Ways to Keep Busy while Staying Home

Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in America, and the subsequent implementation of social distancing guidelines, it has felt like my whole world has been turned upside down. Days feel endless and seem to jumble together, and now, more than ever, I have been searching for ways to pass the time and gain a new sense of normal.

When I began social distancing about a month ago, I reveled in the idea of endless lazy days. I engaged in all sorts of bingeing, from endless Netflix series and movies, to indulging in all the delicious cuisine the frozen food aisle had to offer (hello, Walmart macarons!). But, after the first couple weeks of consuming all these guilty pleasures, I realized that I only enjoyed these activities when I regarded them as treats. As the days passed, I became bored with this (now monotonous) routine of indulging in unhealthy habits and decided I needed to switch it up to engage my mind and incorporate more robust activities into my daily life.

I reckon many of you have gone through a similar cycle during these uncertain times, so I compiled a list of other activities to enjoy that we can complement with our Netflix shows and tasty treats. Maybe you have already incorporated some of these into your socially distant routines, but perhaps you haven’t tried some of them yet. I’m hoping some of the ideas on this list will help take your mind off of the unsettling headlines and other uncertainties during this unprecedented crisis.

Disclaimer: I want to preface this list by saying that there is no need to strive for absolute productivity and perfection during these times. I believe we all deserve to give ourselves permission to engage in both productive and unproductive tasks each day. While I enjoy going for walks and solving puzzles, I also enjoy days spent under the covers watching my favorite shows while eating my favorite foods. Life is all about balance, and I'd like us all to keep that in mind while we navigate through this uncharted territory.

1. Go Back to Basics

I’ve found that during the past month, I’ve resorted to filling my days with activities that brought me joy when I was a child and I had endless time to play and explore creative outlets.

For instance, a few weeks ago I dug out some adult coloring books and, while watching some of my favorite movies and TV shows, I've started to color various intricate patterns and designs, which has turned out to be quite a soothing activity. Also, with our new free time, my mom and I took out a deck of cards and played a few rounds of 500 Rummy, our favorite card game. Just like when I was a kid, she won both games that we played against each other... it turns out that not much has changed, including my Rummy skills!

Like many others, I’ve also tried my hand at solving some puzzles and, like coloring, it is quite a calming pastime to engage in during these trying times (except when you can’t find the missing piece!).

Proudly posing with my (almost complete) puzzle... can you spot the missing piece?

2. Stay active

With all the recent business closures, I've realized that I have more time to incorporate movement into my day. Before the mandated social distancing, I would usually spend my free time sipping coffee at cafes, going out for dinner with friends, or engaging in other sedentary activities. Now, I’ve had no choice but to get up and move!

Before the start of the crisis, I would exercise by going to a hot yoga class or dance it out during Zumba, but now I’ve been trying to fill these voids with what I can do at home. For instance, I’ve been trying out different yoga classes on YouTube, and I hosted a solo dance party in my backyard with the help of a Bluetooth speaker and some catchy tunes. Like many others, however, my go-to movement activity has been to go for walks almost every day while listening to the birds chirping, or the entertaining chatter of my favorite podcast hosts.

3. Listen to Podcasts and Audiobooks

Whether you’re working from home and staring at your computer screen all day, or you’re bingeing the entire series of Tiger King, your eyes can get tired from all that screen time. When you start seeing stars from all the blue light, close your eyes and listen to some entertaining podcasts and audiobooks.*

Lately, I’ve been counting down the days for Hump Day because my favorite podcasts, Office Ladies, The Popcast, and This Might Get Weird all premiere new episodes every Wednesday (In case you didn't know, I'm a bit of a pop culture geek!). Once perfect companions for my daily commute, now these podcasts accompany me on my daily walks around my neighborhood. Before bed, I’ve also started listening to audiobooks, namely Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, where I can be lulled to sleep by the soothing sounds of the narrator’s voice.

*To access audiobooks for free, download the “OverDrive” app, which is run through your local library! Just input your online library credentials (card number and PIN) and you can download a wide variety of audiobooks, as well as e-books, to enjoy.

4. Play Virtual Games with Friends and Family

By this point, hopefully you’ve had the chance to catch up with your friends and family members, and provided each other with some virtual company during these trying times. However, after a few video calls, you may have noticed that you’re running out of conversation topics, since all of us seem to have similar routines lately.

For your next video chat, enjoy a virtual game night! Over the past month, I've played games with friends and family on different platforms, like the Houseparty app, a video chatting app with a variety of game options, like trivia or the popular “Heads Up!”game. Also, this past weekend, my family and I played Bingo** via Zoom chat and it brought me back to our old game nights pre-social distancing.

Engaging in some healthy competition during virtual game nights can help take your mind off of the crisis for a bit and also provide you with some much-needed connection with your favorite people.

**Here's a link to the Bingo card generator that we've been using in case you want to try it out with your loved ones too!

5. Try learning a new skill

With all this extra time at home, we're all faced with new opportunities to try learning some new skills. Before this crisis, I never expressed much interest in cooking or baking, mostly because I had easy access to prepared meals from the grocery store. However, to maintain proper social distancing, I have made far fewer grocery store trips lately and I have had to get more creative with preparing dishes. Also, I had been getting pretty bored with my pre-social distancing meals (i.e. never-ending bowls of Ramen noodle soup and cereal).

So, to curb my cravings and my boredom, I have started to make some more complicated and tastier options, from sweet and savory breakfast spreads (complete with homemade iced coffee!) to creamy Italian dishes, like this Creamy Tuscan Chicken recipe that I've already made twice this past month!

Throughout the upcoming weeks, I also plan on experimenting with some other skills I've always wanted to try, like accomplishing a headstand and successfully braiding my own hair (Yep, I still haven't conquered this basic skill.. how is it so much harder to do your own hair?!).

During this crisis, it’s important to take some time out of your day to curate experiences that bring you joy and fulfillment. While staying vigilant and keeping up with the news, make sure you also carve out space in your days for whatever makes you happy.

I’m always looking for new ideas of what to do-- What have you been doing to keep your spirits up during these difficult times? Comment below!