The long holiday of Eid al-Fitr has finally came. The holy occasion seems so joyous after overcoming a full month of fasting. This year is the first Eid after 3 years of the pandemic that the homecoming ‘mudik’ travel ban is lifted.
Therefore, a lot of people use this occasion to travel back to their hometown and meet with long-lost family and relatives. The Indonesian state-owned toll road operator PT Jasa Marga reported that there are more than 900,000 vehicles leaving the Jabodetabek area during the Eid holiday.
However, the idea of staying in a long queue of traffic jams that are unpredictable might be repulsive for some. So, it is understandable that the annual homecoming ‘mudik’ culture is not everyone’s cup of tea.
Here are some activities that one can take on before going back to the hustle and bustle of work.
Long Holiday Bake-Off
People usually have a specific recipe they want to explore at home but no time to pull it off. This long holiday is the perfect time to try those recipes. It does not matter whether it is a family generational recipe or the latest discovery while traveling to someplace. It also may be a recipe one wants to make for their special ones or something one wants to add to their restaurant and cafe menu.
If the idea of failure renders baking scary, try using a baking premix. It guarantees the taste of the baked goods while lowering the chance of failure, which is perfect for beginners.
Turn a House Into a Home
Wherever one goes, there should be no better place than their own home. If one feels like their house has yet to be a home, a long holiday is the perfect time to turn the table. Transforming a place called a house into a home may not be an easy job. It may include repainting and decorating jobs to make the home functional and reflect one’s personality. What better occasion than a long holiday to check the lists?
Green the House
Getting new hobbies during a long holiday is not unheard of, and gardening has been one of the popular hobbies people take up during the pandemic. Not only does it beautify your house, but it also has health benefits. Gardening consists of physical activity with exposure to nature and sunlight, where sunlight increases vitamin D levels and lowers blood pressure.
House Purifying
Eid al-Fitr is closely associated with “sanctity” and “purity”. While the original meaning is for the souls, taking it literally might be a good idea. Especially with the alarming emergence of several new Covid-19 variants and its rising cases. Though the government declared to have it under control, taking preventive actions is never a bad thing.
Covid-19 is not the only disease we should watch out for. The hot, humid, and extremely unpredictable weather can cause seasonal diseases like cold, flu, and fever. Deep cleaning of the house should work to prevent diseases. Declutter junk, remove dust from every surface, disinfect all appliances,
Wellness Week on Long Holiday
Carrying out wellness week after a long and tiring month of staying productive while fasting from dawn until dusk might be the best idea. It can serve both body and mental health in check as well as relieve stress.
There is no limit to how one should carry out the wellness week. One can pamper in a spa, get a haircut, do yoga or other favorite sports, or go for a stroll in a park. The options are endless to choose from. The point is to take every burden off the shoulders and enjoy the long holiday while it lasts.