I’ll be honest—being ordered to stay home is kind of a dream come true for me, so I’m not having much of a problem with the recent stay-at-home directive issued to keep people safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether you’re a home body or not, though, a few ideas for how to keep occupied during an enforced stay at home may be helpful. Here are 19 ideas to keep you busy at home—hopefully they’ll inspire you!
Learn Sign Language–or Any Language!
There are so many options out there for language learning—and tons of them are free!
Language learning apps: Duolingo, Busuu, and Clozemaster are popular options, and Beealinguapp is great for language learners who also happen to be bookworms. If you’re hoping to make connections, try HelloTalk, which connects you with native speakers so you can have a more immersive experience.
Or check out these websites:
http://www.signlanguage101.com/
Now when you scroll through the headlines you can take it to a whole new level—check out what’s happening in France…in French!
Download the Kahn Academy App and Take a Class that Interests You
I can’t believe it took a pandemic for me to discover this app. There are all kinds of cool classes designed by excellent teachers—including one from Pixar!
You can also access classes from Kahn Academy at their website.
Brush Up Your Art Skills
I’m guessing you’ve got some art supplies lying around, and now is the perfect time to dig them out and get your creative on! You can doodle to relieve stress, cartoon for some laughs, or go all-out and create a mural on the living room wall.
Memorize a Poem, Scripture, Quote, etc.
From the time of Homer to your grandparents’ day, memorization has been a key component of culture—and it doesn’t have to stop now! When I was a kid I loved memorizing poetry, everything from “Quack Quack” by Dr. Seuss to Longfellow’s “A Psalm of Life.” Poetry and songs are a great place to start, as their rhyme and rhythm makes them stick in your brain, but you can memorize anything you want. I even attempted The Declaration of Independence during my first year of college (got about halfway!)
“To memorize a scripture is to forge a new friendship. It is like discovering a new individual who can help in time of need, give inspiration and comfort, and be a source of motivation for needed change.”
Richard G. Scott
Try Yoga or Tai Chi
You may not be able to hit the gym, but yoga and tai chi are awesome exercise methods to try in your living room or backyard. Plus, they’re extremely meditative and calming—something we could all use an extra dose of these days. A quick search on YouTube and you’ll find lots of great teachers who can guide you through the basics. (Personally, I’ve enjoyed Yoga with Adriene.
Experiment with Origami, Quilling, or Other Paper Crafts
All you need is a square of paper (just regular paper; I know toilet paper is being strictly rationed) and you can make all kinds of fun things with origami. Personally, I prefer video instruction, so I use YouTube to walk me through making cranes, hearts, boxes, and butterflies, but if you’re good at following diagrams you have even more options. Start your explorations with Origami Club.
Quilling is another fun paper craft that can produce beautiful results with even simple patterns. Although quilling tools yield the best results, you can cut your own strips by hand and use a pencil instead of a slotted quilling tool. The shapes will just turn out a little bigger. You can get a crash course on basic shapes here and have fun combining them to make elegant images and patterns.
Learn How to Juggle
Yes, I realize you’re already juggling work, kids, school and the rest of life—and all from home. I’m talking about the kind of juggling that will get you some applause when you need it. Although, if your coordination is anything like mine, that could take a while.
Listen to an Audiobook
You may already be signed up for the popular Audible, but you can also find some great listens without the monthly subscription on Chirp.
Or Read the Book Yourself!
Time to break out War and Peace, people! Okay, maybe not. But chances are, you’ve got a nice long list you keep meaning to get to “someday.” This is your opportunity to get serious about your literature. And if you don’t have a book list going, feel free to hit me up for some recommendations!
“I was born with a reading list I will never finish.”
Maud Casey
Plant a Garden
If you’ve got outside space, fantastic! If not, you can still have a flower, a few herbs, or some succulents on your windowsill. All you need is some dirt, seeds, and a few empty containers. You can even propagate cuttings of some plants with nothing more than a jar of water (pothos, philodendron, English ivy, begonia, baby’s tears, African violet).
Make Something Yummy
Most recreational areas are closed, but you still have free range in the kitchen. I enjoy recipes from Minimalist Baker, Two Peas and Their Pod, Gimme Some Oven, and Cookie and Kate, but have fun exploring, and let me know what your favorite recipe sites are!
And remember, you’ve got a lot of kitchen time, so this is the perfect chance to try some more intensive recipes, like sourdough bread or chocolate souffles.
Take a Shot
Whether you’re a pro photographer or someone whose photography experience consists entirely of taking selfies, expand your skills by setting up some still life shots, taking portraits of your family members (if they’ll let you), and playing with natural light.
Deep Clean, Purge, and Organize Your House
Spring cleaning, here we come! If you’re finding yourself a little short on space now that everyone and the dog is in the house, it might be time to get rid of items you no longer need. A clean, organized home is one that’s way easier to be quarantined in (not to mention healthier!) so grab that mop and let’s get to it!
Movie Night
Binge-watching Netflix is, well, kind of lame—so turn your entertainment into something special with a designated movie night. Break out some snacks (my movie favorite is popcorn and peanut M&Ms), and start the night off with an animated cartoon short from Disney or Pixar before showing the feature film. Or take your cinema really seriously and set up a movie marathon with Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, or Star Wars.
Write
Always wanted to start a blog? Now you’ve got the time! Never have anything to write about in your journal? I’d say a pandemic is pretty journal-worthy. Get creative and try your hand at some poetry or the next great American novel. Or write an old-fashioned letter and stick it in the mail. Don’t worry about your handwriting—the recipient will be thrilled to open their mailbox to something other than ads and bills. Ladies, you can sign up to write to women and girls who need some extra love at The Letter Project. Guys, you’re on your own. But let’s face it—you weren’t going to write a letter anyway. (I’m kidding, Art of Manliness has your back.)
Call, Text, or FaceTime Someone
You’re not the only going stir-crazy. Reach out to someone else and see if you can brighten their day with a virtual visit.
Go For a Walk, Run, or Bike Ride
You’re still allowed to go outside—so put on those running shoes or pump up the bike wheels and hit the pavement. Take the dog if you’ve got one (and a couple of yardsticks so you can make sure you’re maintaining that six-foot radius between you and the rest of humanity.)
Make Ice Cream in a Bag
Sometimes you just need a treat. Ice cream in a bag is fun and easy, and everybody in the family can choose their own flavors. Just throw ½ cup of cream, half-and-half, or milk; 1 Tbsp sugar; and your favorite flavoring into a small resealable plastic bag, and seal it up tight. Then throw that bag into a gallon bag that’s filled halfway with ice and 1/3 cup of salt (rock is best, but table salt works too), seal that one up, and start shaking!
Make Pet Toys
You can make great pet toys with items you have lying around your house. Use them to keep your own pets occupied, or donate them to an animal shelter to keep homeless pets happy while they have reduced interaction with staff and volunteers during this pandemic. (Be sure to call ahead and make sure the shelter can accept homemade donations—they may have specific requests that would be helpful, or require an ingredients list for homemade treats.)
There are a ton of DIYs out there, but here are a couple of lists for dog toys and cat toys to get you started.
What are you finding to do while you’re home during COVID-19? Let’s start brainstorming! Send me your ideas and I’ll credit you in my follow-up post of “19 MORE Boredom Busters for the COVID-19 Stay-at-Home Order.” Can’t wait to hear what you come up with!
