many of them are available on the Kindle, so you don’t have to worry about going to a bookstore or ordering anything online.
Pray | Tolkien recommended ‘making a habit of the praises’ in a letter to his son, especially in times of distress. I shared which prayers he recommended here.
Be Creative | Spend some time sitting with your own thoughts and then create something! Pick up a notebook and journal, write poetry, paint, or draw. The guitar that’s been sitting in your closet for years? Pick it up and learn how to play it. With an abundance of youtube videos for instruction, I can pretty much guarantee you’ll be able to teach yourself fairly well.
Write a Letter | Tolkien writes in the prologue to The Lord of the Rings, “By no means all Hobbits were lettered, but those who were wrote constantly to all their friends (and a selection of their relations) who lived further off than an afternoon’s walk.” Following their example, write a few letters to a few of your friends (and maybe just one to a relative).
Cook | With more time at home and many restaurants and delivery services closed, now is the perfect time to learn your way around a kitchen if you don’t already. If you aren’t able to get out and grocery shop, improvise with what you have! A few Hobbit-inspired food blog recommendations: Food of the Shire, What Hobbits Like to Eat, The Feast Goes on and Ever On, and
Plant a Garden | Or at least, start to get ready for one! Even if you don’t have any gardening supplies, now is a great time to start learning and planning for your garden. My friend Rosie shared this post on twitter and I wanted to share it with you all, too: 7 Reasons to Start a Garden. If you have a favorite gardening blog or resource, share them with me so I can learn too! It’s too cold here to plant anything but I’m eager to get prepared so I’ll be ready when it warms up.
Donate Items | While I won’t be dropping off my donations for at least a few weeks, I’ve started going through different areas of the house and bagging up items we don’t use or need anymore. I’m keeping all the bags in the basement until we can go drop them off later. Also, if you do have an excess of any items that people might be needing right now (like, I don’t know, TOILET PAPER?), donate that right away!
Sit Beside the Fire and Think | Whether you light a big fire in your fireplace or simply light a few candles, take some time out of whatever else it is you’re doing (scrolling twitter and stressing out?) and read, think, pray, or write in the relaxing, warm glow of the firelight.
Bake Lembas | But maybe just half a batch for now! Here’s my recipe. :)
Do something inconvenient for the sake of another | This really is at the heart of what it means to be a Hobbit. Throughout all of their tales, Hobbits go out of their way to support and care for one another. If you have an elderly neighbor or know someone who is struggling right now, ask them how you can help. And while you’re at it, call your grandparents!
If you liked these ideas, you’ll love Thirty Days in the Shire! You can learn more and order your copy here if you’re ready to slow down, simplify, and become more of a Hobbit at Heart.
