With these unprecedented times in our country, current disruptions in many sectors including the travel industry, and the uncertainty of the future, millions of people around the world are experiencing some sort of isolation. Whether it be out of an abundance of caution of one’s own health or imposed by government officials, every part of the globe is under quarantine.
It can be hard to stay indoors for such long periods of time with nothing to occupy your mind if you are unable to carry out your day to day duties from home but are still required to stay there. It is important to continue to stimulate yourself, mind, body and spirit.
Thankfully, there are plenty of things to do from the comfort of your home that will keep you occupied for long periods of time
- Challenge your mind! Complete a puzzle. It can be virtual if you don’t actually have a puzzle set. Or, you can complete other types of invigorating puzzles, like crosswords, Sudoku and word finders. There are plenty of games you can play online with friends as well including Scrabble Go & Words With Friends. Related post: Online Game Deals Due to Coronavirus
- Get your creative juices flowing. Paint, draw, write a song, a poem or even an e-book. Start a blog & write about something that interests you and share it with the internet. Invite others to share their interests with you on a blogging platform and get a conversation going. Do you have a musical instrument? If so, pick it up and play some tunes. Through the end of March, Brit.co is offering free classes including calligraphy, acrylic painting & photography. The Know-How Series, a mix of creative writing and Instagram branding classes released by the media company Frolic, is now free for the duration of the outbreak.
- Binge watch! Movies, tv shows or original series. Top things tending now are Game of Thrones, Friends, Parks & Recreation, ER, Stranger Things, Supernatural, Breaking Bad, Sons of Anarchy, House, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Westworld, Gossip Girl, Lost, The Office & the Sopranos. Have a Stars Wars marathon on Disney+. Have a Harry Potter marathon with the books and and then with the films. Then visit the HP amusement park when it reopens. Select a more focused approach such as Watching films that won Oscars for best picture or Independent Spirit Awards for best picture. Or perhaps watch films that critics say should have won those aforementioned awards.
- Learn a new language. There are free apps available to learn a new language, including Duolingo. Babbel offers free language learning for K-12 and college students. Related post: How to Learn a Foreign Language From the Comfort of your couch.
- Read! Read a book. Read a series of books. A good book can provide knowledge, comfort or a welcome escape. Libby & Overdrive apps connect you to your local library where you can search for titles. New and returning readers will receive a two-month free subscription to Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited, which has a library stocked with more than a million free titles.
- Manage your stress. Keep a positive attitude. Accept that there are events and situations that you cannot control. Try relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercises, positive affirmations, a hot bath, stretching, meditation, yoga, Tai chi or pilates. Listen to your favorite music. Take a walk and enjoy nature. The Headspace app is currently offering free meditations and Calm offers hand-picked content to supports your mental & emotional wellness. Related post: Apps to Relieve Stress
- Organize! Whether its your garage, closet, pantry or your kitchen cupboards, take some time to organize your life. It’s rewarding complete tasks and to know where everything is.
- Watch films that won Oscars for best picture or Independent Spirit Awards for best picture. Or perhaps watch films that critics say should have won those aforementioned awards.
- Video chat with friends and family. Houseparty, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Google Hangouts and Zoom are all great apps for groups of people to be able to talk at the same time.
- Start a workout routine. There are several services that normally cost money that are currently waiving fees during the coronvirus. For example, NIKE Training Club normally cost $14.99 per month. You can now access for free more than 185 free workouts including yoga, cardio and more, which range from 15 to 45 minutes for various fitness levels.
- Take time to reflect: What have you accomplished in the last year? What goals are you setting for yourself in the next year?
- Try YouTube tutorials: dance, makeup, minor repairs, calligraphy, hairstyles, DIYs, cooking, etc.
- Redefine your budget to improve financial health.
- Make lists of all the museums, sporting events and concerts you want to visit when they become available again. Take virtual tours of some of those venues until you can visit them in person.
- Improve your skills like your typing speed, a new hobby or taking classes related to your current, or dream job. Whether you want to learn about photography, web design, academics or just for personal development, you can take classes online through websites such as Udemy.com and Coursera.
- Sleep. A good nights rest improves the immune system’s response time. The body needs time to heal or recover from stressful events. with our busy lives many of us haven’t taken a nap in years. Try it!
- Learn to make art. The Museum of Modern Art is offering free art classes that are available to take online. There are nine categories to choose from and you will learn from some of the designers themselves.
- Plan a trip. Even if you are not ready to commit, why not make a bucket list of the places you want to go and start browsing cruises & escorted tours for inspiration. so that you can budget for them. Related post: How to Create a Travel Vision Board
